Xiaohan is one of the 24 solar terms, when the weather is cold and most of China enters a period of severe cold. There was a saying in ancient books that "when the little cold sees three elephants, new graves are piled up everywhere", which means that during the small cold solar term, if the weather is clear, it may indicate climate change and ecological challenges. In some places, if the following three phenomena occur during the Xiaohan solar term: frost, snow, and fog, the locals will consider it to be an unlucky omen and a sign of famine, plague, or other disasters in the coming year. Therefore, they will take some measures in advance to deal with possible disasters, such as storing food, avoiding going out, etc.
In addition, some areas have the Xi of sweeping tombs to worship ancestors during the Xiaohan solar term. If there is abnormal weather during the Xiaohan solar term, such as heavy snow closing the mountains and impassable roads, the locals will think that the ancestors are reminding them to come to worship. Therefore, they will arrange grave sweeping activities as soon as possible to avoid delays.
First, let's talk about creams. In the north, frosts are frequent. If there is a frost on the day of Xiaohan, then many people will think that the weather will be even colder next, and they should be prepared to protect themselves from the cold and keep warm. For farmers, the appearance of frost may adversely affect crops, and it is necessary to strengthen field management and take corresponding protective measures.
In some places in the north, there is also a proverb that "the little cold is not cold, and the Qingming quagmire". It means that if it is not cold on the day of the Xiaohan solar term, then there will be more rain in the Qingming season, and the land will become muddy. Therefore, farmers should pay attention to weather changes during the Xiaohan solar term and take countermeasures in advance.
Secondly, snow is also one of the weather phenomena that has attracted much attention during the Xiaohan solar term. For northerners, the snowfall in the cold season not only means the official arrival of winter, but also means that the weather will be even colder next. For southerners, snow is a rare sight. Whether it is enjoying the snow scene, building a snowman or having a snowball fight, it has become an important activity for people in the cold season.
In the Northeast, there is also a proverb that "a small cold is a big cold, and a drop of water becomes ice". It means that the weather is very cold during the small and big cold solar terms, and the water droplets will freeze quickly. This reflects the severe cold climate characteristics of the Northeast region in winter.
Finally, fog is also one of the weather phenomena of the Xiaohan solar term. Especially in the southern region, foggy weather may occur during the cold season. The presence of fog not only affects transportation, but can also cause problems such as respiratory diseases and itchy skin. Therefore, people need to pay special attention to maintaining moderate indoor air humidity, avoiding going out, etc.
In some places in the Yangtze River basin, there is also an agricultural proverb that "the small cold is foggy, and the big cold is impenetrable". This means that there will be fog during the small cold season, and the weather will still be relatively humid during the big cold season. This reflects the humid climate of the southern region in winter.
In short, although the saying that "Xiaohan sees three elephants and piles new graves everywhere" has a certain superstitious color, it reflects people's observation and thinking about natural phenomena. In real life, we should maintain a rational and scientific attitude, follow the laws of nature, pay attention to the impact of climate change and natural disasters, and jointly maintain the sustainable development of human society. At the same time, we can also draw wisdom and inspiration from the "three elephants" of the Xiaohan solar term, so as to make life more beautiful and meaningful.