When is Long Summer?

Long summer is the seventh solar term among the twenty-four solar terms and the first solar term in summer. The festival is held on May 5-7 of the Gregorian calendar every year. At this time, the bucket handle of the Big Dipper points to the southeast, and the longitude of the sun reaches 45. Long summer is an important solar term, marking the peak season for the growth of all things.

Astronomically, long summer bid farewell to spring, which is the beginning of summer. When the temperature rises obviously, the summer heat comes, thunderstorms increase and crops enter the peak season, people are used to taking long summer as an important solar term.

In the long summer season, the temperature difference between north and south of China is large, and the same area fluctuates frequently. The average temperature in most parts of the country is around 18-20℃.

Traditional customs of long summer:

1, welcome summer

In ancient times, people attached great importance to the customs and habits of long summer. In ancient times, on the day of long summer, the ancient emperor would lead hundreds of officials to the southern suburbs of Beijing to welcome summer and hold a ceremony to welcome summer. The monarch and his subjects all wear red ceremonial costumes and red jade ornaments, and even horses and car flags should be red to express their desire and good wishes for a bumper harvest. In the imperial court, it is also necessary to "open the ice in the summer and give it to Wen Wuda." Ice was stored last winter and given to officials by the emperor.

Step 2 eat eggs

There is a folk saying that "eggs are crushed by stones in the long summer", which means that people will be full of energy when they eat eggs in the long summer. Children hang egg covers made of silk thread around their necks, which contain boiled eggs and duck eggs. Some even draw patterns on the eggs, trying to compete with each other. This is called egg collision.

Step 3 weigh people

There is a custom of weighing people after lunch in the long summer. People hang a big wooden scale at the entrance of the village or platform, and a stool is hung on the scale hook. Everyone takes turns to sit on the stool and weigh people. When weighing flowers, the caller said auspicious words.