The "2021 Chinese Astronomical Calendar" shows that at 5:57 Beijing time on December 7, the "heavy snow" festival will be ushered in, marking the beginning of the midwinter season. Experts said that at this time, more and more areas in China will usher in snowfall, the temperature will drop after the snow, the cold will intensify, and the public should pay attention to cold protection and warmth to avoid diseases such as influenza.
Luo Shuwei, a historian and researcher at the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, said that on December 7 or 8 of the Gregorian calendar every year, when the sun reaches 255 degrees of the Yellow Longitude, the "heavy snow" solar term begins, which is the twenty-first of the twenty-four solar terms and the third solar term in winter.
The so-called "heavy snow" refers to "so far and the snow is abundant", indicating that the snow will be from small to large, and the number of snow days and snowfall will increase than the small snow festival, especially in the area where the strong cold air front and the cold and warm air meet, the snow will fall very large and the scope is wider.
During the "heavy snow", the temperature in most parts of northern China will drop below zero degrees Celsius, presenting a spectacular scene of "thousands of miles of ice, thousands of miles of snow". As the cold air continues to move south, the temperature in the Jiangnan area continues to drop, the winter is thick, and the charming scenery of "snowflakes flying and silver in the sky" can occasionally be seen.
Luo Shuwei said that snow covering the earth can prevent wintering crops from being frost damaged by cold waves; snow contains nitrides, which not only increase soil moisture after melting, but also have a certain fertilizer effect.
Before and after the "heavy snow" is a good time to make pickled food. "People carefully marinate meat, poultry, fish, etc., air dry and preserve them for enjoyment during the Spring Festival." Luo Shuwei said.
"Heavy snow" is still a good time to make up for it. Luo Shuwei combined folk traditions and the advice of health experts to say that "supplement" is to eat more calories appropriately, rich in protein, vitamins and easy-to-digest food, so that nutrients are converted into energy to the greatest extent, promote metabolism, go to the cold and warm, let the body Yang rise, improve immune function, and not specifically refer to all kinds of tonic foods or drugs.
Porridge is known as "the world's first tonic". "Heavy snow" arrives, often eat all kinds of porridge, can increase calories and nutrition, is conducive to warm and cold dissipation, play a role in nourishing the heart, strengthening the kidneys, nourishing the yin and qi or strengthening the spleen and stomach, digesting and dissolving phlegm. However, porridge is easy to increase blood sugar rapidly after eating, and diabetics need to control the amount of food.
In terms of travel and living, you should pay attention to adding clothes and cold protection of your head, back and feet at any time. It is necessary to pay attention to daily health care, exercise more, ventilate frequently, wash and dry frequently, and adhere to hot bathing feet and foot acupuncture point massage before going to bed, which can play a role in cold resistance, warming and disease prevention.
Source: Xinhua Viewpoint