The “24 solar terms” originated and was firstly used in China. It was created thousands years ago on the basis of practical needs of agriculture. It's determined by the changes of the sun’s position in the zodiac throughout the year, with two segments each month. Ancient Chinese people used it to guide agriculture production, special climate signs such as floods and drought, cultural ceremonies, family gatherings and even healthy living tips. Nowadays the “24 solar terms” is still being used by farmers and followed in many other parts of the world apart from China.
Spring Begins, The Rains, Insects Awaken, Vernal Equinox, Clear and Bright, Grain Rain are all in spring.
Summer Begins, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Slight Heat, Great Heat, are all in summer.
Autumn Begins, Stopping the Heat, White Dews, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dews, Hoar-Frost Falls are all in autumn.
Winter Begins, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Slight Cold, Great Cold are all in winter.
Springs Begins, Summer Begins, Autumn Begins and Winter Begins show the beginning of the four seasons. Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice indicate the turning points of the changes in the luminosity of the sun.
Spring Begins
Spring Begins
Introduction
“Spring Begins” is the first solar term in the 24 solar terms. In China, it represents thebeginning of the spring season. It usually happens between February 2 and February 5when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315 degrees. If you look at the stars at7 p.m. on this day, you might see the bucket arm of the Big Dipper pointing to thenorth-east direction at exactly the 45 degree angle, which is also called “Gen”, adirection in the Chinese Eight Diagrams. When “Spring Begins” arrives, days get longerand sunlight gets warmer. Temperature, the length of sunlight and the amount ofrainfall are all at the turning points of the year. An old Chinese saying goes like this, “Spring begins and rain arrives. Get up early and sleep late.” It is to remind the farmersthat the annual agriculture is about to begin.
Traditional Customs
There were many activities and customs to celebrate this day in old times and for someof them, people may even see the traces today. According to the historical articles fromthe ancient times, almost all the dynasties throughout China’s ancient historycelebrated this day by holding big ceremonies and fiesta. It has become a festivalrather than just a solar term. People usually welcome season by playing traditionalactivities such as “Spring Baby”, “Spring Whip” and “Spring Cow". The day is alsocalled “Biting Spring” since people eat traditional food such as “Spring Roll” and“Spring Pancake”.
Healthy Living Tips
When spring comes, the natural world is revitalizing and all things are flourishing. Sameto the crops, human bodies also start a new round of growth from this day. Peopleshould open the windows more frequently to allow the air to circulate and take morephysical exercises to enhance their immunity. It is also the best time to protect one’sliver, since according to traditional Chinese medical principles, “spring appropriateraising liver”. Taking nourishment including traditional Chinese medicine ingredientssuch as Chinese wolfberry, Turmeric Root-tuber, the root of red-rooted salvia,Corydalis tuber and food like Chinese date, fermented soya beans, spring onion, garlic,caraway and peanut are all quite good choices.
The Rains
The Rains
Introduction
When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 330 degrees, the solar term of “TheRains” arrives. “The Rains” indicates that as the weather gets warmer, the amount ofrainfall increases, at the same time the form of precipitation transforms from snowfall torainfall. It usually happens on February 18 or February 19 and ends on March 4 orMarch 5. When passing the day of “The Rains”, the weather sometimes can beunpredictable for a few days. One minute, it rains and another minute, it shines. Whenthe season comes, the otter starts fishing, the wild goose flies back to north from southand grass and trees start to sprout. No matter what, rain is the most important elementin this solar term. Just like the Chinese farmers often say, “Spring rain is as precious asoil”, meaning raining is a sign that crops will soon grow faster.
Traditional Customs
In old times, married daughter should go home and visit her parents on this day.Woman who already has children should bring presents such as canned meat, chairsto home to show their filial piety. Pregnant woman should wear a pair of red trouserssewn by her mother, which was to bless her baby being delivered healthy. Young girlshould find a god father which can help her grow safely and healthily. Nowadays, thiscustom is still quite popular in some of the countryside in China.
Healthy Living Tips
As the rainfall increases, dampness invades the spleen. It’s very important to protectthe spleen during this period by eating foods that would help to dispel wind andeliminate dampness inside one’s body. Honey, dates, Chinese yam, tremella are allvery good nourishment. On the other hand, raining often causes anxiety and peoplewith high blood pressure, heart attack and asthma need to pay special attention to theirhealth conditions.
Insects Awaken
Insects Awaken
Introduction
In Chinese, the third solar term in spring is called Jing Zhe, which means that insectsare awaken from winter sleep by the sound of thunder. It happens when the sunreaches the celestial longitude of 345 degrees on March 5 or March 6. After this day,thunders begin to appear all over China and the sound awakens all kinds ofhibernating insects hiding in the soil. As contemporary scientific research shows, whatreally makes the insects awaken is the increasing temperature of the soil. In Chineseancient poems, “Insects Awaken” was often described with views of peach blooming,yellow warblers tweeting and swallows flying. It is the time for spring farming in most ofthe places in China.
Traditional Customs
There are two tradition customs spread among the folk. The first one is to hold sacrificeceremony for the white tiger in order to defuse dispute. In China’s folk legend, the whitetiger is the god for dispute. Every year at this time, it comes out to find food and eatpeople alive. If someone violates the white tiger, he or she will encounter villains in lifestirring up troubles. To hold a ceremony for the white tiger can bless the person withgood luck and in ancient times, people used handmade paper white tiger to representthe real one. The second custom is to “beat the villain” and drive way the bad luck. Thisis done by using wormwood or special materials to drive out all the insects, rates andsnakes hiding in the corner of people’s houses and people believe that by doing so,they are “beating the prolife of the villains.”
Healthy Living Tips
When “Insects Awaken” arrives, the Yang Qi in human’s body is increasing and the YinQi is relatively weak. It’s the best time to eat food which may help peace down the fiveinternal organs especially liver and spleen. It’s better to eat food with more vegetableprotein rather than those with adipose. Healthy food include duck blood, spinach,aloes, summer radish, balsam pear, Malabar spinach, celery, rape, Chinese yam, lotusseed and tremella. According to medical research, this period is also a peak season forsymptoms such as livers diseases, flu, chicken pox, herpes zoster and specialattentions must be paid to prevent these illness.
Vernal Equinox
Vernal Equinox
Introduction
“Vernal Equinox” arrives around March 21 every year and on this day, the sun isvertically above a point on the equator. “Vernal Equinox” indicates two meanings.Firstly, on this day, the night and day are approximately equally long with 12 hourseach. Secondly, it’s the mid-point for the spring season. After this day, the suncontinues to move to the north hemisphere and the temperature continues to rise. Dailyaverage temperature in most areas in China reaches 0 degree Celsius above. Someareas may even reach 10 degree Celsius. Many proverbs among the farmers describethis season as “rains with thunder and lightning” and “time to farm otherwise nothing toharvest for the rest of the year”.
Traditional Customs
Some traditional customs around “Vernal Equinox” include:
-. Balancing Eggs: People choose fresh eggs laid only a few days ago and gently placethem on the table. The one who can balance an egg on its point steal the glamour.
- Eating “Spring Vegetable”: People cook “Spring Vegetable”, i.e., amaranth, with fish ina soup.
- Sending “Spring Cow”: People send paper-cut pictures showing spring cow ploughingin the field to each other.
Healthy Living Tips
Since “Vernal Equinox” equally divides day and night, people should pay more attentionon the balance of Yin Qi and Yang Qi in human’s body. Traditional Chinese medicalpractice shows that to balance Yin and Yang, the human body requires both“supplying” and “releasing”. For example, when eating food with cold nature such ascrab, fish and prawn, it’s better to cook them with food with warm nature such as ginger,spring onion, wines and vinegar. During this period, people should also pay attention tosymptoms such as menstrual disorder, allergic, high blood pressure and so on.
Clear and Bright
Clear and Bright
Introduction
“Clear and Bright” is not only a solar term but also a traditional festival in China, theQingming Festival. It comes around April 5 each year when the sun reaches thecelestial longitude of 15 degrees. The temperature continues to increase and farmersget busier with farming. At this point, the princess tree starts to bloom, the filed mouseis gone and rainbow often appears after rain.
One of the most important activities on this day is to tend graves to honor ancestors,dead relatives and friends. In addition, as the spring comes and everywhere getsgreen, people often go picnicking, hiking, play kites or plant willows.
Traditional Customs
Important Qingming customs include:
- Sweeping the tomb, eating cold food and no fire allowed. Qingming Festival isoriginated from the Cold Food Day, a festival created by Chong’er, a prince from theSpring and Autumn Period in ancient China. Chong’er used to have a very loyal officialnamed Jie Zitui, who even cut his own flesh off his leg to save the dying prince duringthe hard times. When Chong’er ascended the throne, he almost forgot about his saviorJie and Jie left the palace and lived in the forest with his mother. Desperate to find Jie,Chong’er finally set a fire in the forest to force Jie back but at last he only found theburned body of Jie and his mother, together with a note written in blood saying, “I cutoff my own flesh to dedicate to you, only to wish my king will always be clear andbright.” Chong’er felt very so guilty and named the Cool Food Day when all peoplemust eat cold food and no fire or smoke is allowed. Later this Cold Food Day becamethe Qingming festival where people held remembrances events for their ancestors.
- Conducting outdoor activities.
- Some other traditional rules carried out by people in old times: No needles allowed.No laundry activities allowed. Woman not allowed going outside on this day. Peopledrew a grey line outside the door to prevent “ghost” into the house before dusk.
Healthy Living Tips
The traditional Chinese medical theory believes that this period is the perfect time forpeople to absorb Yang Qi into human’s body. Everything which may consume or blockone’s Yang Qi should be avoided. People are suggested to take more exercises suchas jogging, gymnastics, hiking. Although the old custom of eating cold food is stillpopular in some areas, not everyone’s body is suitable for doing so, especially thosewho have weak stomach. People should eat more fruits and vegetables such as chives,Chinese cabbage and radish.
Grain Rain
Grain Rain
Introduction
“Grain Rain” is the sixth solar term in the 24 solar terms. It is the last solar term inspring when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 30 degrees around April 20 toApril 21 every year. The term “Grain Rain” is originated from a folk story. When CangJie, an official from the Yellow Emperor period, created writing characters, grain camedown from sky like rainfall. Therefore, the Yellow Emperor named this day as the “GrainRain”. When this day comes, the amount of rainfall increases much than the day of“The Rain”, which is very important for the growth of the crops. After this day, theduckweed starts to grow after rainfall, the cuckoo starts to sing and hoopoe starts toappear on mulberry tree. The temperature in most of the basin areas increases quickly.Apart from the north-west part, most of the basin areas in China reach 20 to 22 degreeCelsius.
Traditional Customs
Below are some traditional customs during “Grain Rain”.
- Picking and cooking tea leaves: “Grain Rain Tea” is the name for the tea madearound the time of “Grain Rain”. It has a strong and fragrant taste and can last for along time in water. Nowadays, “Grain Rain Tea” is considered as one of the best kindsof tea and many activities to promote Chinese tea culture and healthy way of drinkingare held on this day.
- Blessing to the sea: “Grain Rain” is a perfect time for fishing since when temperatureincreases, the sea also gets warmer and many fishes swim in the sublittoral area.Fishermen often hold sacrifice ceremony for the sea to bless for safety and success onthe sea.
- Killing insects: As the weather gets warmer, insects become more active. Farmersoften use different methods to kill insects and pray at the same time.
- Taking a bath: In some of the north-west areas, people call the river showered by therains during “Grain Rain” period as “Peach Blossom water”. Taking a bath in this watercan help people be far away from the back luck.
- Eating cedrela sinensis
Healthy Living Tips
The most significant weather feature around “Grain Rain” is the big differencesbetween morning temperatures and night temperatures. It’s important not to catch acold. People should also pay attention to symptoms like hay fever, allergic rhinitis andallergic asthma.
Summer Begins
Summer Begins
Introduction
“Summer Begins” comes on May 5 or May 6 every year. When the sun reaches thecelestial longitude of 45 degrees, it’s the beginning of the summer season. Usuallypeople consider this period as the time where temperature begins to rise obviously,thunderstorm becomes more frequent and crops’ growth enter the peak season. Manycrops seeded in spring can be harvested in the summer. Wheat grain begins to growfull and rapeseed is nearly ripe. It’s also the peak season for transplant rice seedlings.As an old saying goes, “You can see the outcome of summer at the ‘Summer Begins’”.Since the ancient times, people had paid important attention to this day. In the ZhouDynasty, emperors would take a trip outside the palace together with his officials towelcome the summer, and send out orders to local officials encouraging farmersworking harder.
Traditional Customs
As mentioned above, in ancient times, emperor led all his officials outside the palace towelcome this day. Everyone wore vermilion clothes, with vermilion accessories. Evenhorses, chariots and flags were vermilion. This was to show people’s prayer for goodharvest. The emperor also awarded his officials some ice stored from the previouswinter.
In folk, people relieve the summer heat with cold drinks. People along the YangtzeRiver have the customs of boiling and eating broad bean.
Healthy Living Tips
Since the temperature rises continuously, people should take food which are easier todigest and are with more vitamins. It’s better to avoid oily and spicy food. Anotherprinciple is to eat something good for the heart, for example, milk, bean products andchicken. More vegetables and fruits can help increase the cellulose, Vitamin B andVitamin C and thus prevent arteriosclerotic diseases.
Grain Buds
Grain Buds
Introduction
“Grain Buds” is the second solar term in the summer season, representing a periodwhere grains are fuller and fuller day by day, but not totally full yet. This day arrives onMay 21 or May 22 when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 60 degrees. It’sdriest solar term in the year and it’s important to keep the crops away from the dry hotwind. In Chinese, “Grain Buds” is called “Xiao Man”, where “Man” means full. Therefore,full indicates not only the grain but also the amount of rainwater. It is said that if there isno enough water during this period, the crops will not grow when the next solar termcomes.
Traditional Customs
In south China, people have a tradition of “Moving three wheels”, namely waterwheel,spinning wheel and oil wheel. People activate the waterwheel before “Grain Buds” andoften irrigate paddy field by turning the wheels by man power or buffalo. Some placesin China also have the tradition of eating sow thistle on this day.
Healthy Living Tips
When entering summer, people often like to cool down with cold drinks. However,having too much cold food or drink during this time may cause stomachache anddiarrhea. People should eat food that can clear the hot and humid inside one’s bodyand protect one’s Yin Qi, for example, red bean, coix seed, green bean, wax gourd,cucumber, day lily, water chestnut, carrots, tomato, watermelon, crucian, grass carp,duck and so on.
Grain in Ear
Grain in Ear
Introduction
“Grain in Ear” means the grains are mature. It happens around June 5 every year whenthe sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75 degrees. During this period, crops likebarley and wheat all get mature and are waiting to be harvested. In Chinese, “Grain inEar” is called Mang Zhong. Mang means grains at the same time busy. It forecasts thefarmer is getting back to the busy field work. It’s the busiest time to seed millet and thedeadline for sowing activities. During this period, areas around middle stream anddownstream of Yangtze River enter the raining season. Sensing the wetness, themantis comes out, the shrike starts to sing and the mockingbird stops tweet.
Traditional Customs
As the flowers withered away, people in old times used to hold ceremony to sacrifice forthe “God of Flowers”, showing their gratitude and their eagerness to see the flowersagain next year. This custom is already long gone and people can only read the scenein some of the ancient novels. In China’s south Anhui province, people steamdumplings with new fresh wheat flour after seeding the paddy rice. They make the flourinto different shapes such as cereals, animals, vegetables and fruits, color them andpray for villagers’ safety.
Healthy Living Tips
The best food to eat during “Grain in Ear” period, as suggested by Chinese doctors, ismulberry. Around two thousand years ago, mulberry had already been considered asroyal food and among the folk, it was called the “Holy Fruit”. It has abundant glucose,cane sugar, Vitamin A, B and C and many mineral substances and is very good forhuman’s heart, liver and kidney.
Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice
Introduction
“Summer Solstice” comes on June 21 to June 22 each year when the sun altitude arrivethe highest in north. This day has the longest day time of the year in the NorthernHemisphere and the sunshine in many cities in south China may last fourteen hours perday. After this day, the spot of the direct sunlight gradually moves southward. Although,this day has the longest daylight, it’s not the hottest. As traditional Chinese booksdescribed, there are three periods of the hot season. It starts around “SummerSolstice” and ends around “Autumn Begins”. The temperature rises day by day and thehottest days come around mid-July to mid-August, where temperatures of some cities inChina reach 40 degree Celsius. After this day, thunderstorms often come aroundafternoons and evenings. Old poems also describe this season as, “with sunshine inthe east and rain in the west, you can’t tell whether it’s fine or not.” People in ancienttimes called this day as “Summer Festival” and during the Song Dynasty, officials weregiven 3 days holiday to rest at home.
Traditional Customs
In some provinces, there is the tradition of eating cold noodles on this day. Accordingto old customs in Beijing, when it comes to “Summer Solstice”, people can start eatinguncooked vegetables and cold noodles safely to stimulate the appetite and at the sametime don’t need to worry about having diarrhea. In Guangdong province, people oftencook soups that will help insider system cool down and drink cold tea and sweet-sourplum juice.
Healthy Living Tips
During this period, to comply with the Yin and Yang in the natural world, people shouldsleep late, get up early and have a nap during the lunch time. Aged people shouldmake sure they have at least seven hours sleep every day by sleeping early and getup early. Actually most of the people feel tired and sometimes even headache duringthis period. This is because when the temperature rises, people can only send out theheat by perspiration, which may cause dehydration and thus the insufficient bloodsupplying to the brain. Therefore, remember to drink a lot of water if feelinguncomfortable.
Slight Heat
Slight Heat
Introduction
When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105 degrees, it’s the time for “SlightHeat”, usually happening on July 7 or July 8. Slight heat means it’s hot but not thehottest. The continuous rainfall season for cities along “Yangtze River” will soon stopand enter summer days. On the other hand, the north and north-east of China willenter the rain season. Therefore, when “Slight Heat” arrives, people in north shouldpay attention to waterlogging, but in the south, drought. As mentioned earlier, threeperiods of the hot season come one by one after “Summer Solstice”. In the Chinese, it’scall the three “Fu”, meaning that the weather is so hot and people better lie down thanto move. Around the “Slight Heat” period, it’s the first “Fu” period. The wind comes withhot wave, the cricket starts to crawl from the field into the yard and young eagle startsto learn how to fly and hunt.
Traditional Customs
In ancient times, emperors used to give out ice and fried noodles to his officials andpeople on the first “Fu” period. Nowadays, people eat Jiaozi on the first “Fu”, noodleson the second and eggs with baked pancake on the third. In Xuzhou, the tradition ofeating lamb can be traced back to thousands of years ago. At that time, there alreadyhad been the saying that “Having a bowl of lamp soup, no need to see the doctors.”
Healthy Living Tips
On the eleven’s solar term, the Yang Qi in human’s body is the most vigorous. Peopleshould pay attention to work and life balance and eat food which can help release thehotness. A very good dish is Chinese porridge, cooked with materials such as lotus leafor hyacinth bean. Another proverb is “Don’t sit on rocks in the winter and woods in thesummer”. This is because wood can obtain wetness after rain. Although it may look dry,it still diffuses humidity after sunshine. Sitting on wood may cause piles, rheumatismand arthritis.
Great Heat
Great Heat
Introduction
The “Great Heat” represents the hottest days in the year. It arrives on July 23 or 24when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 120 degrees. It’s a season with thehighest temperature, where the crops grow fastest and the most frequent time fordrought, waterlogging and windy weather. After this day, firefly comes out, soil getsmore and more humid and heavy thunderstorm comes from time to time. The daysaround the “Great Heat” witness the blossom season of jasmines and lotuses. At thistime of the year, many tourists and photographers go to the park and enjoy the lotusexhibition.
Traditional Customs
There are two very contradictory customs in China for “Great Heat”, one is to eat foodwith cold nature and the other is to eat food with hot nature. In south-east of Hunanprovince, there is the tradition of eating “bean jelly grass”. It has special effect forrelieving the summer heat. However, in Fujian province, people eat leechee and lambto spend “Great Heat”. In middle and north of Hunan, people eat young chicken. Theybelieve that eating food with hot nature can drive away the dampness.
Healthy Living Tips
People should eat more seasonal vegetables including towel gourd, broccoli andeggplant. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you should eat pumpkin, whichis full of vitamins, protein and amino acid.
Autumn Begins
Autumn Begins
Introduction
“Autumn Begin” is the 13th solar term in the 24 solar terms. It’s on August 8 or 9 everyyear meaning the beginning of the fall. When it comes to this season, the leaves of thefirmiana tree start to fall, thus there is a saying of “One leave falls, autumn arrives.”When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 135 degrees, the summer is passingaway and the weather turns cold gradually. People can feel the wind is getting cool andsee fogs in the morning sometimes. It’s also a season of harvest.
Traditional Customs
Traditions around this time include “Autumn Begins” festival, “touch the autumn”, “getthe autumn fat” and so on. “Touch the autumn” happens on the day of August 15,where all the married women who still haven’t got children go to the filed in themidnight, find and touch the melon seeds, with the accompany of her sister-in-law orother females. It’s also popular to “get the autumn fat”. Since people have little appetiteduring the hot summer and often lose some weight, the beginning of autumn willsimulate appetite again. On the day of “Autumn Begins”, many people cook meatdishes.
Healthy Living Tips
“Autumn Begins” is the season of transformation. The Yang Qi gets less and Yin Qigrows. It’s the most important time to protect one’s lung. People should not eat toomuch spring onions and ginger. Food such as sesame, sticky rice, honey, loquat anddairy food will be very good to the stomach.
Stopping the Heat
Stopping the Heat
Introduction
“Stopping the Heat” happens on August 23 each year when the sun reaches thecelestial longitude of 150 degrees. At this point, the hot summer passes and heatstops. Although many of the places in China still have a day average temperature ofmore than 22 degree Celsius, the cold air comes from the north make the weather cooldown slowly. It’s usually hot in the day and cold in the morning and in the evening. Inthis season, the eagle starts to hunt birds, many plants and flowers start to wither, andcrops like millet, paddy rice and fine grain all get mature.
Traditional Customs
Here are some popular customs during “Stopping the Heat”.
- Welcoming the autumn: around “Stopping the Heat”, there are often celebratingactivities in the folk to welcome the autumn. Nowadays, people often take a trip in themountains to enjoy the beautiful autumn views.
- Lighting up the lantern: People light a lantern on a lotus shaped foundation and put itin the river or the sea. It’s to help the ghost of those who died in water found their wayto heaven.
- Fishing Festival: As to the fishermen, this period is a good time for fishing. Thetemperature of the sea is still warm and there are a lot of fish, prawns and shellfish inthe open sea area.
Healthy Living Tips
As Chinese often say, “It’s sleepy in the spring and tired in the autumn”. This is theperiod that people often feel tired and difficult to get up in the morning. In order to haveenough sleep, it’s better to go to bed before 10:00am and increase one hour of sleepthan in summer. When autumn comes, it’s better to eat light dishes rather thansomething like BBQ, or spicy meat. Foods with more vitamins are very good for health,for example, tomatoes, eggplant, potato and pear.
White Dews
White Dews
Introduction
When “White Dews” comes, the temperature decreases further and the weather getscooler. In the morning, you can see the dew on the grass and trees. “White Dews”happens around September 7 every year when the sun reaches the celestial longitudeof 165 degrees. At this point, the swan goose and swallow fly back to south and birdsstart to store food for winter. When the day comes, the cool autumn wind blows acrossthe vast land on the north of the Huaihe River from north to south. In many places ofChina, the air is clear, the sky is high and the clouds are peaceful. People can oftenfeel the gentle autumn breeze blowing.
Traditional Customs
In Fuzhou, people eat longan on this day. It’s said that eating longan on “White Dews”can provide a lot of nutrition to human’s body, like eating a whole chicken. In Nanjing,people drink “White Dews” tea. There is also the tradition of drinking “White Dews” ricewine, made of cereals such as sticky rice, sorghum.
Healthy Living Tips
“White Dews” is a typical solar term in autumn. It’s a peak season for allergic conditionsand bronchial asthma. It’s better to eat less prawns, fish and seafood. This season isalso very dry, making people feel thirsty all the time. Eating ginseng may help.
Autumn Equinox
Autumn Equinox
Introduction
On the Chinese lunar calendar, “Autumn Equinox” is the beginning of autumn and thisday is just at the middle point between “Autumn Begins” to “Hoar-Frost Falls”. After“Autumn Equinox”, the temperature decreases obviously, just like the old proverbsamong the farmers, “Each autumn rain makes it’s colder”, “The night of White Dewsand Autumn Equinox, one night is colder than the one before”. It arrives on September22 to September 23 each year when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180degrees. As said in the ancient Chinese books, “the Autumn Equinox” shows the Yin Qiand Yang Qi are half and half on this day”. This means the day and night are balancedand the heat and the cold are even. There is no polar day or polar night happening onthis day on every corner of the world. In some part of the north-east China, it’s notstrange to see frost at this time. The differences between the temperature in themorning and in the night are increasing, to more than 10 degree Celsius. The amountof rainfall decreases and it’s getting drier and drier in the air.
Traditional Customs
“Spring Equinox” is the time for sacrifice for the sun and “Autumn Equinox” is the time tosacrifice for the moon. According to historical research, the original moon scarificationceremony is held on the day of “Autumn Equinox”. However, since it doesn’t happenson the same day each year and sometimes the moon on this day is not the roundest. Aceremony without full noon is not a perfect one. Later, the ceremony date was changedfrom “Autumn Equinox” to the Mid-Autumn Festival Day. In many countryside areas inChina, people still have the tradition of eating Tang Yuan (rice dumpling). Apart fromeating, people boil twenty to thirty Tang Yuan without filings, plug it with thin bamboostick and put it along the field. This is to “stick the mouth of sparrow”, hoping thesparrows won’t come to destroy the crops.
Healthy Living Tips
Based on the principle that the Yin Qi and Yang Qi are balanced on this day, peopleshould live and eat also in a way that can balance the two inside their body. Also astemperature decreases, people should keep exercises to buid immunity. To benefitingthe lungs, people can drink more water and eat food like sesame, nut, sticky rice,honey, pears and diary food.
Cold Dews
Cold Dews
Introduction
“Cold Dews” is the 17 solar term of the 24 solar terms and falls on October 8 orOctober 9 each year. It means that it’s colder than “White Dews” and the dews arebecoming frost. During this period, most of the areas around Nanling enter autumn andnorth-east and north-west of China will soon enter winter. When the sun reaches thecelestial longitude of 195 degrees, the swan gooses fly to south in a “single line” or a“herringbone shaped line”, most of the sparrows are gone and chrysanthemum startsto bloom.
Traditional Customs
The autumn views in many places in China are very beautiful and people like to climbhigh and enjoy the view. In Beijing, many people go to Jingshan, Badachu Park and theFragrant Hill
Healthy Living Tips
During “Cold Dew” period, the most obvious climate feature is “dry”. When it’s dry,sweat often evaporate very quickly and people can feel skin stretched, wrinkleincreased, being thirsty, and often cough. Eating sesame, nut, tremella, radish, tomato,lotus root, milk and lily can help nourishing Yin Qi and moistening dryness. It’s also verygood to eat some fruits such as snow pear, banana, Hami melon, apple and grape.
Hoar-Frost Falls
Hoar-Frost Falls
Introduction
“Hoar-Frost Falls” usually happens on October 23 each year when the sun reaches thecelestial longitude of 210 degrees. Most areas along the Yellow River have frost falling.As the last solar term in autumn, temperature in many places reach 0 degree Celsius.The vapor in the air freezes on the ground in the form of tiny ice needles or hexagonalflower shapes. The leaves fall and worms stop eating and prepare for hibernation.There are some chemical changes to the leaves of some tress such as maple,persimmon tree and Eurasian smoke tree after this day. The colors turn to red fromgreen and it’s the best time to see the red autumn leaves.
Traditional Customs
In many areas in China, people eat persimmon at this time. As an old saying goes, “Eatpersimmon. No running noses.”
Healthy Living Tips
This period is the peak time for chronic gastritis and gastroduodenal canker. Agedpeople can sometimes get arthritis. Eating pear, apple, ginkgo, onions and leaf mustardcan relief these symptoms.
Winter Begins
Winter Begins
Introduction
“Winter Begins” arrives on November 7 or November 8 each year. In Chinese, it’s called“Li Dong”. “Li” means beginning and “Dong” means winter. In ancient times, theexplanation for “Dong” was that “all the crops are harvested and dried and it’s time toput them into the storage. All the animals are ready to hide and start winter sleep”.Therefore, “Dong” not only means winter, but also that the metabolism of the naturegets slower. At this time of the year, some rivers and landscape in China start to freeze.In north China, most of the areas already enter winter and for places besides YangtzeRiver, the real winter comes after “Light Snow”.
Traditional Customs
“Winter Begins”, together with “Spring Begins”, “Summer Begins” and “Autumn Begins”are the four “Beginning” on the solar terms. It’s a very important festival in ancienttimes. On this day, emperors led his officials to city suburbs for sacrifice ceremony.Nowadays, people celebrate “Winter Begins” by eating Jiaozi, practice winter swimmingand hold worship ceremony. Many people often start new study in winter as during thistime, people don’t need to do farming and the nights are longer than days.
Healthy Living Tips
During this period, it’s better to eat food with more nutrition such as lamb, beef, soya-bean milk and tofu. Also grain and potato, providing a lot of carbohydrate, can helppeople defend against the cold.
Light Snow
Light Snow
Introduction
When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 240 degrees on November 22 to November 23 each year, it’s the time for “Light Snow”. Some areas along the Yellow River start to snow. It’s usually light snow, freezing in the night and melting in the morning. The soil is not cold enough, and snow can’t accumulate a lot on the ground. During this period, the rainbow is gone since it doesn’t rain anymore. The Yang Qi goes up and Yin Qi flows down and all things lost vitality.
Traditional Customs
Traditional food for this day is glutinous rice cake. In ancient times, glutinous rice cake is traditional sacrificial offerings. It’s used by farmers to sacrifice for the “God of Ox”. Nowadays, it’s a popular food in south China. After this day, farmers also start to make preserved meat, to eat in the coming Spring Festival.
Healthy Living Tips
In order to prevent blood viscosity from increasing, it’s better to eat food which can protect vascular, such as the root of red-rooted salvia, hawthorn, black fungus, tomato and celery. Food like balsam pear, corn, buckwheat and carrots can also reduce blood fat. When it’s cold and damp outside, it’s good to eat some temperately tonifying foods such as beef and mutton.
Heavy Snow
Heavy Snow
Introduction
After the “Slight Snow”, it’s the “Heavy Snow”, which is around December 7 orDecember 8 each year. “Heavy Snow”, just like it’s meaning, indicates more snow daysand snowfalls. Most of the places in China reach below 0 degree Celsius. The HanhaoBird stop singing, the tigers shows courtship behavior and Liting, a kind of fragrantthoroughwort sprouts. “Heavy Snow” is a very important period for farmers. If the snowis very heavy, it means next year will be a harvesting year. This is because that thenitrogen compound in snow is 4 times more than those in the rain. When the snow meltand soak into the soil, the increased nitrogen in soil can be absorbed by crops quicker.At the same time, the freezing snow water can kill many pests on earth’s surface layer.
Traditional Customs
It’s the time for farmers to make sure the seed for vegetables, fruit trees and flowers,and farm animals are kept warm. It’s also necessary to check in the winter wheat fieldand loose the soil.
Healthy Living Tips
Many people living in north China catch cold during this period. A folk prescription is todrink “Heavy Snow Healthy Soup”, which help defense the cold. According to traditionalformula, the soup should be eaten three days before, three days in the middle, andthree days after the “Heavy Snow” date, at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the time where humanbody advocates kidney. Ingredients include 3 grams of cordyceps sinensis, 3 grams ofdog meat, 3 grams of cinnamon. Boil together with water. During “Heavy Snow”, eatingmedlar, agaric, wax gourd soup is also very good to one’s health.
Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice
Introduction
“Winter Solstice” falls between the periods of December 21 to December 23. One thisday, the day is the shortest and night is the longest in the year. After this day, manyplaces in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese, “Shu Jiu”,meaning counting nine. In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each. In thefirst and second nine days, people keep their hands in pockets; in the third and fourthnine days, people can walk on ice; in the fifth and sixth nice days, people can seewillows along the river bank; in the seventh and eighth nine days, the swallow comesback and in the ninth nine days, the yak starts working. “Winter Solstice” is not only asolar term but an important festival. People eat Jiaozi in north China and eat TangYuan, rice dumpling in south China.
Traditional Customs
Here are some traditional foods for “Winter Solstice”.
- Wanton noodle: During the Han Dynasty, the Hsiung-Nu often invaded the broaderand bullied the farmers. At that time, there were two leaders in the Hsiung-Nu army,whose surnames were “Hun” and “Tun”. Farmers hated them so much and madedumplings with their names. Thus, people formed the tradition of eating “Hun Tun”, iethe Wanton noodle, on this day.
- Red bean glutinous rice: In south China around Yangtze delta area, people have thecustom of eating red bean glutinous rice. In a very old legend, the Gongmu Family hasa son, who always bullied the poor people. He died on the day of “Winter Solstice”,turned into ghost and continued to do bad things. However, this ghost scared of the redbean most and people ate red bean rice to drive him away.
- Jiaozi: Jiaozi is a necessary dish on this day no matter the family is poor or rich.
Healthy Living Tips
As Chinese medical principle believes, the Yang Qi inside people’s body is born on thisday. In ancient times, there was a period considering “Winter Solstice” as the beginningof the year. People believe that when the Yang Qi is born, it should be raised andprotected just like crops. Only when it’s well protected, people’s health can be in a goodcondition for the whole year. If someone has chronic disease and need long timesupplement, they should take nourishment from “Winter Solstice” to “Spring Begins”. Ifsomeone only need short term supplement, they only need to take nourishment aroundthe third nine days of the nice periods mentioned above.
Slight Cold
Slight cold
Introduction
“Slight Cold” is the 23 solar term and happens on January 5 to January 7 when the sunreaches the celestial longitude of 285 degrees. To China, “Slight Cold” indicates theweather starts to enter the coldest days. When “Slight cold” comes, the wild goose allmove to north and magpie starts to build their homes. The average temperature inBeijing during this period is around minus 5 degree Celsius and some places in northChina can reach minus 30 degree Celsius. Temperature around Qinling Mountain andHuaihe River is kept at around 0 degree Celsius.
Traditional Customs
In Nanjing, people often eat vegetable-rice. Traditional Nanjing people cook vegetable-rice on this day with different ingredients. Some cook it with green vegetables, bacon,sausage or dried salted duck, together with some ginger and boil with glutinous rice. InGuangdong province, people eat glutinous rice in the morning. Usually the rice consistsof 60 percent of glutinous rice and 40 percent of fragrant rice. People fry somepreserved meat and peanut and eat it together with the rice.
Healthy Living Tips
To prevent from the coldness, it’s better to eat food that can provide heat and energyto human’s body, for example, food with hot natures including trout, hot pepper,cinnamon and pepper, and food with warm nature such as glutinous rice, chives,fennel, caraway, asparagus, leaf mustard, pumpkin, ginger, spring onion, garlic,apricot, peach, dates, longan, leechee, papaya, cheery, pomegranate, plum, chestnut,almond, lamb, pig’s liver, chicken, goose egg, eel, chub, prawn, sea cucumber and soon.
Great Cold
Great Cold
Introduction
“Great Cold”, the last solar term in 24 solar terms, comes around January 20 eachyear. In this period, the cold waves from Siberia arrives in China. The snow and rain aswell as the icy cold weather exert a big influence on people’s life and transportation.When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 300 degrees, hens start to hatch,eagles fly everywhere trying to find food and water freeze to the thickest level. Whenthis day arrives, it’s time to welcome the Spring Festival. People get busy with buyingnew things, salting the meat and preparing New Year good. “Great Cold” representsthe end of 24 solar terms and also marks the end of winter.
Traditional Customs
During “Great Cold”, there are still not many farming activities. In north China, peopleget busy with preparing the fertilizer. In south China, people are often busy withcatching field mouse. Another important day during this period is the “La Ba” Festival. “La” means the last month of lunar calendar and “Ba” means eight. People usuallymake porridge with 8 kind of mixed grains and corns, i.e. “La Ba porridge”, and eat itduring the last month of the lunar calendar.
Healthy Living Tips
Winter is a time for all lives to hide. When everything is hiding from the cold, humanbody’s supersession is also very slow. During this period, people should sleep earlyand get up late, and try to save the Yang Qi inside the body.
