The 24 Solar Terms

"Heavy snow" is the 2 1 solar term in the 24 solar terms of the lunar calendar, and it is also the third solar term in winter, marking the official start of the mid-winter season.

"Twenty-four solar terms" said: "There is heavy snow, November Festival, and there is abundant snow so far." Because "snow" is a product of cold, representing cold and rainy weather, this solar term is characterized by a significant drop in temperature, and strong cold air can often bring rain or snow.

The name "heavy snow" is a metaphor, which reflects the climate change during this solar term. The cold current is active, the temperature drops and the precipitation increases, but it does not mean that there is heavy snow under this solar term. However, after the solar term of heavy snow, the weather will get colder and colder, and the possibility of snow will greatly increase. The "heavy snow" in the sense of solar terms is not necessarily related to the "heavy snow" described in the weather forecast.

Snow solar term is a climate concept, which represents the climate characteristics during the snow solar term. The "heavy snow" in weather forecast refers to the snow with strong snowfall intensity. According to meteorology, when it snows, the visibility is poor, the horizontal visual distance is less than 500 meters, the depth of snow on the ground is equal to or greater than 5 cm, or the snowfall is between 5.0 and 9.9 mm within 24 hours, which is called heavy snow.

Traditional customs of solar terms in heavy snow;

1. Sacrifice to the animal husbandry god: The Mosuo people in Lugu Lake area have circulated festivals to sacrifice to the animal husbandry god since ancient times. On this day every year, every family in the village will prepare a hearty breakfast. The most important thing is to cook a pig heart as a pre-meal sacrifice to the "animal husbandry god." People who are usually in charge of grazing should put on new clothes to celebrate, and housewives should give them the best food.

2. Bacon: Nanjing has the custom of "light snow pickles, heavy snow pickles". Add star anise, cinnamon, pepper, sugar, etc. To salt, stir-fry, put it on the inside and outside of fish and poultry meat, put it in a jar, press it with stones, take out the marinade after half a month, add water to boil, add dried poultry meat layer by layer, and put it in the jar for 10 days. Take it out to dry to welcome the new year.