In Beijing, there is a proverb called "Solstice wonton in winter and Solstice noodle in summer". In the past, there was a saying in Beijing that wonton was eaten on the solstice in winter. Wonton, a kind of food symbolizing reunion, is the first choice on the table from winter to Sunday. Wonton has many names, such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang Wonton, Guangdong Wonton, Hubei Noodle, Jiangxi Clear Soup, Sichuan Wonton, Xinjiang Ququ and so on. Then how do you eat wonton on the solstice in winter? According to legend, during the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu in the north often harassed the frontier, and the people were restless. At that time, there were two leaders, Xiongnu tribe and Tun tribe, which were very cruel. The people hated it, so they wrapped it into a corner with meat stuffing and called it "wonton" with the sound of "muddy" and "swallowing". I hate eating, and I want to quell the war and live a peaceful life. Because wonton was originally made on the solstice in winter, every household in Beijing eats wonton on the solstice in winter.

2. jiaozi

During the winter solstice of the 24th solar terms of the lunar calendar, people in northern China have the custom of eating jiaozi. There are many legends about eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter, the most mainstream one is from Zhang Zhongjing.

According to legend, Zhang Zhongjing, a doctor from Nanyang, was an official in Changsha. When he retired in his later years, it was a snowy winter and the wind was biting. Seeing that many villagers' ears were frozen, he was very sad, so he asked his disciples to set up a medicine shed in Guandong, Nanyang. He put mutton, peppers and some herbs for removing cold in a pot, fished them out and chopped them up, imaged their ears with leather bags, and then cooked them in a pot to make a medicine called "soup for removing cold and correcting ears" for the people to eat. After eating it, the villagers' ears will be fine. Later generations learned to "correct ears" and package them into food, also called "jiaozi" or "flat food".

Because the weather is generally dry and cold at present, most friends can choose beef and mutton as dumpling stuffing. If you are worried about overcooking, you can put some light and dry ingredients, such as radish, celery or fungus, to balance nutrition. Older friends often have bad stomachs, and jiaozi should be light. Chinese cabbage and pork are both good choices, and you can also mix some vegetarian stuffing. It is best for jiaozi to eat now, and the delicious stuffing should not be put for a long time; Don't make the meat stuffing too fine; Zanthoxylum oil is the best seasoning oil.

3. Mutton

At the beginning of winter solstice, people count to nine from this day. For ordinary people, the solstice in winter is nothing more than eating. In the north, there is a custom of eating mutton from winter to Sunday, because the weather enters the coldest period from winter to the future, and eating a pot of stewed mutton at this time has the dual effects of keeping out the cold and nourishing.

Mutton is warm, which can resist cold and tonify the body. It can be used for treating wind-cold asthma, impotence due to kidney deficiency, deficiency of both qi and blood, soreness of waist and knees, cold limbs and abdominal pain, and sallow complexion and emaciation. In winter, the human body has yang hidden in it, and kidney yang is insufficient, which is prone to cold hands and feet, dull complexion, weakness and other symptoms, while mutton is sweet but not greasy, warm but not dry, and has always been regarded as a good product for nourishing yang. Proper diet in winter can effectively alleviate the above symptoms.

4. Dog meat

Many places in the north have the custom of eating dog meat in winter solstice. It is said that the custom of eating dog meat on the solstice began in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the solstice in winter, which was particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, the custom of eating dog meat from winter solstice has been formed among the people. Nowadays, people eat dog meat, mutton and all kinds of nutritious food on the solstice of winter, which is a good sign for the coming year.