The saying of eating noodles during the summer solstice

In China, there is a custom of eating noodles during the summer solstice. Although the summer solstice is not the hottest time, people's diet gradually becomes lighter at this time, and eating more low-calorie foods is also good for the body. Noodles are more in line with this requirement. From a traditional perspective, there is a custom of eating noodles. From a practical point of view, eating some noodles in the summer can help to regulate the body.

The saying of eating noodles during the summer solstice

Eating noodles during the Summer Solstice is a custom that has been popular all over the country since ancient times. When it comes to food during the Summer Solstice, noodles are indispensable. As the saying goes: "Eat dumplings at the Winter Solstice and noodles at the Summer Solstice." It can be said that eating noodles during the summer solstice is a custom that is popular in most parts of the country. As recorded in "The Annals of the Capital's Sui Shi Sheng" by Pan Rongbi of the Qing Dynasty: "On this day, every family eats cold noodles, which is commonly known as Shuoshui noodles." There is a story behind eating noodles during the Summer Solstice. Although the Summer Solstice is not the hottest time of the summer, it indicates that the hot summer is about to come.

People begin to adjust their diet from the summer solstice, with low-calorie, easy-to-make, and refreshing foods as 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". On the day of the summer solstice, people in all parts of the north generally eat noodles. People in Shandong rinse the noodles with cold water before eating them, which is commonly known as "gushuimian". During the summer solstice, people in the north eat noodles with gravy and noodles with soybean paste, while in the south, there are more varieties of noodles, such as Yangchun noodles, dry soup noodles, shredded pork noodles, three fresh noodles, Guoqiao noodles and sesame oil cold noodles.

1. The original origin

In ancient times, sacrificial activities were held on the summer solstice. "The Book of Zhou: Spring Officials" states: "When summer arrives, bring local demons and goblins." This means to eliminate epidemics, famines and deaths from starvation. The period around the summer solstice is the time when wheat is harvested and new flour is available on the market, so in ancient times people used noodles to worship gods and celebrate the harvest. Eating noodles during the summer solstice is a custom.

2. The meaning of noodles

On the summer solstice, the day is the longest and the night is the shortest. Noodles are the longest food, so the ancients chose the summer solstice to eat noodles, hoping to make the day shorter. A folk saying about the Summer Solstice goes: "After eating noodles at the Summer Solstice, the day becomes a thread shorter." Therefore, noodles became the staple food of the ancients in midsummer. When it comes to the Winter Solstice, the daytime is already the shortest, so they change to eating the "shortest" dumplings or wontons, hoping that the day will become longer. Over time, the custom of "eating dumplings at the Winter Solstice and noodles at the Summer Solstice" was formed.

3. Realistic perspective

Everyone knows that the arrival of the summer solstice means that the highest temperature of summer is about to arrive. From a health perspective, wheat is sweet and cool in nature, and enters the heart, spleen, and kidney meridians. In addition, wheat is high in nutrients. Eating hot noodles in the hot summer can remove moisture and heat from the body while making you sweat. In addition, after catching a cold in the summer, people often experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, chills, headache and heaviness. Cook a bowl of hot noodles, add some scallion and pepper, and eat it while it is hot. It has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect.