Putting up eggs, sending spring cows, sticking sparrows in their beaks, flying kites, spring festivals, festivals, eating spring vegetables, worshiping gods, and rewarding farm cows are common spring equinox customs. After the spring equinox, the climate is mild and the rain is abundant. On the vast land, willows are green on the banks, warblers are flying, grass grows, and wheat is jointing. There is a farmer's proverb: When the wheat rises on the spring equinox, a moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold. So, starting from today, let us face life more sunnyly, bid farewell to sentimentality, and live up to the spring glory.
The origin of the vernal equinox
The vernal equinox is the midpoint of the ninety days in spring, when the sun is at 0° of ecliptic longitude (the vernal equinox). On the day of the Vernal Equinox, the sun shines directly at the Earth's equator, and the seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are opposite. It is the Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and it is the Autumnal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Collection of the Seventy-Two Hours of the Moon Order": "In the middle of February, the division is half. This is the half of the ninety days, so it is called the division. Autumn has the same meaning." "Spring and Autumn Fanlu" "The Entrance and Exit of Yin and Yang (Part 1 and 2)" says: "On the vernal equinox, yin and yang are half in phase, so day and night are even and cold and hot are equal."
Read the Vernal Equinox
Speak of Yan
The Spring Equinox is approaching, and the ancients used birds to mark the four seasons and eight festivals (Spring Equinox, Autumn Equinox, Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Beginning of Spring and Beginning of Autumn, Beginning of Summer and Beginning of Winter). The black bird determines the spring and autumn equinoxes. The black bird is the swallow.
Xuan means black and north. The so-called "Xuan of the sky and yellow of the earth" is the ancient people's understanding of the origin of all things in the heaven and earth. Xuanyuan is the spirit of unity when heaven and earth are in chaos, and the north corresponds to water in the five elements. Swallows travel through the chaotic air from the north and bring spring rain. The Spring Equinox is the solar term. Halfway through spring, swallows bring beautiful wind and sunshine and warm spring flowers.
There are several beautiful images of swallows flying back at the Spring Equinox. The first is - "Yaoguang stars disperse into swallows", Yao is beautiful jade, and Yaoguang star is the seventh star of the Big Dipper, symbolizing auspiciousness. Then there is the flying posture - "the swallow's waist is light enough to catch the wind", the wind is under it, flying so lightly. Then, it is said that they all fly back through the moon. In the moonlit night, their wings are covered with a thick layer of moonlight, how beautiful it is...
When the swallows fly back at the vernal equinox, they hold mud in their mouths. It's hot, flying flowers are fragrant, and the weather is hot. When the autumnal equinox flies back and takes away the heat, the vegetation will change color and the weather will become cooler.
Excerpted from "The Four Seasons" / written by Zhu Wei
Spring Equinox
Xu Xuan (Tang Dynasty)
On the fourth day of February, spring scenery Right on target.
The moon lingers in the green fields, and there are intermittent clouds on sunny days.
The swallows are still flying, and the flowers are already falling.
The woman I miss is in a high-rise building late at night, and my singing cannot be heard.
Boarding at Guazhou
Wang Anshi (Song Dynasty)
Jingkou Guazhou is separated by water,
Zhongshan is only separated by several mountains.
The spring breeze turns green again on the south bank of the river.
When will the bright moon shine on me again?
Traveling on the Shasha
Ouyang Xiu (Song Dynasty)
Scenery of rain and spring equinox. Thousands of flowers bloom brightly. Liang Xinyan is painted in pairs, and the parrot in the jade cage sleeps alone and sad.
Fillia clings to the wall, and the ground is covered with berries and moss. There are beautiful singing voices in several places in the brothel. Suddenly, old things came to mind, and I was speechless and frowned at the green mountains.
Spring Equinox Custom
Eating Spring Vegetables
"Spring Vegetables", a kind of wild amaranth, is called "Chunbi Artemisia" by the locals, and is "boiled" with fish fillets in soup , named "Spring Soup". "Spring soup fills the internal organs and cleanses the liver and intestines. The whole family, young and old, is safe and healthy."
Sending Spring Cows
Put two pieces of red or yellow paper printed on the lunar solar terms for the whole year, and print them on The pattern of farmers plowing the fields is called the "Spring Cow Picture".
Erect eggs
"The spring equinox is here, and the eggs are pretty." Choose a smooth and well-proportioned fresh egg that is just four or five days old, and gently stand it on the table. stand up. Although there are many losers, there are also many winners. The Spring Equinox is the best time to play the egg-sticking game.
sticky bird's mouth
Everyone eats glutinous rice balls, and they also cook some dumplings that are not filled with fillings, stick them with thin bamboo forks and place them on the ridge of the outdoor field, which is called sticky bird's mouth. , to prevent sparrows from destroying crops.
Kite flying
Kite flying on the vernal equinox includes king kite, silver carp kite, narrow moth kite, thunder bug kite, moonlight kite, etc. The big ones are two meters high. , two or three feet small.
Seasonal Tips
Weather: Smog disperses, prevent heavy rains
Spring rains are frequent in the southern region. It is expected that today, there will be moderate to heavy rains in Jiangnan, northern South China and other places. , among which, there were local heavy rains in northeastern Guangxi, eastern Hunan, and northern Jiangxi. In the north, it is expected that from noon today, air pollution diffusion conditions in central North China will improve, and some areas in Beijing will experience rainfall. From the 21st to the 24th, atmospheric diffusion conditions were poor in the central and southern parts of North China and the western Huanghuai region.
Diet: Avoid heat and cold, and strive for neutrality
During the Spring Equinox, the dietary principle is to avoid severe heat and cold, and strive for neutrality. You can eat more soybean sprouts, celery, green onions, lettuce, etc. appropriately.
Work and Rest: Get enough sleep and exercise frequently
Ensure adequate sleep and a regular work and rest schedule; eat more foods containing vitamin B, which can drive away "spring sleepiness", such as soybeans, peanuts, ham, Black rice, etc.; the amount of food should not be too full.
"Spring sleepiness" cannot be solved simply by sleeping more. You must actively participate in exercise and outdoor activities to promote or improve the body's blood circulation.
Health care article: Be careful about covering up in spring and comb your hair more
Many people know how to cover up in spring and freeze in autumn, but after the vernal equinox, whether you should cover up in spring depends on the weather.
People should gradually take off their clothes as the temperature rises. At this time, you should cover your head less. After the vernal equinox, Yang Qi will rise. Use a comb or fingers to comb your hair, which will help comb the Yang meridians and help Yang Qi rise.