``Winter Solstice Customs - Seasonal Culture'' surrounding the seasons

Twenty-four solar terms 22nd [Winter Solstice]

It's the time of the year when the days are the shortest and the nights are the longest.

[Winter solstice] means “the days become shorter”

In the past, people could hardly harvest crops as the cold deepened, and it was very difficult to survive the winter in the harsh cold that was about to increase.

``If the power of the sun weakens and becomes a cathode, not only grains but also humans, all things will decline.''

In winter, the sun is out, the air is cold, the plants are withered, and there are not many animals to see. Under such circumstances, the winter solstice, the longest night, is the ``day closest to death,'' and that is why it has become a day to pray for good health.

People see seasons of hardship as cycles of seasons of blessings,

Moving towards spring after the winter solstice

The power of the sun will be revived again = “The day the sun is reborn”

I have always thought of it as the first day of the year .

There are many customs not only in Japan but all over the world to celebrate the winter solstice as the `` birthday of the sun, '' and Christmas also has its origins in the winter solstice festival.

It is also called ``Ichiyo Raifuku,'' and it refers to ``the return of good fortune after a series of bad things . ''

Many of the wisdom and lifestyles of people who prayed for the blessings of new grain, thanked the sun, considered not only grains but also humans to be part of nature, and lived in harmony with the changing seasons have been passed down to this day.

winter solstice food

What kind of things did you eat to pass the time as the cold deepened?

[Pumpkin - Pumpkin]

Since pumpkins are eaten on the winter solstice, people tend to think of them as a winter vegetable, but they are actually a summer vegetable.
Eat carefully preserved pumpkins harvested in the summer to overcome the cold of winter. Not only can it be stored for a long time, but its flavor improves as it ripens, making it even more delicious to eat around the winter solstice.

[Efficacy/effect]
It contains a wealth of nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium, which are perfect for winter, when your physical condition tends to be unstable.
It boosts immunity, prevents aging due to its antioxidant effect, protects skin health, improves swelling, and improves constipation.

[Recommended cooking method]
It contains many water-soluble vitamins, so if you boil it, the nutrients will be lost. We recommend soups that can also use boiled water. You can also prevent it by cooking with lentils.

Beta-carotene is better absorbed when taken with oil. Therefore, you can efficiently consume nutrients by cooking with oil or cooking with fatty minced meat.

[Azuki beans]

Red beans have been known for their effectiveness for a long time, so much so that China's oldest medical book, Bencao, states that red beans can ``kill demon poisons and stop pain.'' It is also said to be a ``red bean to ward off evil spirits.'' There is also a Chinese custom of cooking red bean porridge on the winter solstice to ward off evil spirits, and ``pumpkin simmered with cousins'' became a staple on the winter solstice day.
Additionally, there is a custom of eating red bean porridge on January 15th, the Little New Year, to ward off evil spirits for the year and pray for good health.

Cousoni, which is boiled pumpkin and red beans, is a standard menu for the winter solstice.

[Efficacy/effect]
●Vitamin B1, which is abundant in adzuki beans, has the ability to support carbohydrate metabolism. It also promotes lactic acid metabolism and supports recovery from fatigue.
●Ingredients rich in potassium. It excretes sodium (salt) taken into the body and helps prevent swelling.
●Contains a lot of dietary fiber. Effective against constipation. It also has the effect of regulating the intestinal environment.

In addition, women can expect benefits such as improving constipation, dieting, beautiful skin, and preventing lifestyle-related diseases.

[Recommended cooking method]

Like pumpkin, adzuki beans are also a food rich in water-soluble vitamins. The initial broth has a lot of scum and is thrown away during the cooking process to remove the astringency.

If you want to get the full amount of polyphenols contained in adzuki beans, we recommend boiling them as is. Polyphenols are also a component of astringent ingredients, so please choose whether to boil or not according to your taste and cooking.

Nowadays, there are a wide variety of varieties available, ranging from those with strong astringency to those with almost no harshness. Red beans are an ingredient that is suitable for a variety of cooking, so it is recommended that you try using them depending on your preferences and cooking.

[Good luck! Seven types of winter solstice]

The [Nanakusa of Spring] that is eaten during the Jinjitsu no Sekku (Jinjitsu no Sekku) after the New Year is famous, but there are also ``Seven Herbs of the Winter Solstice'' that are eaten on the winter solstice.

The seven kinds of winter solstice are the following foods.

Agar
Kumquat ( Kumquat )
Ginkgo ( Ginnan )
Pumpkin ( Pumpkin )
Carrot ( carrot )
Lotus root
Undon ( udon )

On the day of the winter solstice, the seven types of winter solstice are offered in hopes of improving luck, a ritual called ``Unmori.'' In fact, there are many ingredients that are highly nutritious, so they are not only considered to bring good luck, but also recommended to help you survive the cold winter.


In addition to food, there are other famous customs during the winter solstice.

[Yuzuyu]

Yuzu bath has the meaning of ``purifying your body'' before attracting good luck.