The winter solstice among the twenty-four solar terms is a day of special significance in the eyes of the ancients. The ancients believed that this day would start the cycle of the next year. So when will the beautiful city of Hangzhou usher in darkness during the shortest day of the year?

Sunset time: 17:03 (Beijing time)

People in ancient times always believed that the winter solstice was the starting point for calculating the twenty-four solar terms in our country. Because as soon as the winter solstice arrives, the new year is just around the corner. Therefore, the ancients believed that the Winter Solstice was no less important than the New Year. There is a widely circulated saying among the people that "the Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year."

According to historical records, as early as the Zhou Dynasty, there were records of "the emperor leading the three princes and nine ministers to welcome the new year" in the suburbs to worship the sky on the winter solstice. "The Rites of Zhou" stipulates that on the winter solstice, a sacrificial ceremony "to gods, humans and ghosts" should be held.

After the Han Dynasty, the Winter Solstice Festival began to become a folk festival. "The Book of Han" says: "The yang energy rises at the winter solstice, so the emperor congratulates you." In the Han Dynasty, the winter solstice was regarded as the "Winter Festival", and the government would hold a congratulatory ceremony, called "Winter Congratulations", and have a routine holiday.

In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the status of the winter solstice was even more important. At that time, people even considered the "winter solstice" to be equally important as the "year-end". "Tokyo Menghualu" records: "The winter solstice in November. This festival is the most important in the capital. Even the poorest people will accumulate money during the year. On this day, they will buy new clothes, prepare food, and enjoy the sacrifices to their ancestors. The official release "Guan Pu, celebrating the coming and going, just like the New Year."

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the winter solstice still flourished, and there was a folk saying that "the winter is fat and the year is thin." At this time, every winter solstice, the emperor would personally hold a suburban sacrifice, that is, a sacrifice to the sky, and all the officials would go to the table to congratulate him. It can be seen that the ancients attached great importance to the Winter Solstice Festival and New Year's Day. The custom of celebrating the winter solstice continues to this day.

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