What are the customs of the summer solstice? Have you heard of the interesting summer solstice activities in ancient times?

What are the customs of the Summer Solstice? Ancient people attached great importance to the Summer Solstice, and the activities on the day of the Summer Solstice were as grand as the Dragon Boat Festival. Next, friends who are interested, let us learn more about it in detail.

What are the customs of the summer solstice?

Summer Solstice Festival

As mentioned in the preface, the ancient Summer Solstice Festival was as grand as the Dragon Boat Festival. This custom has existed since the Zhou Dynasty. In addition to holding grand ceremonies to worship gods, the imperial court also prayed for peace and prosperity for the country. Farmers everywhere are busy offering sacrifices to gods in order to pray for good weather and good harvests. People in the north pray for rain to prevent drought, while people in the south pray for clear weather to prevent floods. During the Song Dynasty, starting from the summer solstice, all officials in the court would have three days off. To this day, the custom of offering sacrifices to the sky on the summer solstice is still preserved in many areas.

Eating noodles during the summer solstice

As the saying goes, "Dumplings on the Winter Solstice and noodles on the Summer Solstice." On the Summer Solstice, the most indispensable thing is a bowl of simmering "Summer Solstice noodles." Eating summer solstice noodles is a custom of the Han nationality and is popular in most parts of the country. Pan Rongbi of the Qing Dynasty wrote in "Annals of the Capital's Customs": "On this day, every family eats cold noodles, which is commonly known as cross-water noodles." There is a saying among the people that "After eating summer solstice noodles, the day will be a line shorter." Although the summer solstice is not the hottest time of the summer, it indicates that the hot summer has arrived. People begin to change their diet from the summer solstice, with low-calorie, easy-to-make, and refreshing foods becoming their main diet. Noodles are usually the first choice for most families. Therefore, the summer solstice noodles are also called "entering the dog days noodles".

Eating dog meat during the summer solstice

According to relevant records, the custom of killing dogs to nourish the body during the summer solstice is said to have originated from the year after Duke De of Qin ascended the throne during the Warring States Period, when June was extremely hot and epidemics were prevalent. Duke De of Qin ordered his subjects to kill dogs to ward off evil according to the saying that "dogs are yang animals and can ward off misfortune". Later, the custom of killing dogs during the summer solstice was formed. There are many epidemic diseases in summer, so eating dog meat during the summer solstice can enhance immunity. There is a folk saying: During the summer solstice, dogs have nowhere to hide. On the summer solstice of the lunar calendar, there is a folk custom in Yangjiang, Guangdong, which has been going on for hundreds of years, of eating dog to ward off evil and nourish the body.