Traditional Folklore: Why should we eat "bitterness" in Xiaoman season?

Twenty-four solar terms originated in the Yellow River Basin. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the four solar terms were defined as mid-spring, mid-summer, mid-autumn and mid-winter. By the Qin and Han Dynasties, the 24 solar terms had been completely established. The naming of the twenty-four solar terms reflects the change of seasons, temperature and weather phenology, and the colorful customs of people with different solar terms have continued to this day. Today is the Xiaoman season among the 24 solar terms: Xiaoman season is in mid-April, and the solar term is Xiaoman when the sun reaches 60 degrees longitude of the ecliptic. Xiaoman season, like "quiet" and "Qingming", reflects the growth and development of organisms affected by climate change. The harvest season means that the plants in nature are more lush and full. The seeds of summer crops, mainly wheat, are gradually full, but it is not the most full time. It means that the ear of grain is about to be full, but it is not yet mature, so it is called "small full". As the saying goes, I will see the wheat yellow in three days. It means that the wheat harvest is ready after Xiaoman. After the Xiaoman season, it is the busiest season for farmers all over the country. Wheat is harvested in the Yellow River basin, rice is harvested in the Yangtze River basin, soybeans, barley and cotton are planted in the northeast, and secondary rice is planted in the Pearl River basin. Customs activities in Xiaoman season: "Growing in summer and planting seedlings in Xiaoman" and "Miao Ben Xiao Man Gu Qiu". Xiaoman season is suitable for rice planting. Early rice along the Yangtze River has entered the late tillering stage or the early jointing stage, so it should be baked in time to control ineffective tillering, protect panicles and increase grains, and promote high yield. Mid-season rice should be planted early at this time to increase nutrient accumulation and increase the number of effective panicles. At this time, it is also the rapid growth period of cotton seedlings, so seedlings should be fixed, transplanted and replenished in time to facilitate early development and healthy growth. In addition, in the cotton area along the Yangtze River, at this time, there is more rain, the soil is sticky and the air permeability is poor, so Qin Ying cultivates loose soil to promote roots and strengthen seedlings. "Zhou Shu" has a cloud: "Bitter vegetables show up on the day of Xiaoman". There is also a saying in ancient books that "small fullness, bitter vegetables are obvious, weeds die, and the summer is coming." In the harvest season, the seeds of wheat, grain and other crops are full, but they are not yet mature. It is just the time when the green and yellow are not connected, and the wild vegetables in the field grow vigorously. Naturally, it is necessary to eat wild vegetables to survive the famine. Bitter vegetables used to be used to satisfy hunger, but now they are used to taste early and get rid of greasy food in the body. There are various cooking methods, such as stir-frying, cold salad, stir-frying meat, pickling, making soup and stuffing. Nursery rhymes say, "Sweet and sour dishes, bitter vegetables are sold by grandchildren to grandfathers, grandma in the city to grandmothers, and grandma says delicious dishes." Beware of skin diseases: Xiaoman solar terms in late May, the temperature increased significantly. If you sleep in the cold, it will definitely lead to diseases such as rheumatism and wet skin diseases. In addition, Xiaoman solar term is also a period of high incidence of skin diseases. In health care, we should pay special attention to "prevention before illness". Diet should be based on fresh and light vegetarian food, and eat more foods with the function of clearing away dampness and heat.