What is the difference between the Beginning of Winter and the Winter Solstice? Winter Solstice Folk Culture

The winter solstice is called the "Shoes Long Festival" because it is the shortest day in the northern hemisphere in a year. After the winter solstice, the days will gradually get longer. On the day of the winter solstice, the younger generation will give shoes and socks to the elders, wishing them a longer life, which has a good meaning. In daily life, many friends can't tell the difference between the beginning of winter and the winter solstice? Let's slowly learn about the relevant knowledge shared in the article!

Contents of this article

1. What is the difference between the Beginning of Winter and the Winter Solstice?

2. Winter Solstice Folk Culture

3. What other names can the Winter Solstice be called?

What is the difference between Lidong and Dongzhi?

The Beginning of Winter refers to the arrival of winter, which is on November 7-8 every year, and is the connection point between autumn and winter. The Winter Solstice refers to the end of winter, which is on December 21-23 every year, and is the connection point between winter and spring. In addition, the Beginning of Winter is the first solar term in winter, and the daytime will become shorter and shorter. The Winter Solstice is the fourth solar term in winter, and the daytime is the shortest in the year.

The Beginning of Winter refers to the arrival of winter, and is the connecting point between autumn and winter, indicating that the climate will gradually become colder. The Winter Solstice refers to the end of winter, and is the connecting point between winter and spring, indicating that the climate will gradually warm up.

The Beginning of Winter is between November 7 and 8 every year, and is the first solar term of winter, when the sun's longitude reaches 225°. The Winter Solstice is between December 21 and 23 every year, and is the fourth solar term of winter, when the sun's longitude reaches 270°.

At the beginning of winter, cold air will move south in large quantities, the daytime will become shorter and shorter, and it will get dark earlier and earlier. At the winter solstice, the climate has become very cold, and the daytime is the shortest in the year, also known as the shortest day of the year.

Winter Solstice Folk Culture

The folk culture of the Winter Solstice is reflected in food, needlework, and ancestor worship. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, women have needed to use an extra thread when doing needlework after the Winter Solstice. In addition, the cultures of the north and south are different. In the south, people eat glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice to represent reunion, while people in the north eat hun chung chuen. In Taiwan, people also make nine-layer cakes to worship their ancestors.

1. Diet

The folk custom of the winter solstice is reflected in the diet. There is a saying that goes "dumplings on the winter solstice and noodles on the summer solstice", which means that on the winter solstice, every household eats dumplings and on the summer solstice, they eat noodles. However, due to the cultural differences between the north and the south, glutinous rice flour is used to make dumplings on the winter solstice in the south, which symbolizes reunion.

2. Women's needlework

The folk custom of the Winter Solstice is reflected in women's needlework. Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, women need to use an extra thread when doing needlework after the Winter Solstice. There is a saying that "after eating the Winter Solstice meal, one thread grows longer every day", which expresses the wish and blessing for family safety and good health in the new year.

3. Ancestor worship

On the winter solstice, every household in Taiwan uses glutinous rice flour to make chickens, ducks, pigs, cows, and sheep to represent auspicious animals, which are then made into nine-layer cakes to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. After the sacrifice, a banquet is also held to drink and have fun with relatives and friends to strengthen relationships.

What else can the winter solstice be called?

The Winter Solstice can also be called Yasui, Winter Festival, Minor Solstice, Big Winter, Minor New Year, and Luchang Festival. Yasui is the name for the Winter Solstice during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, indicating that the Winter Solstice is as important as New Year. Winter Festival is the name from the Han Dynasty, which means that the Winter Solstice is regarded as a festival. On the day of the Winter Solstice, the younger generation will give shoes and socks to the older generation, hoping that the older generation will live a long life, so it is also called Luchang Festival.

The Winter Solstice is also called the Minor New Year, Winter Festival, Big Winter, Minor New Year, and Luchang Festival. The Winter Solstice is a festival that has existed since the Han Dynasty, when it was called the Winter Festival. On the day of the Winter Solstice, officials and vendors across the country stop their business and return home to reunite with their parents and families, and children have to pay their respects to their parents and elders.

The winter solstice in the Wei and Jin Dynasties was called Yasui, because New Year's Eve was called Shousui, and the New Year came after the winter solstice, so it was Yasui. In addition, the winter solstice in the Wei and Jin Dynasties was regarded as the Minor New Year, and on that day, relatives and friends would be invited to gather together to strengthen their relationships.