As the proverb says, "Winter Solstice is more festive than the Spring Festival," suggesting that the Winter Solstice heralds the impending arrival of the new year. In Foshan, local family often gather together for a warm and delightful meal during the Winter Solstice. Here are some customs of Winter Solstice in Foshan.

Ancestral Worship

During the Winter Solstice, as recorded in the Zhongyi Township Chronicle of the Republic of China era, ancestral worship was performed at that time, marking the most significant winter ritual in the region. After the rituals, families come together indoors for a celebratory feast.

In Foshan, the Winter Solstice holds equal importance to traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. This is where the saying "Winter Solstice surpasses the importance of the New Year" comes into play. On this day, besides households preparing dishes and offerings to honor ancestors, people also emphasize the practice of ancestral worship at ancestral halls. This tradition serves as a means of imparting the family's historical traditions to the younger generation.

Enjoy Cured Meat Sticky Rice

Another significant custom of the Winter Solstice is the family reunion and the sharing of a festive meal, with a focus on enjoying traditional dishes such as cured meat sticky rice and sweet rice dumplings. This culinary tradition is deeply rooted in Foshan households.

After the autumn harvest, when agricultural activities tend to slow down, many Foshan families engage in the preparation for the winter season and the upcoming Chinese New Year. This involves the homemade production of cured meat. Starting around the Winter Solstice, families begin the process of grinding rice flour, with glutinous rice flour used for making sweet dumplings and New Year cake.

Making sweet dumplings

On the evening of the Winter Solstice in Foshan, local family will gather to engage in a traditional activity—making sweet dumplings. In the process, pre-pounded glutinous rice flour is placed in a pottery vessel, and hot water is added to form a dough. The dough undergoes repeated kneading before being rolled into small balls, and a piece of yellow sugar is put to enhance the sweetness and chewy texture.

Enjoy hotpot

In Foshan, people place great emphasis on the flavorful broth when enjoying hotpot during the Winter Solstice. In addition to various specific broth recipes, the ingredients are particularly abundant, including seafood, chicken, beef, mutton, and a variety of meatballs. During the harsh winter season, gathering around the stove as a family creates a warm atmosphere. Eating hotpot has become an important winter culinary tradition in modern times.

Reporter | Eleanor

Revisor | Eddie, Lynn

Photo | Foshan Release, Shunde Release