The Characteristics and Customs of the Spring Equinox Solar Term
Characteristics of the Spring Equinox solar term:
1.Equal day and night: During the spring equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator, resulting in equal durations of day and night in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with each lasting 12 hours.
2. Seasonal division: In ancient times, the period from the beginning of spring to the beginning of summer was considered spring, and the vernal equinox happened to be in the middle of the three months of spring, dividing it into two parts.
3.Mild climate and abundant rainfall: After the vernal equinox, the climate is mild, the rainfall is abundant, and the sunshine is bright. Most overwintering crops in most areas enter the spring growth stage, which is also the sowing period for early rice. Therefore, the vernal equinox is still an important season for agriculture.
4.The weather is unpredictable, with obvious alternation between cold and warm: the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Huang Huai region have entered spring, and the average temperature is basically stable above 10 ℃. But the vast areas north of the Yellow River are still in the transitional stage from winter to spring, with sunny days and frequent winds, intermittent warmth and coldness, and sometimes snow in March. At this time, we need to be alert to catastrophic weather conditions. The north is characterized by drought and sandstorms, while the south is affected by low temperatures, cold damage, and late spring coldness.
Customs of the Spring Equinox solar term:
1.Egg laying: Spring Equinox egg laying is a traditional Chinese custom. It is said that on the day of the Spring Equinox, eggs are most likely to stand up due to the influence of the Earth's gravity.
2.Eating spring vegetables: Spring vegetables are a general term for vegetables in spring, such as shepherd's purse, Chinese toon, etc. In the Lingnan region, spring vegetables are also known as spring green artemisia. People collect spring vegetables and fish slices to make a soup called spring soup, which symbolizes the safety and health of the whole family, young and old.
3.Sticking on the mouth of a finch: On the spring equinox, farmers will eat rice dumpling, cook rice dumpling without wrapping, and place it on the outdoor ridge beside the field with a bamboo fork. It is called Sticking on the mouth of a finch, so that the finches will not damage the crops.
4.Flying kites: During the Spring Equinox, people embark on a youth outing, which is a good time to fly kites.
5.Spring Festival: In the spring equinox of February, tomb sweeping and ancestor worship begin, also known as Spring Festival. Before folk tomb sweeping, a grand ancestral worship ceremony must be held in the ancestral hall, where pigs and sheep are slaughtered. The ritual performers recite the sacrificial rites and lead the procession to perform three offerings. In most Hakka areas, ancestor worship and tomb sweeping in spring begin at the vernal equinox or earlier, and must be completed by Qingming at the latest.
6.Sending Spring Cattle: The Spring Cattle Picture is actually sent on two open red or yellow paper printed with the annual lunar terms and the farmer's plowing pattern. It is usually sent by someone who can speak and sing well, mainly saying common sayings about spring plowing and auspiciousness that do not violate the farming season.
The above is an introduction to the characteristics and customs of the Spring Equinox solar term. The vernal equinox is not only an important astronomical node, but also a crucial moment for people to get close to nature and pray for blessings and good fortune.
