What is the solar term Beginning of Summer? What are the customs and habits during the Beginning of Summer in Jiangnan?
Introduction: Lixia is one of the 24 solar terms in our country. It is the first solar term in summer, marking the beginning of summer. However, in our tradition, the Beginning of Summer is also an important festival with many customs. So what is the solar term Beginning of Summer, and what are the customs and habits in Jiangnan? Let’s follow the editor to find out. April is the most beautiful month in the world. April is a very beautiful month. In late spring and early summer, all things are new and many good beginnings appear in this month.What is the solar term Beginning of Summer? What are the customs in Jiangnan?Lixia is the seventh solar term in the twenty-four solar terms of the lunar calendar and the first solar term of summer, marking the official beginning of the Mengxia season. It is when the sun reaches 45 degrees of the ecliptic longitude. When the Dipper points to the southeast, it is the beginning of summer. All things grow at this time, hence the name the beginning of summer."Collection of Explanations of the 72 Lunar Calendars" states: "Lixia is the fourth month of the lunar calendar. The meaning of Li is the same as that of Chun. Xia means temporary. All things are temporary at this time." In astronomy, the Beginning of Summer marks the farewell to spring and the beginning of summer. People usually regard the Beginning of Summer as an important solar term when the temperature rises significantly, the hot summer is approaching, thunderstorms increase, and crops enter the peak growth season. On the day of the Beginning of Summer, ancient emperors would lead civil and military officials to the southern suburbs of the capital to welcome the summer and hold a ceremony to welcome the summer. The emperor and his subjects all wore vermilion ceremonial robes and vermilion jade pendants. Even the horses, chariots and flags had to be vermilion to express their desire for a good harvest and good wishes. In some places, there is a custom of weighing people on the day of the Beginning of Summer. In the palace, "the ice begins to break on the day of the Beginning of Summer". "Xia" in the Beginning of Summer means "big", and a ceremony to welcome the summer is held. People attach great importance to the customs of the Beginning of Summer. In ancient times, red was given to civil and military officials to express the hope for a good harvest and good wishes. Even the horses and chariot flags had to be vermilion. The emperor and his subjects all wore red formal robes and red jade pendants. In folk culture, the day of Beginning of Summer means that the plants sown in spring have grown upright. In ancient times, emperors would lead civil and military officials to the southern suburbs of the capital to welcome summer. Beginning of summer. Ice is stored in the previous winter. On the day of the Beginning of Summer, people drink cold drinks to cool off. In the water towns of the south of the Yangtze River, there is a custom of cooking and eating young broad beans, which is given by the emperor to all officials. ZhejiangIn rural areas of Zhejiang, people must eat "Qijia Porridge" during the Beginning of Summer, also known as "Qijia Tea". Seven-family porridge is made by gathering rice from neighbors, adding different kinds of beans and brown sugar, and cooking it into a big pot of porridge for everyone to share. For the Seven-Family Tea, each family brings their own freshly roasted tea leaves, which are then mixed and brewed or brewed into a large pot of tea, which everyone then gathers together to drink.SuzhouThere is a local proverb in Suzhou that "three new things happen at the beginning of summer". The "three new things" refer to newly ripe cherries, green plums and wheat. At the same time, people in Suzhou eat sea snails, gluten, white bamboo shoots, shepherd's purse, salted duck eggs and green broad beans on the day of the Beginning of Summer. Hotels give free fermented rice wine and liquor to old customers who come into the store on this day, so the Beginning of Summer is also called the "Gift Festival".WuxiThe people of Wuxi have always had the custom of "tasting three fresh foods at the beginning of summer". The three fresh dishes are divided into three fresh dishes from the ground, three fresh dishes from trees and three fresh dishes from water. The three fresh fruits grown on the land are broad beans, amaranth, and cucumber; the three fresh fruits grown on trees are cherries, loquats, and apricots; and the three fresh fruits grown on the water are sea snails, puffer fish, and shad.HangzhouIn Hangzhou, there is a custom of eating "wild summer rice" on the day of the Beginning of Summer. On that day, children came in groups to beg for rice and meat from their neighbors. Then they go to the wild to pick wild vegetables and bamboo shoots, use stones to build a stove, cook and eat by themselves, which is called "wild summer rice" or "Lixia rice". This custom is to compare oneself to a beggar, thinking that it can avoid disasters. After eating the "Lixia Rice", the adults brought baskets and large scales. Weigh the children to see how much they weigh compared to last year.ShanghaiIn Shanghai, people eat eggs on the day of the Beginning of Summer. On the day of the beginning of summer, children always hang an egg wrapped in a red net around their necks. Shanghai also has the custom of "remembering the beginning of summer and testing the body weight after eating the food". On the day of the beginning of summer, people eat pancakes made of taro and golden cauliflower, and at noon, everyone, young or old, men and women, must weigh themselves.Summary: Through the above article, we know the meaning of the Beginning of Summer and the Beginning of Summer customs in the Jiangnan region. I hope that everyone will have a deeper understanding of the Beginning of Summer and our folk culture! |
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