Winter Solstice Festival origin
The winter solstice festival originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties. "Qing Jialu" even has the saying that "the winter solstice is as big as the year." This shows that the ancients attached great importance to the winter solstice. People think that the winter solstice is a natural transformation of Yin and Yang, and it is a blessing given by heaven.
The Han Dynasty used the winter solstice as the "winter festival," and the official government held a congratulatory ceremony called "Hedong" and had a routine holiday. There is such a record in the Later Han Dynasty: "Before and after the winter solstice, the gentleman was quiet and quiet.
Therefore, on this day, the court will have a holiday and rest, the army will be on standby, the border will be closed, the business travel will be closed, the relatives and friends will each give food, visit each other, and happily enjoy a "quiet and quiet" holiday.
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the winter solstice was a day for the worship of the ancestors. The emperor wanted to hold a ceremony for the worship of the heavens on the outskirts of the country. The people had to worship their parents on this day. There are still some places to celebrate on the winter solstice.
冬至节由来
冬至过节源于汉代,盛于唐宋,相沿至今。《清嘉录》甚至有“冬至大如年”之说。这表明古人对冬至十分重视。人们认为冬至是阴阳二气的自然转化,是上天赐予的福气,。汉朝以冬至为“冬节”,官府要举行祝贺仪式称为“贺冬”,例行放假。
《后汉书》中有这样的记载:“冬至前后,君子安身静体,百官绝事,不听政,择吉辰而后省事。”所以这天朝庭上下要放假休息,军队待命,边塞闭关,商旅停业,亲朋各以美食相赠,相互拜访,欢乐地过一个“安身静体”的节日.
唐、宋时期,冬至是祭天祭祀祖的日子,皇帝在这天要到郊外举行祭天大典,百姓在这一天要向父母尊长祭拜,现在仍有一些地方在冬至这天过节庆贺。