Today is the Winter Solstice. Should we eat dumplings or not?

The Winter Solstice is a very important solar term. On this day, Chinese people enter the "Nine Cold Days," which is the coldest time of the year. Therefore, the Winter Solstice is considered a turning point, as the days begin to grow longer from this day onward. In many northern regions of China, people eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice. However, China is a vast country, and not all places eat dumplings on this day. So, do people eat dumplings for the Winter Solstice? It depends on the region.

Cabbage and Pork Dumplings

Do people eat dumplings for the Winter Solstice?

On the Winter Solstice, people in many northern regions of China eat dumplings. It is said that eating dumplings can protect them from the cold of the upcoming "Nine Cold Days." If they don't, their ears might freeze off. Many people know this saying, but not everyone knows its origin or why it exists. In fact, during the Tang and Song dynasties, the Winter Solstice was a time for worshipping heaven, ancestors, and deities. The emperor would hold a grand ceremony to worship heaven, while common people would pay respects to their parents and elders. As for the origin of the custom of eating dumplings, there are many different versions. One story says that dumplings were invented by the ancient famous physician Zhang Zhongjing to treat people for frostbitten ears. Later, to commemorate him, people began eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice. This is the northern version of the story. In southern China, however, people do not eat dumplings for the Winter Solstice. Instead, they hold sacrificial ceremonies and eat tangyuan (sweet rice balls), symbolizing their hopes for a happy and reunion-filled future. Therefore, the custom of eating dumplings for the Winter Solstice is not universal across China but is regional. However, with the high mobility of the Chinese population today, people from the south move to the north, and northerners move to the south. People from the south and north marry each other, and as a result, this custom of eating dumplings for the Winter Solstice has spread more widely. Coupled with extensive media coverage and promotion, this custom has become widely known, making it increasingly popular in China.

Do people eat dumplings for the Winter Solstice? From the introduction above, we can see that the custom of eating dumplings for the Winter Solstice is not practiced everywhere in China. However, with social development, this custom is now known almost by everyone.