Northern Chinese hold traditional winter solstice sacrifices

Some fans of traditional Chinese clothing, in Gansu province, carried out sacrificial rites to welcome the winter solstice, on Dec 21, in the city of Lanzhou’s Yantan Park, where everyone wore Hanfu (traditional Han attire) and played music, danced and offered goods and drink to heaven.

Han Chinese ceremony for sacrifice to heaven. [Photo/ xinhuanet.com]

Hanfu is reported to have been worn in 2698 BC the legendary Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) and continued on to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The sacrificial rites before the winter solstice are said to go back to the Western Han Dynasty (BC 206 – 24 AD), when the emperor wanted good fortune in the coming year. People these days like to hold the rites for fun and for carrying ion the culture -- and to pray for good luck.

Han Chinese sacrificial libation for heaven. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

By Li Xiaoxu and edited by Roger Bradshaw