The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Winter, (立冬), the 19th solar term of the year, means winter is coming and crops harvested in autumn should be stored up.
Eating dumplings
A legend has it that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, “Medical Saint” Zhang Zhongjing saved many people in Henan province around Start of Winter. He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to drive away the cold and increase body heat. He wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape, which became known as “dumpling”.
“Nourishing the winter”(补冬)
On the first day of Start of Winter, there is a custom, “nourishing the winter”,in Southeast China.
Eating Chinese pumpkins
In Tianjin, on the first day of Start of Winter, people eat dumplings stuffed with Chinese pumpkins (wogua).
Eating tuanzi
On the first day of Start of Winter, some people of Southern China have a custom of eating tuanzi, a kind of traditional Chinese food made with rice.
| A．To prepare for the oncoming cold winter |
| B．At this time, the autumn grain crops have just been sold on the market |
| C．To celebrate Start of Winter |
| D．Most rural residents make tuanzi by themselves |
| E．Here are things you should know about Start of Winter |
| F．It is a common vegetable in North China |
| G．Since then,people have learned to make the food, and the custom was passed on to today |
