Twenty-Four Solar Terms: Six Things You Must Know About the Great Cold

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into twenty-four solar terms. The Great Cold, the twenty-fourth solar term of the Year of Gengzi, begins on January 20 and ends on February 3.

The Great Cold is the last festival in winter and the last in the lunar calendar. During this time, rain, snow and icy weather can have a huge impact on people's lives

01

cold current

In the cold season, the weather is very cold due to the cold air heading south. Although modern meteorological observations show that in some areas the cold is no more cold than the little cold, the lowest temperature of the year in some coastal areas will still occur during the period of the cold.

02

Eat "chill cake"

In the cold season, Beijingers have the custom of eating "cold cakes" made of rice cakes. The pronunciation of rice cake is the same as that of "Nian Gao", symbolizing good luck and rising up.

03

Buy sesame straw

The Great Cold always occurs at the end of the lunar calendar. In some parts of China, people have always been eager to buy sesame straw during this time, because the old saying goes, "sesame blossoms are getting higher and higher.". This phrase is used to describe a rising standard of living or a steady rise in thought, study, or skill.

04

Eat fried spring rolls

In Anqing, Anhui Province, people eat fried spring rolls in the cold. The filling of the spring rolls is made with meat or vegetables and can taste salty or sweet.

05

Drink chicken stew

Residents of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, like to drink in the big cold stew. They usually add ginseng, goji berries and black fungus to the stew of the old hen soup.

06

Do winter sports

In some parts of the country, the Great Cold is a wonderful time for skiing, ice skating and tobogganing.

Source: China Culture Network