Today is also the annual winter solstice, and many places have the custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice. However, there are also many areas where different things are eaten. What are the customs of eating dumplings during the winter solstice in Suzhou? Let's take a look together below
1. Flower cake
Different from the custom of Suzhou people giving "Winter Solstice Plate", Taicang families steam flower cake before the Winter Solstice, and relatives and friends give it to each other as gifts. The Taicang Prefecture Annals of Ming Jiajing recorded: "During the early winter solstice, various types of powdered sugar were used as flower cakes, which were given to relatives and friends. Flower cake is also an essential food for winter solstice banquets
2. Winter Solstice Dinner
Eating Winter Solstice Dinner is the most important activity. The Qing Xuantong's "Taicang Prefecture Annals" records: "The day before the Winter Solstice in November is the Winter Solstice Night." The Winter Solstice Festival, like the New Year Festival, is a day for family reunion on the night before the Winter Solstice. The Xintang Town Annals states: "On the Winter Solstice Festival, invite relatives and friends to have a winter solstice dinner
3. Fendong Wine
The dishes for the winter solstice dinner should be as rich as possible, and local specialties such as "Fendong Wine" should be included. According to Taicang Prefecture Annals written by Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, "On the winter solstice, relatives and friends will feast, and winter wine will be given a name." Fendong wine, also known as winter wine, is sweet in taste and green or white in color. Taicang is called old Baijiu. After the beginning of winter, many people will brew this wine themselves. According to the Records of Taicang Prefecture by Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty, "Baijiu has the names of October white, cauliflower yellow, and relying on the wall of the Qing Dynasty." These kinds of liquor are also made in winter. Wang Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty wrote a poem praising the Baijiu of the Qing Dynasty by the wall: "The wine mother chirps and complains about the night end, and the jade liquid is ready to fight in the morning. The yellow chicken and purple crab are still fat and beautiful, and they will keep cold with you." In the preface of the poem, he wrote: "The Baijiu by the wall comes from his hometown, and it is brewed with herbs. The Doumi 30 Ou bottle is placed in the front of the wall for a month, and it tastes extremely delicious and delicious."
4. Wonton
"Wonton noodles on the winter solstice", and the food custom of eating Wonton on the winter solstice It has a long history. The purpose of eating Wonton on the winter solstice is explained in Yanjing Chronicles: "Wonton is shaped like a chicken egg, similar to the chaos of heaven and earth, so it was eaten on the winter solstice." The ancients believed that all things in the world are chaotic like chicken eggs; The winter solstice night is long and the days are short, creating chaos. The ancients used dough to wrap the meat filling, representing the victory of the earth and day over the darkness and chaos. After the worship is over, the ancients will successfully share this' chaos'
5. Lamb
Winter solstice is the beginning of winter again, and eating lamb is related to eating warm dishes on the winter solstice. Warmth "is the dietary demand of people in winter, and it is also the essence of winter nourishment and health preservation. The human body stores heat by absorbing warm food to cope with the cold attack of winter and reserve for next year's growth. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, lamb has a sweet taste and a warm nature, and has the effects of nourishing the kidneys, tonifying deficiency, dispelling cold, and generating heat. Therefore, it is scientifically reasonable for people in Taicang to have a habit of eating lamb in winter