郡人最重冬至节。先日，亲朋好友各以食物相馈赠，提筐担盒，充斥道路，俗呼冬至盘。节前一夕，俗呼冬至夜。是夜，人家更速燕饮，谓之节酒。女嫁而归宁在室者，至是，必归婿家。家无大小，必市食物以享先，间有悬挂祖先遗容者。诸凡仪文，加于常节，故有“冬至大如年”之谚。

清/顾禄《清嘉录》

People in the prefecture attach great importance to the Winter Solstice. Several days previously¹, friends and relatives present gifts of good to one another. The streets are crowded with people carrying baskets and boxes which are generally called “winter solstice trays”. The night before is called Winter Solstice Eve. On that night, families invite guests to food and drinks. This dinner is called the festival banquet. Married women who happen to be staying with their parents must return to their husbands. Families, rich and poor alike, buy food to offer to their ancestors. Some put up the portraits of their ancestors. The ceremonies and customs are more splendid than those of the ordinary festivals. Therefore, the saying goes, “The Winters Solstice is as important as the New Year”.

Gu Lu (Qing Dynasty)

Worthy² Records of the Qing Dynasty

注：冬至大如年：冬至，是农历二十四个节气之一，在公历十二月二十二日左右，这天北半球黑夜最长，白天最短。民间称冬至节为“过小年”，有的地区认为此节的隆重程度与过新年一样，所以说“冬至大如年”。甚至还有“肥东瘦年”的说法，由此可见民间对冬至节的重视了。

Notes: The Winter Solstice: one of the twenty-four solar terms. It is around 22nd December of the solar year. On that day in the northern hemisphere³, the night is the longest and the day the shortest in the whole year. The Winter Solstice is popularly called the “Small New Year”. In some areas people think the Winter Solstice should be celebrated⁴ as grandly as the New Year. Thus, the saying goes, “Fat Winter Solstice and lean New Year” This shows the importance people attach to the Winter Solstice.