Résumé rapide
Beginning of Winter (Lidong) marks the official arrival of winter in China’s traditional calendar.
In the north, people eat dumplings to honor Zhang Zhongjing and ward off the cold, while the south focuses on nourishing soups and seasonal foods.
Today, Lidong blends tradition and modernity—families reunite, communities hold cultural events, and celebrations extend online.
Guided by TCM, this period emphasizes warming foods, adequate rest, and gentle exercise.
As Lidong customs spread globally, they serve as a meaningful cultural window into China.
Beginning of Winter: The Prologue to Winter
As the 19th of China’s 24 solar terms, Beginning of Winter (typically Nov 7-8) marks winter’s official arrival in the traditional calendar. Astronomically, it occurs when the sun reaches 225° celestial longitude, with the Big Dipper pointing northwest—signaling autumn’s end and winter’s start.
More than a time marker, it’s a key signal of nature’s cycles. Post-Beginning of Winter, Northern Hemisphere daylight shortens, solar radiation drops, and though residual surface heat delays extreme cold, chill sets in with widening day-night temperature gaps.
Beginning of Winter on the Tip of the Tongue
Diet is central to welcoming winter. Regional delicacies during this term blend taste and cultural meaning, adding warmth to the cold season.
Northern China: Dumplings – Warm Guardians of “Ears”
Eating dumplings on Beginning of Winter is a deep-rooted northern custom, tied to the folk saying: “No dumplings on this day, your ears freeze off.” The ear-shaped food’s origin links to Zhang Zhongjing, the Eastern Han “Medical Sage.”
Legend tells Zhang returned home to find villagers with frostbitten ears. He made ear-shaped “Jiao Er” (dumplings) with mutton, chili, and cold-dispelling herbs, boiling them for villagers. The dumplings cured frostbite, so people eat them annually to honor Zhang and ward off cold.
Northern streets fill with dumpling aroma on this day. Families gather to make them, with fillings like pork-cabbage (rich and sweet), mutton-carrot (warming and nutritious), and chives-egg (fresh for vegetarians)—all bringing warmth and joy.
Southern China: Nourishing – The Warm Power of Soups and Specialty Foods
Southern customs emphasize nourishment. In Guangdong, slow-cooked medicinal soups take center stage—ginseng, astragalus, or wolfberry paired with chicken, ribs, or trotters. Simmered for hours, these soups warm the body, tonify qi, and boost resistance to cold.
Wuxi locals eat glutinous rice balls (“tuanzi”) made with autumn grains. Fillings like red bean paste (sweet), radish (fresh), and lard (aromatic) offer diverse flavors, symbolizing warmth.
Chaoshan residents enjoy sugarcane (said to prevent toothaches, as it’s ripe and juicy) and fried fragrant rice—stir-fried with lotus seeds, mushrooms, and shrimp, tasting of harvest joy.
Traces of Beginning of Winter in Traditional Rituals
Beginning of Winter hosts meaningful rituals in Chinese culture, embodying reverence for nature and hopes for the future.
Ancient Winter-Welcoming Ceremonies: Emperors’ Winter Wishes
Anciently, it was one of the “Four Beginnings” (with Spring, Summer, Autumn). Three days prior, the grand historian informed the emperor, who then fasted piously in preparation.
On the day, the emperor led officials to the northern suburbs in dark black (Five Elements: water) robes for a solemn “Winter-Welcoming” ceremony, adhering strictly to ancient etiquette.
They offered sacrifices to Zhuan Xu (North God) and Xuan Ming (Water God), praying for national peace and a bumper harvest. Post-ceremony, the emperor gave officials winter clothes and aided orphans, spreading warmth.
Modern Winter Celebrations: Integration of Inheritance and Innovation
- Modern winter celebrations blend tradition and innovation. Diverse forms strengthen bonds and pass on culture, keeping the custom vibrant.
- Communities host events: residents make winter foods, share stories, and children learn about the term’s culture, fostering love for traditions.
- Families prioritize reunion—gathering for dinner, sharing memories, and elders passing down Beginning of Winter stories and family heritage.
- Online celebrations also thrive: people share photos and blessings via social media, connecting with distant loved ones across time and space.
Cultural Connotations of Beginning of Winter Customs
Health Preservation Wisdom in Conformity with Nature
TCM holds Beginning of Winter as key for yin-yang transition—yin grows, yang hides. Health preservation focuses on “converging yin and protecting yang” in line with nature.
Diet follows “nourish yin in autumn-winter”: warming mutton (tonifies qi) and nutrient-rich black sesame (nourishes liver/kidney) are ideal. Stir-fried sesame powder with honey is a tasty health booster.
Adjust (routine): “Sleep early, rise late with sunlight.” Aim for bed before 10 PM and rise 7-8 AM to preserve yang and accumulate yin.
Moderate exercise (Tai Chi, walking) boosts circulation, but avoid overexertion/sweating. Sunny afternoons are perfect for outdoor activity—enjoy warmth while exercising.
Emotional Bond of Family and Society
Beginning of Winter bonds families and society. Ancestor worship and reunions strengthen affection, inherit memories, and maintain harmony.
Ancestor worship is sacred: families gather at tombs/shrines, offering fruits/wine, lighting incense to express gratitude and seek blessings—embodying “respect ancestors.”
Elders share family stories and precepts during worship, deepening family cohesion and identity as younger generations learn heritage.
Reunions are core: families share dumplings or soups, cooperating in cooking and chatting—every dish carries care, and laughter fills the home.
Amid busy modern life, this reunion custom lets people pause work, reconnect with family, relieve stress, and lay a foundation for social harmony.
Beginning of Winter customs bridge past and present, family and society—passing culture while fostering affection, a treasure in Chinese heritage.
FAQ About Beginning of Winter
Q1: Why do northern Chinese eat dumplings on Beginning of Winter? A1: It’s linked to “Medical Sage” Zhang Zhongjing, who used dumplings to cure villagers’ frostbite. The custom honors him and is believed to protect against cold.
Q2: What’s the key TCM health tip for this solar term? A2: Conform to nature—nourish yin and protect yang by eating warming foods (mutton, sesame) and maintaining early sleep/moderate exercise.
Q3: How do modern Chinese celebrate Beginning of Winter? A3: Families reunite for seasonal meals; communities host cultural events, and people share traditions online with distant loved ones.
Echoes of Beginning of Winter Around the World
Globalization has spread Beginning of Winter customs worldwide. Foreigners increasingly participate, making it a vivid scene of China’s cultural exchanges.
On November 7, 2025, Beijing Language and Culture University hosted an international student event for Beginning of Winter. Global students joined in dumpling-making, TCM pulse diagnosis, and winter rice wine brewing to experience the solar term’s customs.
Russian student Natasha noted it was her first dumpling-making experience: “They differ from Russian dumplings. This activity taught me both the skill and Beginning of Winter’s cultural meaning.”
At the 7th China International Import Expo, Norwegian Minister Marianne Sivertsen Naess made dumplings with Norwegian seafood (salmon, mackerel, and Arctic shrimp). She called it a “novel way to understand Chinese cuisine” and plans to recreate this fusion dish for her family.
Such stories highlight Chinese culture’s appeal. Beginning of Winter customs, a key part of this heritage, have become a global window into China.
If you’re interested, try making Beginning of Winter delicacies or joining related activities to experience this unique cultural charm firsthand.
To learn more about the 24 solar terms, you can check the relevant articles on https://www.hcenturystar.com/.
Perspective culturelle : Comment “ Début de l'hiver ” reflète la sagesse saisonnière de la Chine
Ce qui définit ce terme solaire :
• Aliments saisonniers qui réchauffent, tonifient et protègent contre le froid hivernal.
• Principes de la MTC concernant “ nourrir le yin et protéger le yang ”.”
• Rituels familiaux, retrouvailles et activités culturelles communautaires.
• Participation mondiale croissante grâce à des événements d'échange culturel.
• Aliments saisonniers qui réchauffent, tonifient et protègent contre le froid hivernal.
• Principes de la MTC concernant “ nourrir le yin et protéger le yang ”.”
• Rituels familiaux, retrouvailles et activités culturelles communautaires.
• Participation mondiale croissante grâce à des événements d'échange culturel.
Ancré dans des siècles de tradition mais évoluant avec la vie moderne, Lidong incarne une philosophie chinoise fondamentale :
“ Lorsque les saisons changent, l'harmonie commence par aligner le corps, la maison et le cœur. ”
Références
1. Ministère de la Culture et du Tourisme de la République populaire de Chine. (2023). Un aperçu des 24 termes solaires de la Chine et de leurs connotations culturelles. Pékin : Éditions des Reliques culturelles.
2. Administration météorologique de Chine. (2024). Caractéristiques climatiques et orientations agricoles des 24 termes solaires. Consulté sur https://www.cma.gov.cn/weather/solarterm/
3. Li, J., & Wang, Y. (2022). “ Coutumes alimentaires et sagesse en matière de préservation de la santé au début de l'hiver dans la culture traditionnelle chinoise ”. Revue des études sur le folklore chinois, 44(3), 89-105.
4. Zhang, H. (2021). Rituels anciens chinois et vie sociale : centrés sur les quatre “ débuts ” des termes solaires. Shanghai : Éditions des Livres anciens de Shanghai.
5. Organisation mondiale de la santé. (2023). Pratiques de médecine traditionnelle chinoise pour la gestion de la santé saisonnière. Genève : Éditions de l'OMS.