First of all, the reason why there are two beginnings of spring in the Gengzi Year of the Rat is that the Gengzi Year of the Rat is a leap year, with a leap year of April. This makes the lunar calendar longer, starting from January 25, 2020, and ending on February 11, 2021. The 384-day length makes the Year of the Rat have two beginnings of spring. The twenty-four solar terms refer to the twenty-four specific seasons. The twenty-four solar terms are solar terms that are divided into twenty-four points based on the position of the earth on the ecliptic. The twenty-four solar terms mainly include: Beginning of Spring, Rain, Waking of Insects, Vernal Equinox, Qingming, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Xiaoman, Ear Grain, Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, Great Heat, Beginning of Autumn, End of Summer, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent, Beginning of Winter, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, and Winter Solstice , Xiaohan, Dahan.
The beginning of spring is also called "Dachun". The beginning of spring is the beginning of spring and the first festival among the twenty-four solar terms. On this day, there are activities such as hunting cattle, welcoming the spring, spring outing, announcing the spring, and posting Spring Festival couplets. The second is the Rain Festival. In some places in our country, it is the custom for daughters and sons-in-law to send gifts to their father-in-law and mother-in-law on the Rain Festival. At the same time, the Rain Festival is also a poetic and picturesque festival in western Sichuan. On the day of Jingzhe, there is a custom of eating pears. The Spring Equinox is a good time to eat spring vegetables and fly kites. Qingming: Qingming Festival is during this period, so there are a series of activities such as tomb sweeping, ancestor worship and outing. Guyu: The time before and after Guyu coincides with the blooming of peonies, so peonies can also be called Guyu flowers and wealth flowers. At the same time, during the Grain Rain period, toona is still sprouting, so there is still the habit of eating toon. At the beginning of summer, when the plants sown in the spring have grown up, you can eat fresh cherries. Next are Xiaoman and Mangzhong. Summer Solstice: It is for worshiping the ancestors of gods.
Slight Heat: From July 7th to 8th every year, the onset of summer heat marks the entry into a hot climate in most areas. Great Heat: July 22 or 23 every year, it is the hottest time in the vast area. Beginning of Autumn: August 7 or 8 every year, when vegetation bears fruit and it’s harvest time. End of Summer: From August 23rd to 24th every year, the weather turns cooler. Bailu: On September 7 or 8 every year, the weather gets colder. Autumn Equinox: September 23 or 24, day and night are of equal length. Frost: October 23 or 24. Beginning of Winter: November 7 or 8, the beginning of winter. Light snow: On November 22 or 23, the temperature drops. Heavy snow: December 7 or 8. Winter Solstice: December 22 or 23. In some places, there is a custom of eating dog meat. Xiaohan: On January 5th or 6th, the weather becomes cold. Big Cold: January 20 or 21 is the coldest time of the year.
The twenty-four solar terms are not unfamiliar to us because we were exposed to the twenty-four solar terms songs when we were young, and we have a simple understanding of the twenty-four solar terms. I have to say that our Chinese twenty-four solar terms are still very meaningful. They are the crystallization of the wisdom of our ancient predecessors and are also a valuable asset that we should cherish.