The Winter Solstice is one of the twenty-four solar terms of the lunar calendar and is also a very important festival in traditional customs.

"In November, the winter solstice, the capital is the most important festival. Although the poorest people accumulate loans in one year, they will be able to change their clothes, prepare food, and worship their ancestors. The officials will release the pass and celebrate the exchanges, just like the New Year's Day."

Song Jingshi attached the most importance to the Winter Solstice Festival. Even if the poorest families were, they would change into new clothes, prepare food, worship ancestors, set up plays in the government, and celebrate the people, just like the New Year.

During the Song Dynasty, the winter solstice became one of the "three major festivals" that were ranked alongside the cold food festivals on the sun and on the sun, also known as "sub-year", and the eve of the winter solstice was also called "winter removal".

From this we can see that the Song people attached great importance to the Winter Solstice Festival.

The customs of the Winter Solstice are similar to New Year's Eve. On the night of the Winter Solstice, children can play all night without sleeping, which is called "watching the winter". It is said that this can lead to a long life.

On this day, from the emperor, officials, to the common people, the common people, all planned to have a good winter solstice. Even beggars on the street asked passers-by to give them some wine, vegetables, new clothes, and live a lively festival.

Not to mention those who have extra wealth in the family, they must prepare some gifts of different thickness on the day of the winter solstice, visit relatives and friends, and wish them the winter solstice.

Because the winter solstice is not far from the sun, and the winter solstice consumes a lot of money from the Song people, the New Year is not as lively as the winter solstice...

The Song people also called it "Fat Winter and Thin Year" because of this...

"Bai Nier, Bai Nier, where are you running? Come back soon, wear new clothes."

In Li Sanjian's residence, a white light flashed, and a ball of furry objects flashed by. Then Li Nan, wearing a festive new dress, chased after him panting and shouting while running.

Li Nan was so angry that she finally begged her mother to make some clothes for Bai Nier to wear in winter, but just tried it on, and it ran away like a runaway...

It’s really a fox bit Lu Dongbin’s brother, he doesn’t know the kindness of a good person!

"Nannan, Nannan, what are you doing? Stop running away, come back soon, I'm going to worship my ancestors soon, I'll be angry later." Wang Wen, the second wife in the house, called Li Nan with a laugh and cry.

During the Winter Solstice Festival, Li Sanjian's family was no exception and planned to celebrate the festival in a lively manner. Therefore, in addition to preparing new clothes, dumplings, chaos, fresh fruits and vegetables and other things that meet the festival, they also had to prepare to worship ancestors and worship Li Sanjian's father Li Qing, and at the same time worship Li Sanjian's grandfather Li Xu and grandmother Zong.

Originally, Li Sanjian planned to waive these common etiquettes, but his mother Fu Erniang insisted on noticing that she was forgetting her ancestors... For a very unfilial person, Li Sanjian thought about it, so he listened to his mother's instructions and responded to this matter.

"Second Niang..." Li Nan looked at the direction of Bai Ni'er's escape, then looked at Wang Wen, with a very reluctant expression.

"Let's go, otherwise my mother will be angry." Wang Wen then dragged Li Nan, who was still reluctant to leave Bai Ni'er, to the "ancestral hall" at home.

The so-called "ancestral hall" in Li Sanjian's home is located on the left side of the courtyard, and a side house is temporarily used as a "ancestral hall".

Sacrifices to ancestors have existed since ancient times. Sacrifices to ancestors in the ancestral halls are called "family sacrifices" or "sleep sacrifices". The difference between sacrifices and cemetery lies in the different locations of sacrifices.

From the emperor, all officials, to the small people who were promoted to the people who were at home

There are places where sacrifices to ancestors, but the names are different. The places where the emperor and some officials worship their ancestors are called "family temples", while the places where the officials or people worship their ancestors are called "ancestral halls" or "ancestral temples".

The emperor's "family temple" is the "Taimiao".

"Family Temple" cannot be established as long as you want, or if you have money, you can build a ancestral temple at will. If you build a ancestral temple at will, you will be punished by the court for being "illegal" and will be punished.

The Song Dynasty had strict regulations on the establishment of ancestral temples, namely, the first rank of officials, the four temples were established above the Pingzhang office, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, the head of the Privy Council, the above the Academy, and the above the Academy, the Tongxuan Hui envoy, the Shangshu, the Jiedushi, and the Shaobao of the Eastern Palace, all set up three temples, and the rest of the officials were worshipped at the bed.

In other words, only those who are in the second rank or above can establish a ancestral temple, and the rest can only "sleep and sacrifice" in the ancestral hall at home.

There are also big differences between the appearance, furnishings, etc. of the ancestral temple and the ancestral hall.

When Wang Wen pulled Li Nan to the ancestral hall at home, Fu Erniang's ancestor worship was about to begin.

"Sister Wen'er, are you here?" Cai Rongxue, who was wearing new clothes and standing at the entrance of the ancestral hall, saw Wang Wen coming, and walked into the ancestral hall with a smile holding Wang Wen's little hand.

Generally speaking, women who are concubines and servants are not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, nor are they allowed to participate in the worship of ancestors, but Li Sanjian's family is exceptional. Cai Rongxue knows that although Li Sanjian is acquainted with etiquette, he never cares about etiquette. At the same time, Li Sanjian never discriminates against women. As long as he is his woman, he treats him sincerely. Although he cannot achieve a complete equal treatment, he is basically treated equally.

Therefore, although Cai Rongxue was a little disagreeing, she did not dare to anger Li Sanjian or was afraid of causing Li Sanjian's disgust.

The most important thing is that Li Sanjian's mother Fu Erniang is also a concubine. If Cai Rongxue reveals a little objection, it will definitely cause Fu Erniang's dislike. Li Sanjian is a filial son, so it will not be wonderful.

There is a couplet on both sides of the ancestral hall. The first couplet says "The books of sages who are the most supreme and can be read" and the second couplet says "Virtue is the rope of the ancestors, and the kindness of the ancestors should be rewarded."

...........

"I was born twenty-years after my ancestor died. I am now in the year of the year. I don't think so, but I will do my best to repay the son... These are all the things that my ancestors can do in their lives, but I don't want to do it, and I have never been proud of it. I have such titles and salaries, and I have all relied on my ancestors' virtues. How dare I repay them with this? Heaven may show the virtues of my ancestors..."

In the ancestral hall, Fu Erniang led the people from Li’s house to hold a ceremony for worshiping ancestors in the winter solstice. At this time, Fu Erniang, Li Sanjian and others all changed into new clothes, new hats, new socks, new shoes, clothes, etc. of course, the colors of them will not be colorful and extremely bright, but will mainly be black, white and blue.

After lighting candles, burning incense, burning paper, setting off firecrackers, etc., Li Sanjian, wearing a new black dress, recited the sacrificial text he wrote. The general meaning is that Li Sanjian can survive to this day by accumulating virtue from his ancestors... He did not forget his ancestors' teachings and continued to fight for the revitalization of his family...

At this time, several long incense storm of light smoke was lit in the incense burner in front of the throne of Li Sanjian. The slowly burning red candles illuminated the entire ancestral hall. The crisp sound of knocking on the bronze chime made it seem that the winter solstice worship of ancestors was even more solemn and dignified.

"When you kowtow, I wish my ancestors good deeds to generations!"

"Two kowtows! Three kowtows!"

If a wealthy family or a prominent family will definitely invite special ceremonies to perform rituals, etc., while Li Sanjian's family is relatively weak.

Therefore, the resident Zhai Liu was appointed as the host.

After Li Sanjian finished reciting, his descendants knelt down. So far, Li Sanjian still had no children, so Fu Erniang led Li Sanjian, Cai Rongxue, Wang Wen, Li Nan, Shankui and Shankui's wife Wu to kneel down.

Shankui was originally a slave who was trafficked and wanted to be killed to perform "human sacrifice". After being rescued by Li Sanjian, he regarded Li Sanjian as a relative. In addition, Shankui was an orphan and had no one in his family, so he completely regarded Li Sanjian's home as his own.

The same is true for Li Sanjian, who regards Shankui as a brother and sister.

"Husband!" Fu Erniang then looked at the tablet of her deceased husband Li Qing and cried, "Husband, have you seen it? Our child, Jian'er, has a promising career. Not only has he been the top scholar, he has become a top scholar, but he has also grown taller and stronger. He has also married and started a family and started a career. Husband, I will never let you down on your dying entrust and pull our child up. Husband, are you happy?"

Fu Erniang knelt on the ground, looking at Li Qingzhao's tablet, and was stunned while crying, as if she had returned to the time she was with Li Qing.

Seeing that his mother Fu Erniang remembered her deceased father again, Li Sanjian felt extremely uncomfortable, so he winked at Cai Rongxue and helped Fu Erniang up from left and right with Cai Rongxue.

"Mom, why are you doing this?" Li Sanjian helped Fu Erniang and advised: "The past is gone, so don't think about it anymore. We should be happy during the Winter Solstice."

Li Sanjian is not a pedantic person. His son does not allow his mother to marry, and his mother to remarry. Fu Erniang is less than forty years old at this time, so why can't he remarry? He has been widowed for so many years as a father, and it has been enough. He has been benevolence and righteousness. Why should he continue to suffer?

If Fu Erniang remarries at this time, Li Sanjian will definitely support her. Even if she has a fake father, Li Sanjian feels a little disgusted, but for the sake of her mother, Li Sanjian is willing to do so.

But the problem is that the emperor is not in a hurry and is eager to death... In the past, as long as Li Sanjian showed his meaning in this regard, he was immediately scolded by Fu Erniang, which made Li Sanjian no longer dare to mention this matter.

At this time, Li Sanjian could only be more filial to Fu Erniang, which not only comforted Fu Erniang, but also comforted himself.

Previously, Li Sanjian wanted to take his grandfather Fu Gui, uncle Fu Yan, Fu Lin and others to the capital. In addition to giving them a way out, his biggest purpose was to comfort his mother Fu Erniang.

I have a lot of business work and have no home for many years and cannot accompany my mother every day. After I brought Fu Gui and others, I believe that with my relatives, Fu Erniang will be much happier.

"Mom!" Cai Rongxue also held Fu Erniang and said with a smile: "What the official said is that the Winter Solstice Festival is waiting for your dinner."

"Am I old?" Fu Erniang felt sad after hearing this. She stroked the hair in her ear and asked with a smile.

"Not old!" Cai Rongxue smiled and had not answered yet, but Li Sanjian rushed to answer: "Mom, you are as beautiful as a flower... like a 28-year-old girl."

"Bah, no big or small, is there anyone who says that?" Fu Erniang said angrily.

The two of them asked and answered questions, as if they were back to Li Sanjian's youth. Fu Erniang also turned sad to joy and said, "Have you picked up Xu Biao's mother? Let's have dinner when you pick it up."
Chapter completed!