What is Grain Rain? This is a folk custom in Grain Rain.

"It's just rainy in Qingming Festival, a cup of fragrant tea" is the description of Grain Rain season by Zheng Banqiao, a famous poet in Qing Dynasty. Grain Rain is one of the twenty-four traditional solar terms in China, the sixth solar term and the last solar term in spring. Grain Rain also has the meaning of "Rain gives birth to a hundred valleys", so what is the custom of this solar term in Grain Rain? Let's have a look!

What are the solar terms in Grain Rain?

Grain Rain is the sixth solar term among the 24 solar terms and the last solar term in spring. Combat refers to Chen; The meridian of the sun is 30; Celebrate every April 19-2 1 in Gregorian calendar. Grain Rain means "Rain gives birth to hundreds of valleys", and the precipitation has increased obviously at this time. Seedlings and new crops in the field need the moisture of rain most. Only when the rainfall is sufficient and timely can cereal crops thrive. Grain Rain, like rain, Xiao Man, light snow and heavy snow, is a solar term reflecting precipitation and ancient farming culture.

Grain Rain custom

Tea picking in Grain Rain: There is a custom of picking tea in Grain Rain in the south, and Grain Rain tea is also tea before rain, which is spring tea picked in Grain Rain season, also called spring catechu. The moderate temperature and abundant rainfall in spring, coupled with the recuperation of tea trees in winter for half a year, make the buds and leaves of spring shoots plump, green in color, soft in leaves, rich in vitamins and amino acids, and make the taste of spring tea fresh. It is said that Grain Rain tea on this day can clear fire, ward off evil spirits and improve eyesight.

Sacrifice to the sea: Grain Rain Festival is also called the "strong festival" for fishermen to go fishing in the sea. In Grain Rain season, the sea gets warmer, and hundreds of fish go to the shallow sea, which is a good day to go fishing. As the saying goes, "Go online by Grain Rain." Therefore, the Grain Rain Festival is also called the "strong festival" for fishermen to go fishing. In the past, every village had a temple of the sea or mother. When it's time for sacrifice, fishermen carry their offerings to the front of the temple for sacrifice, while others carry them to the seaside, beating gongs and drums, setting off firecrackers and offering sacrifices to the sea. The scene is very grand.

Go to Grain Rain: There was a custom of "going to Grain Rain" in ancient times. On this day in Grain Rain, young women went to visit relatives in the village, and some people came back after walking in the wild. The implication is to integrate with nature and keep fit.

Eating Spring: Before and after Grain Rain, Toona sinensis was mellow and refreshing, with high nutritional value, so it was said that Toona sinensis was tender as silk before rain. People say that picking and eating Toona sinensis in spring is "eating spring". Toona sinensis is generally divided into purple Toona sinensis buds and green Toona sinensis buds, especially purple Toona sinensis buds.

Flower viewing: Grain Rain is also an important time for peony to bloom, so peony is also called "Grain Rain Flower". "Three generations of Grain Rain visited peony", and peony appreciation became an important recreational activity in people's leisure time.

Rain has bred hundreds of valleys. In the last solar term of this spring, we ushered in Grain Rain, and at the same time we will bid farewell to it next spring to prepare for the passionate summer. Little friends may wish to seize the small tail of this spring and take advantage of the customs in Grain Rain to go out for tea and flowers!