The first frost is one of the traditional solar terms in China.

The first frost is the eighteenth of the twenty-four solar terms.

The first frost is the last solar term in autumn and the first solar term in winter. It marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. In the first frost season, the weather turns cold, the temperature drops, and the water vapor in the air condenses into frost on the ground or plant surface. This solar term usually ranges from1October 23rd 10 to1October 22nd 10 in the solar calendar, depending on the climate of that year.

The climate of the first frost is characterized by dry weather, large temperature difference between day and night, and sometimes cold wave weather. At this time, people will feel obvious seasonal changes, so they need to take warm measures and pay attention to adding clothes to prevent colds. At the same time, the first frost is also the harvest season, and many crops are mature or close to maturity at this time, so we should seize the time to harvest and store.

Customs in the first frost

Eating persimmons is an important custom in the first frost. Because persimmon is ripe at this time, it has the functions of moistening lung, clearing away heat and promoting fluid production, so people think that eating persimmon in the first frost season can keep out the cold and keep warm, and at the same time, it can also replenish bones and muscles, which is very beneficial. In some places, the saying about eating persimmons is that "eating diced persimmons in the first frost will not cause runny nose", and even that the lips will not crack all winter.

Appreciating chrysanthemums is also one of the important customs of the first frost. Chrysanthemums are in full bloom in autumn, which is the best time to appreciate them. In the eyes of the ancients, chrysanthemum has extraordinary cultural significance, and it is considered as a "longevity-prolonging guest" and an "ageless grass". Chrysanthemum viewing activities not only help people appreciate beautiful flowers, but also make them feel the tenacity and noble quality represented by chrysanthemums.

Climbing high and overlooking is also one of the customs in the first frost season. People will choose to climb the mountain at this time and look at the distant scenery, which has also become a traditional custom. This custom may be related to ancient hunting activities, because autumn hunting is quite common in the first frost. People will think that climbing high and overlooking can bring good luck, make people relax and broaden their horizons.