The origin and custom of vernal equinox in the 24 solar terms

1, the vernal equinox is from March 20th (or 2 1) to April 4th (or 5th) every year. The vernal equinox begins on March 20 or 2 1 day of the solar calendar every year, and the sun reaches 0 degrees of the yellow meridian (vernal equinox). The length of day and night is average, just half of the 90th day of spring, so it is called "vernal equinox".

On the day of vernal equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator, and day and night are almost equal. After that, the direct sunlight position gradually moved northward, and the days were long and the nights were short. The vernal equinox is an important solar term, which not only has astronomical significance: the northern and southern hemispheres are equally divided day and night; Climatically, there are also obvious characteristics. During the spring equinox, China has entered a beautiful spring scenery except the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Northeast China, Northwest China and North China. On the vast land, willows are green, Fei Ying grass grows, wheat jointing and rape blossoms are fragrant.

3, "Twenty-four solar terms": (Gregorian calendar) February, the minute is also half, for 90 days and a half, so it is called minutes. Autumn is synonymous. "Han Dong's book" Spring and Autumn Stories Up and Down of Yin and Yang ":"As for the mid-spring moon, Yang is due to the east and Yin is due to the west, which is called the vernal equinox. The vernal equinox is half yin and half yang, so it is cold and summer day and night. "

4. The custom of vernal equinox

(1) Vertical Eggs: Every year on the vernal equinox, tens of millions of people all over the world are doing "vertical eggs" experiments. How this toy, called "China Custom", became a "world game" is still difficult to verify. However, the game is simple and interesting: choose a smooth and symmetrical fresh egg that has just been born for four or five days, gently stand it up and put it on the table. Although there are many losers, there are also many winners.

(2) The vernal equinox has become the best time for vertical egg games, so there is a saying that "when the vernal equinox arrives, the eggs will look good". The eggs that stand up are very beautiful.

(3) Eating spring vegetables (Lingnan custom): In the past, Cangcheng Town in Kaiping (now taking Heshan as Wuyi) had the custom of "sharing spring vegetables". "Spring vegetable" is a kind of wild amaranth, which villagers call "Artemisia chun". On the vernal equinox, the whole village went to pick spring vegetables. When searching in the wild, it is often green and thin, about the length of a palm. Picked spring vegetables are usually cooked with fish fillets at home, which is called spring soup.

(4) There is a jingle: "Spring soup is dirty, wash the liver and intestines. The whole family is safe and healthy. " Since the spring of the year, people still pray for peace and health at home.