Listen to this articleKey words: 24 solar terms, Features, Common Folk-custom Activity
Brief introduction
The 24 solar terms are specific seasons in the calendar that represent changes in natural rhythms. There are four seasons a year, three months each for spring, summer, autumn and winter, and two solar terms each month, each of which has its own unique meaning.
The 24 solar terms accurately reflect the changes in natural rhythms and play an extremely important role in people’s daily life. It is not only a seasonal system that guides agricultural production, but also a folk custom system that contains rich folk customs.
Nowadays, 24 solar terms are formulated according to the position of the sun on the return ecliptic, that is, the annual trajectory of the sun is divided into 24 equal parts, each 15° is an equal part, and every 1 equal part is a solar term, starting from the Lichun立春 and finally Dahan大寒.
Spring
Lichun 立春
Lichun 立春 is the first of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315° . Lichun marks the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring when the wind and the sun are warm and all things grow. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Welcome Spring 迎春, Whip Spring Cattle 打春牛,Spring Outing 踏春,Eat Spring-Cake 吃春饼, etc.
Yushui 雨水
Yushui 雨水 is the second of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 330°. Yushui signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Visit to in-laws 拜丈人,Finding godfather 拉保保, Eating nutritious porridge 养生粥, etc.
Jingzhe 惊蛰
Jingzhe 惊蛰 is the third of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气 in the traditional Chinese calendars. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 345°. It signals a rise in temperature and increased rainfall. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Offering sacrifices to the white tiger 祭祀白虎, Beating ‘villains’ 打小人, Eating pears 吃梨, etc.
Chunfen 春分
Chunfen 春分 is the fourth of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0°. Chunfen signals the equal length of the day and night time. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Egg-standing games 竖蛋游戏, Flying kites 放风筝, Eating spring vegetables 吃春菜, etc.
Qingming 清明
Qingming 清明 is the 5th of 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. Qingming begins when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15°. Qingming is both a solar term and a festival. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating Green Rice Balls 吃青团子, Sweeping the Tombs 扫墓, Putting Willow Branches on Gates 插柳, etc.
Guyu 谷雨
Guyu 谷雨 is the sixth of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 30°. Guyu shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Grain Rain Festival 谷雨节, Eating Toona sinensis 吃香椿, Drinking tea 喝茶, Appreciation of Peony 赏牡丹, etc.
Summer
Lixia 立夏
Lixia 立夏 is the seventh of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 45°. Lixia signals the transition of seasons. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Checking one’s weight 秤人, Egg Competitions 斗蛋游戏, etc.
Xiaoman 小满
Xiaoman 小满, one of the eight of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气, the second solar term of summer, reflects the climatic characteristics of heavy rainfall. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 60°. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating Sonchus oleraceus 吃苦菜, Celebrating the birthday of the silkworm deity 庆祝蚕神生日, Grabbing water 抢水,etc.
Mangzhong 芒种
Mangzhong 芒种, one of the ninth of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75°.It signifies the ripening of crops such as wheat and it is also a busy period for farmers which can be seen from many farm sayings. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Say farewell to the flora 送花神, Mud wrestling 打泥巴仗, Boil green plums 煮青梅, etc.
Xiazhi 夏至
Xiazhi 夏至, one of the 10th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90°.Since ancient times, there has been the custom of worshiping gods and ancestors on the summer solstice to pray for a good year. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating noodles 吃面, Dragon boat racing 划龙舟, Worship gods and ancestors 祭神祭祖, etc.
Xiaoshu 小暑
Xiaoshu 小暑 is the 11th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105°. Xiaoshu signifies the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating dumplings 吃饺子, Eating small melons 吃瓜, Eating lamb 吃小羊
Dashu 大暑
Dashu 大暑 is the 12th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 120°. During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Sending the Major Heat ship 送大暑船, Cricket fighting 斗蟋蟀, Eating grass jelly 吃仙草, etc.
Autumn
Liqiu 立秋
Liqiu 立秋 is the 13th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 135°. Liqiu reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Worship the Tudigong 祭祀土地神, Chew autumn 啃秋, Sunbathing in autumn 晒秋,etc.
Chushu 处暑
Chushu 处暑 is the 14th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 150°. Chushu implies that most parts in China are getting rid of the hot summer and entering autumn. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains:Time for Night-blooming Epiphyllum 欣赏昙花, Eating Duck 吃鸭子, The Fishing Season Festival 开渔节,etc.
Bailu 白露
Bailu 白露 is the 15th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 165°. Bailu indicates the real beginning of cool autumn. The temperature declines gradually and vapours in the air often condense into white dew on the grass and trees at night. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating Longan 吃龙眼, White Dew Tea 白露茶, White Dew Wine 白鹿酒, Eating sweet potatoes 吃红薯, Offer sacrifices to Yu the Great 祭拜大禹,etc.
Qiufen 秋分
Qiufen 秋分 is the 16th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 180°. During Qiufen, most of the areas in China have entered the cool autumn. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating Qiucai 吃秋菜, Appreciation of Osmanthus 欣赏桂花, Standing eggs on end 立鸡蛋, etc.
Hanlu 寒露
Hanlu 寒露 is the 17th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气.It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 195°. At this time, temperatures are much lower than during White Dew in most areas of China. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Drinking chrysanthemum wine 喝菊花酒, Eating hawthorns 吃山楂, Appreciation of Maple leaf 欣赏枫叶,The season for making kippers 制作腌鱼的季节, etc.
Shuangjiang 霜降
Shuangjiang 霜降 is the 18th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气.It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 210°. Shuangjiang is the last solar term of autumn, during which time the weather becomes much colder than before and frost begins to appear. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating persimmons 吃柿子, Eating chestnuts 吃栗子, Eating beef 吃牛肉, Frost’s Descent Festival 霜降节,etc.
Winter
Lidong 立冬
Lidong 立冬 is the 19th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 225°. Lidong is a seasonal solar term that since then, has entered the winter, meaning that wind and rain, dry and wet, light, temperature, etc., Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating scallions 吃生葱, Making rice wine 酿黄酒, Eating dumplings 吃饺子,etc.
Xiaoxue 小雪
Xiaoxue 小雪 is the 20th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 240°. The temperature in most areas in the north drops to zero degrees and below. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Drinking soup 喝汤, Eating Sticky Rice Cake 吃糯米糕, Making preserved pork 腌猪肉, Making pickled vegetables 制作腌菜, etc.
Daxue 大雪
Daxue 大雪 is the 21st of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 255°. During Daxue, the temperature drops significantly. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Appreciating Prunus mume blossoms 赏梅花, Eating Lamb 吃羊肉, Making preserved pork 腌猪肉, etc.
Dongzhi 冬至
Dongzhi 冬至 is the 22nd of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270°. Dongzhi marks the imminent entry of the cold season. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating wontons 吃馄饨, Eating Tangyuan 吃汤圆, Worship ancestors with Nine-layer cake 用九层糕祭祖, etc.
Xiaohan 小寒
Xiaohan小寒 is the 23rd of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 285°. For most areas of China, it marks the start of the coldest days of the year. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Tasting Nanjing vegetable rice 品尝南京菜饭, Eating Laba porridge 喝腊八粥, Stocking up for New Year 囤货过年, Mutton hot pot, chestnuts and baked sweet potato 羊肉火锅、栗子、烤红薯, etc.
Dahan 大寒
Dahan 大寒 is the 24th of the 24 Solar Terms二十四节气. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 300°. Major Cold is the last solar term in winter and also the last solar term in the annual lunar calendar. During this period, snow, rain and icy cold weather exert a big influence on people’s lives. Common Folk-Custom Activity contains: Eating sticky rice 吃糯米饭, Eating “dispelling cold cake” 吃“散寒糕”, Buying sesame straw 买芝麻, Eating fried spring rolls 吃炸春卷, etc.
