Winter Solstice: Days and events urge each other; as Winter Solstice brings nascent Yang, spring will come again

Winter Solstice is the 22nd of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. Its arrival marks the onset of frigid weather, when people start counting the Nine Cold Periods. An old folk saying goes: “The three Geng days after Summer Solstice bring the Fu period; the first Ren day after Winter Solstice starts the Nine Cold Days.”

Presenting shoes is a traditional ritual for Winter Solstice. This solar term closes the period of storage and heralds new life, hence it is also known as the Minor New Year, second only to Chinese New Year’s Eve in importance. As time cycles onward, the Minor New Year welcomes auspiciousness, and wearing long shoes embraces blessings; gifting shoes is a way to invite abundant good fortune.

Three Phenological Phases of Winter Solstice

• Earthworms coil into knots: On Winter Solstice, earthworms curl tight as ropes under extreme Yin cold, yet stretch out once touched by nascent Yang energy.

• Elks shed their antlers: Five days after Winter Solstice, elks lose their antlers. Deer, creatures of Yang that dwell in mountains, shed antlers at Summer Solstice amid surging Yin; elks, creatures of Yin that live in wetlands, shed antlers as Yang awakens on Winter Solstice.

• Underground springs stir: Another five days later, underground water flows subtly. Water originates from primordial Yang; the first stir of Yang after Winter Solstice awakens dormant springs.

02 Traditional Customs

Drawing the Nine Cold Diagram

Records of Scenic Spots in the Imperial Capital, a Ming Dynasty text, records: “On Winter Solstice, people draw a plum branch with eighty-one blank petals. One petal is filled in each day; when all petals are colored, the Nine Cold Periods end and deep spring arrives. This artwork is named the Diagram for Dispelling the Nine Cold Days.”

Ancestor Worship

Ancestor worship on Winter Solstice was once as grand as rituals held during Spring Festival. Silver carp was an indispensable sacrificial offering, symbolizing an unbroken family lineage (the Chinese character for silver carp sounds identical to “continuous”).

Brewing Winter Wine

Residents of ancient Suzhou brew winter wine on Winter Solstice Eve. The wine is fermented from glutinous rice or millet mixed with sweet osmanthus blossoms.

Glutinous Rice Balls

Glutinous rice balls are a staple Winter Solstice food. The round shape symbolizes reunion and completeness, so they are also called Winter Solstice Balls.

Dumplings

People across northern China eat dumplings on this day. Dumplings are believed to shield ears against frost and dispel cold.

03 Solar Term Regimen & Health Preservation

Daily Routine

Ancient Chinese regarded Winter Solstice as the turning point between Yin and Yang: Yin energy peaks completely, while Yang energy begins to regenerate. The ancient maxim “Yang stirs at Winter Solstice; it is the prime time to nourish stored vitality” captures this principle. Traditional Chinese medicine identifies Winter Solstice as an optimal window for health cultivation.

• Retire early to nurture Yang: Yin prevails at night. Early bedtime aligns the human body with natural rhythms, curbing excessive consumption of Yang energy and aiding its storage and nourishment. It is recommended to sleep before 10 p.m. As Yin grows stronger after this hour, deep sleep facilitates rest and repair of internal organs, especially tonifying the kidneys to reserve energy for Yang’s revival.

• Rise late to protect Yang: Days are shortest around Winter Solstice with frigid morning temperatures. Getting up late avoids exposing the body to bitter cold prematurely and blocks cold pathogenic factors from invading Yang energy. Wait for sunrise, when Yang surges, to start daily activities. This harmonizes the body with natural Yang fluctuations, sustaining warmth and vitality and lowering risks of winter colds and coughs.

Dietary Regimen

A folk proverb states: “After Winter Solstice dinner, daylight lengthens by a thread each day.” Days grow longer following Winter Solstice, and Yang energy flourishes inside the human body, enabling maximum absorption of nourishment. This makes the period around Winter Solstice the best time for tonic supplementation. Winter tonics require mindful selection. Tonifying ingredients include lotus seeds, gorgon fruit, coix seed, red beans, jujubes and tremella. However, blind supplementation fails to deliver health benefits.

Cold, dry weather makes excessive warm tonics likely to generate internal heat and deplete body fluids, causing dry nasal passages, throat irritation and dehydrated skin. Balance the diet with Yin-nourishing, dryness-relieving ingredients such as sea cucumber, soft-shelled turtle, abalone, crucian carp, water chestnut, radish, tremella, black jujube, sesame, kiwi and citrus fruits. This approach achieves nourishment without greasiness or dryness, balancing Yin and Yang and boosting physical immunity.

Cold Prevention & Warmth Maintenance

Winter Solstice kicks off the Nine Cold Periods, making cold protection the top priority of seasonal health care. With temperatures plummeting in most regions, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases must stay vigilant against acute attacks. Adjust clothing promptly according to ambient temperature; garments should retain heat while remaining soft and loose to ensure unobstructed blood circulation.

Rub Hands Regularly to Ward off Colds

Rubbing hands frequently brings great health benefits in cold winter. The palms house vital acupoints including Laogong, Yuji and Hegu. Kneading palms and massaging acupoints unblocks meridians, strengthens respiratory function and prevents colds.

Sun the Back to Nourish Yang

Sunbathing is the simplest way to replenish Yang energy in winter. The Governor Vessel runs down the center of the back, known as the Sea of Yang Meridians that governs all Yang energy and regulates qi and blood of Yang channels. Regular back sunbathing tonifies bodily Yang. Rubbing the lower back simultaneously unblocks meridians, warms the kidneys and strengthens the lumbar region.

Warm the Feet to Avoid Cold Constitution

Cold enters the body through the feet. Kidneys are the congenital foundation of human vitality, and the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin travels across the soles. Cold feet weaken immunity and trigger colds, abdominal pain, joint soreness, lumbago, leg pain and menstrual cramps in women. Extra foot warmth is essential on Winter Solstice. Wear thick, insulating socks and shoes; soak feet in hot water before bed, optionally adding meridian-warming herbs such as mugwort leaf and roasted ginger. Foot soaks dispel cold, unblock meridians, relieve lower limb fatigue and improve sleep quality.

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