During this solar term, spring makes great strides towards us with rising temperatures, thawing rivers, the awakening of hibernating animals and the return of migratory birds.Īt this time, the average temperature in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River basin – the cradle of Chinese civilization – is usually above zero. If the “Beginning of Spring” is the prelude to springtime when there’s still a slight wintery chill in the air, then “Rain Water” is in spring itself. Farmers seize this auspicious moment to prepare the ground for ploughing and the application of fertilizers. In most places across China, chilliness gradually disperses, snow is rarely seen and it starts to rain, creating favorable conditions for overwintering crops to awaken. As its name suggests, after the day of Rain Water, February showers bring relief to the parched land. The day of “Rain Water” (雨水) falls on February 18 this year. In some parts of China, people wear colorful silk badges depicting swallows on their coats, as the swallow is a herald of spring and a symbol of prosperity and happiness. Traditional Chinse medicine believes that a breath of fresh air blows away the musty smell developed over winter. It also has the added health benefits of boosting blood circulation and speeding up the metabolism. Spring is also the best season for kite-flying, which has been a traditional folk activity for over 2,000 years. In many parts of China, people observe the custom of “biting the spring” on the day of the “Beginning of Spring.” They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls or a few mouthfuls of carrot to get a taste of the coming spring. From dark corners its yellow flowers peep out, shining with vitality.Īny mention of the “Beginning of Spring” makes Chinese people think of special springtime activities. In the chilly air of very early spring, most plants keep their flowers under wraps, but winter jasmine stands up against the cold and blooms. As the warmth of spring gradually seeps into rocks, rivers and soil, the bodies of hibernating animals are warmed too in preparation for their awakening. In every household, people paste Spring Festival couplets and paintings on their doors to pray for good luck in the New Year.Ĭhinese farmers value spring the most of all the four seasons as they believe the whole year’s work depends on getting a good start in spring. Everyone who studies or works away from home, such as college students and migrant workers, joins the annual Spring Festival travel rush in order to get a plane, train or bus ticket back to their hometown and celebrate the festival with their family and friends. The Spring Festival always happens close to the “Beginning of Spring.” As the most important Chinese festival, it’s a time for family reunion. Both the nobility and commoners made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of spring and agriculture, to ensure good weather for the crops. For the last 3,000 years, holding special ceremonies on the day of the “Beginning of Spring” to welcome spring into the fields has been an important cultural activity. This solar term entered people’s lives as early as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). Spring starts on this day and ends with the seventh solar term, the “Beginning of Summer.” Lifting the curtain of spring, it ushers in a period when everything outside turns green and is full of vigor. The “Beginning of Spring” (立春) falls on February 3 this year. On the Chinese lunar calendar, a year is divided into 24 solar terms.
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