When is the Summer Solstice? What are the customs and habits during the Summer Solstice?
Introduction: The solar terms have a very long history in our country, and their existence has played a certain role in promoting the development of farming culture. So when is the summer solstice and what are the customs and practices during the summer solstice? Let’s follow the editor to find out. The fifth month of the lunar calendar is the first month of summer. The weather starts to get hotter, and good days also start to get hotter. Various major events have entered the mid-year rhythm. Mr. Shui Mo will list them for you.When is the summer solstice every year?The summer solstice is one of the 24 solar terms, which falls on June 20, 21 or 22 of the Gregorian calendar every year. On the summer solstice, the sun moves to 90 degrees of ecliptic longitude (the summer solstice point, currently in Gemini), and the position of the sun directly above the ground reaches the northernmost point of the year, almost directly above the Tropic of Cancer. At this time, the daylight hours in all parts of the Northern Hemisphere reach the longest of the year. For areas on and north of the Tropic of Cancer, the summer solstice is also the day when the sun is highest at noon in the year. In Beijing, the daylight on the summer solstice can last up to 15 hours, and the sun's altitude at noon can reach 73°32′. On this day, the Northern Hemisphere receives the most solar radiation, nearly twice as much as the Southern Hemisphere. Astronomical experts say that the summer solstice is a turning point for the sun. After this day, it will go "backwards", and the point of direct sunlight will begin to move southward from the Tropic of Cancer, and the daytime in the northern hemisphere will become shorter day by day. After the summer solstice, the solar altitude angle at noon begins to decrease day by day in the Tropic of Cancer and the areas to its north. At the same time, after the summer solstice, the night sky gradually turns into a summer sky.What are the customs of the Summer Solstice?Offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors: The summer solstice is the time of wheat harvest. Since ancient times, there has been a custom of celebrating the harvest and offering sacrifices to ancestors at this time to pray for the elimination of disasters and a good harvest. Therefore, the summer solstice was incorporated into the ancient rituals of worshiping gods as a festival. "The Book of Zhou: Spring Officials" states: "When the summer solstice comes, bring local animals and demons." In the Zhou Dynasty, offering sacrifices to gods at the summer solstice was meant to eliminate famine, hunger and death. The summer solstice falls after the wheat harvest, and farmers thank God for the good harvest and pray for "autumn rewards." Around the summer solstice, some places hold a grand "summer wheat harvest" ceremony, which is a remnant of the ancient "summer sacrifice" activity.To get rid of the summer heat and avoid the dog days: On the summer solstice, women give each other folding fans, cosmetics and other gifts. "Youyang Zazu·Liyi" records: "On the summer solstice, fans and powder and rouge bags are presented, and both have words." "Fan" is used to create wind; "powder and rouge" are used to apply on the skin to disperse the turbid air generated by body heat and prevent prickly heat. In the imperial court, after the "summer solstice", the royal family would take out the ice that was "stored in winter for use in summer" to "cool off the summer heat and avoid the dog days". This practice began in the Zhou Dynasty and was followed by successive dynasties, eventually becoming an institutional practice. Summer Solstice Foods:"Wheat Zongzi" and "Summer Solstice Cake": Jiangnan food customs, generally including wheat Zongzi, glutinous rice dumplings, plums, wontons, noodle soup, etc. "Wujiang County Chronicles" records: "On the summer solstice, wheat dumplings are made and given to each other after the sacrifice is completed." People not only eat "wheat dumplings", but also give them as gifts to each other. On the summer solstice, farmers roll out dough into thin pancakes, bake them, and fill them with vegetables, bean pods, tofu, and bacon. They eat them after offering sacrifices to their ancestors. They are commonly called "summer solstice pancakes," or they are given to relatives and friends.Wontons at the Winter Solstice and Noodles at the Summer Solstice: Since ancient times, the Chinese people have had a saying "eat wontons at the Winter Solstice and noodles at the Summer Solstice". In the Jiangnan area, eating noodles at the Summer Solstice is an important custom in many areas. There is a saying among the people that "after eating noodles at the Summer Solstice, the day will be one line shorter." There are many varieties of noodles in the south, such as Yangchun noodles, dry soup noodles, shredded pork noodles, three fresh noodles, Guoqiao noodles and sesame oil cold noodles, while in the north there are noodles with gravy and noodles with soybean paste. "Because the new wheat has already arrived during the summer solstice, eating noodles during the summer solstice also means trying something new." Summary: Through the above article, we know the specific time of the summer solstice and some customs and habits of the summer solstice. I hope it can give everyone a deeper understanding and love of our traditional folk culture! |
>>: What is the Summer Solstice and what is its origin?
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