1 民間習俗
迎冬
立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)與立(li)(li)春、立(li)(li)夏、立(li)(li)秋(qiu)合(he)稱四立(li)(li)、古代(dai)社(she)會(hui)中(zhong)是(shi)個重要的節日(ri)。過(guo)去(qu)是(shi)個農耕(geng)社(she)會(hui),勞(lao)動了一年,利用立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)這(zhe)一天(tian)要休息,順(shun)便犒賞(shang)一家(jia)人的辛(xin)苦(ku)。諺語"立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)補冬(dong)(dong)(dong),補嘴(zui)空"就是(shi)最好的比喻。古時此日(ri),天(tian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)有出郊(jiao)迎冬(dong)(dong)(dong)之(zhi)禮,并有賜(si)群臣冬(dong)(dong)(dong)衣(yi)、矜恤孤(gu)寡(gua)(gua)之(zhi)制。后世大體相同(tong)。《呂氏春秋(qiu).盂(yu)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)》:"是(shi)月也,以(yi)立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)。先立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)三日(ri),太史謁之(zhi)天(tian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),曰:'某(mou)日(ri)立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong),盛德在(zai)水。'天(tian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)乃(nai)齋。立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)之(zhi)日(ri),天(tian)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)親率三公九(jiu)卿大夫以(yi)迎冬(dong)(dong)(dong)于北郊(jiao)。還,乃(nai)賞(shang)死事,恤孤(gu)寡(gua)(gua)。"高誘注(zhu):"先人有死王事以(yi)安邊社(she)稷者,賞(shang)其子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)孫;有孤(gu)寡(gua)(gua)者,矜恤之(zhi)。"晉(jin)崔豹(bao)《古今注(zhu)》:"漢文(wen)帝(di)(di)以(yi)立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)日(ri)賜(si)宮侍承(cheng)恩者及百官(guan)(guan)披襖子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。"又"大帽子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)本巖叟野服,魏(wei)文(wen)帝(di)(di)詔百官(guan)(guan)常以(yi)立(li)(li)冬(dong)(dong)(dong)日(ri)貴賤通戴,謂(wei)之(zhi)溫帽。"
賀冬
賀(he)(he)(he)冬亦(yi)稱"拜冬",在漢代(dai)即有此俗(su)。東漢崔定《四民月令》:"冬至(zhi)之(zhi)日進酒肴,賀(he)(he)(he)謁(ye)(ye)君(jun)師耆老,一如(ru)(ru)正日。"宋代(dai)每逢此日,人們更換(huan)新(xin)衣,慶賀(he)(he)(he)往來(lai),一如(ru)(ru)年節。清代(dai)"至(zhi)日為冬至(zhi)朝,士大夫家拜賀(he)(he)(he)尊長,又交相出謁(ye)(ye)。細民男女,亦(yi)必更鮮衣以相揖(yi),謂之(zhi)"拜冬。"(見顧祿《清嘉錄(lu)》卷(juan)十一)。民國以來(lai),賀(he)(he)(he)冬的傳統風(feng)俗(su),似有簡化的趨勢。但有些活動,逐漸固(gu)定化、程式化、更有普遍(bian)性。如(ru)(ru)辦冬學、拜師活動,都在冬季舉行(xing)。
有些(xie)地方慶祝立冬的(de)方式也有了創新(xin),在(zai)(zai)黑龍江哈爾(er)濱、河南商丘、江西宜春、湖北武漢等地立冬之日,冬泳(yong)愛好者(zhe)們(men)就曾用冬泳(yong)這種方式迎接冬天的(de)到來(lai)。冬泳(yong)無論在(zai)(zai)北方還是(shi)南方,是(shi)冬季人們(men)喜愛的(de)一種鍛(duan)煉(lian)身體的(de)方法。
食俗
立(li)冬(dong)則(ze)有(you)吃水餃(jiao)的風(feng)俗。立(li)冬(dong)時,包餃(jiao)子,味道既(ji)同(tong)大白菜有(you)異,還要蘸醋加(jia)爛(lan)蒜吃,才算別(bie)有(you)一番(fan)滋味。
立冬為(wei)什么(me)吃餃(jiao)子(zi)?因我國以農立國,很重視二(er)十四節(jie)氣,"節(jie)"者,草(cao)木新的(de)(de)生(sheng)長點也。秋收冬藏(zang),這一天,改善一下(xia)生(sheng)活,就(jiu)選擇了(le)"好吃不(bu)過餃(jiao)子(zi)"。所以《禮記(ji)》中有(you)"食(shi)瓜亦(yi)祭先也"的(de)(de)說法。冬至,中國古有(you)"冬至節(jie)"的(de)(de)風俗。