The beginning of spring is the first of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, marking the beginning of spring. In traditional Chinese culture, the beginning of spring not only means a change in climate, but also carries a rich cultural connotation and folk activities.
The beginning of spring in 2024
In general, we see and notice these changes:
- Observe natural variations: The beginning of spring usually occurs on February 3 or 4 every year, indicating that the cold winter is coming to an end and a warm spring is coming. People observe natural phenomena such as weather changes, melting snow and ice, and the germination of plants and trees to judge the arrival of spring.
- Farming arrangement: The beginning of spring is a very important solar term in farming culture, the ancients believed that "the plan of the year lies in spring", so after the beginning of spring, farmers began to prepare for spring ploughing, such as tidying up the fields, selecting and soaking seeds, etc., to ensure a bumper harvest of grains in the coming year.
- Diet and health: Spring health care focuses on "conforming to liver qi", and the diet should eat more foods with hair growth properties, less spicy and greasy foods, and focus on health and liver protection, such as spring bamboo shoots, leeks, spinach, etc.
- Folk activities: On the beginning of spring, the folk have customs such as "biting spring" and "beating spring", which are intended to celebrate the arrival of spring. Eating spring cakes, spring rolls and other foods that symbolize spring is to celebrate spring, and beating spring is celebrated through some traditional games.
- Spiritual health: Spring is the season of growth of all things, and it is also a period when people's spirits are easy to be invigorated. It is suitable for going out and exercising the body, so that the body and mind can be relaxed and nourished.
- Other precautions: Although the beginning of spring heralds the arrival of warmth, the temperature can be changeable in early spring, so it is still necessary to dress appropriately to prevent the health effects of the cold spring.
- : At the beginning of spring, you can take this opportunity to learn and inherit traditional Chinese culture, such as writing the beginning of spring post, making a spring map, etc., to promote Chinese festival culture.
To sum up, the beginning of spring is not only a solar term, but also contains profound cultural significance. To treat the beginning of spring, we should not only pay attention to the changes in the natural rhythm, but also pay attention to the inheritance and development of traditional culture. By rationally arranging life, diet and activities, we can adapt to the changes of the seasons and achieve a state of physical and mental health and harmony.