What are the traditional foods eaten during the Great Snow (Daxue) solar term?

(1) Dog Meat
There is a saying, "hanging the head of a sheep to sell dog meat," but in Wenzhou, people have long had the belief that "winter's fragrant meat warms the stomach." This fragrant meat refers to dog meat. The cold winter is the best time for eating dog meat for nourishment. The "Bencao Gangmu" records, "Yellow dog meat greatly benefits people, while other colors have slight benefits." It is said that children with weak bodies and bedwetting can be cured by eating dog meat once or twice. In the past, many families in Wenzhou regarded dog meat as a fine gift for postpartum women to replenish their bodies.
(2) Lamb
The saying goes, "nourishing in winter, fighting like a tiger in spring." The Great Snow reminds people to start nourishing themselves. Nourishment improves the body's immune function, promotes metabolism, and helps alleviate cold sensitivity, allowing one to stay healthy through the winter. People in Nanjing often eat lamb during the Great Snow to keep warm and nourish the body, improve energy, and enhance circulation and cold resistance. Lamb also increases digestive enzymes, helping digestion. Experts suggest that eating lamb for nourishment in winter can be combined with ingredients like Chinese yam and goji berries for more balanced nutrition.
(3) Red Sweet Potato Porridge
After the Great Snow, the temperature gradually becomes colder, and people pay attention to keeping warm both indoors and outdoors, wearing winter clothes to prevent freezing and frostbite. In the northern part of Shandong, there is a saying, "the millstone blocks the door, only drinking red sweet potato porridge." This means that when it's cold, people no longer visit each other and just drink warm sweet potato porridge at home. Porridge is good for the stomach and spleen, moisturizes dry lungs, and is an excellent choice for health. Millet porridge has effects such as nourishing blood, calming the mind, and improving sleep, while sweet potatoes are known for "replenishing weakness, increasing energy, strengthening the stomach and spleen, and enhancing kidney yin," helping people "live long and be free from disease."
(4) Sugar Melting
"Sweet sugar vendor, slowly carrying, little children follow a big group." During the period around the Great Snow, a scene called "Sugar Melting" appears on the streets of Wenzhou. Local candy workshops provide prepared candy sheets to street vendors who travel around selling candy, known as "sweet sugar vendors."
These "sweet sugar vendors" knock on sugar knives while shouting to sell their candy. Children are often attracted, and parents bring copper scrap, coins, or copper plates to exchange with the "sweet sugar vendor" for candy. Since eating candy in winter has nourishing benefits, this "sugar melting" has now developed into a commercial practice.

What are the traditional customs and activities during the Great Snow (Daxue) solar term?

1. Watching the Frozen River:
"The small snow freezes the land, and the great snow freezes the river." In the north, there is a natural landscape of "a thousand miles of ice and ten thousand miles of snowflakes," while in the south, there is a charming picture of "snowflakes flying, the sky covered in silver." When the Great Snow comes, the rivers freeze completely, and people can enjoy ice skating and playing freely.
2. Preserving Meat:
In old Nanjing, there is a saying, "small snow preserves vegetables, great snow preserves meat." Once the Great Snow arrives, every household is busy preserving "salted goods." Mix salt with star anise, cinnamon bark, Sichuan pepper, and sugar in a pot, cook until it is hot, then cool down the spiced salt before rubbing it inside and outside the fish, meat, and poultry. Rub repeatedly until the meat turns dark and liquid oozes out.
Then place the meat along with the remaining salt into a jar, press it with stones, and store it in a shady, dark place. After half a month, take it out, add the extracted broth to a pot, boil it, skim off the foam, and put the dried meat into the jar layer by layer, pour the salt brine over it, press again with stones, and after ten days, take it out and hang it under the eaves facing the sun to air-dry for the New Year.
3. Drinking Sweet Potato Porridge:
In the northern part of Shandong, there is a saying, "the millstone blocks the door, only drinking red sweet potato porridge." This means that when it's cold, people no longer visit each other and just drink warm sweet potato porridge at home. Sweet potatoes are rich in protein, amino acids, dietary fiber, carotene, and various vitamins. At the same time, sweet potatoes effectively prevent calcium loss. Additionally, sweet potatoes contain a large amount of dietary fiber. Drinking hot sweet potato porridge during the Great Snow is not only delicious but also healthy.
4. Nourishing During the Great Snow:
By the time of the Great Snow, it is a great time for "nourishing," but don't just focus on nutritious food; choose different foods based on region and weather. In southern areas where it's not too cold, duck and fish are suitable for mild nourishment. In the cold northern climate, lamb and beef are suitable for replenishing the body's energy and enhancing cold resistance.
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