Origin and custom of cold dew

(1) In China, dew is traditionally regarded as a sign that the weather is getting colder. Cold dew means that the temperature is lower than that of the white dew, and the dew on the ground is colder and will soon condense into frost. Cold dew actually originated from the natural environment of this period. There is dew in the morning, and then the dew temperature is very low, so it is called cold dew.

(2) Every year1October 8th or 9th, 10, when the sun reaches 195, it is cold dew. "Twenty-four solar terms" said: "In September, the dew is cold and will condense." Cold dew means that the temperature is lower than that of the white dew, and the dew on the ground is colder and will soon condense into frost. In the cold dew season, Nanling and the vast area to the north have entered autumn, and the northeast and northwest regions have entered or are about to enter winter. In the capital Beijing, you can see the first frost in many years. In addition to the perennial snow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it has generally begun to snow in the northeast and northern Xinjiang.

(3) In ancient China, the cold dew was divided into three stages: "Waiting for the geese; Second, the sparrow enters the water and becomes a clam; Three chrysanthemums have yellow flowers. " In this solar term, geese move south in a line or herringbone queue; In the cold late autumn, all the birds disappeared. The ancients saw a large number of clams suddenly appearing on the seashore. The stripes and colors of shells were very similar to those of birds, and they thought they were birds. The third stage of "Chrysanthemum begins to blossom" means that the chrysanthemum has opened in a large area at this time.

2. Customs:

(1) Sesame

When the cold dew comes, the weather turns from cold to cold. According to the theory of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter" in traditional Chinese medicine. At this time, people should nourish yin and prevent dryness, moisten the lungs and benefit the stomach. As a result, people have the custom of "eating sesame seeds in cold dew". In Beijing, sesame-related foods have become popular before and after the cold dew, such as sesame crisp, sesame mung bean cake, sesame cake and so on.

(2) Climbing high

The custom of climbing on the Double Ninth Festival has a long history. Because the Double Ninth Festival is around the cold dew solar terms, and the pleasant climate of the cold dew solar terms is very suitable for mountaineering, the custom of climbing slowly on the Double Ninth Festival has become the cold dew custom. If the weather turns cold and dew begins to appear in the Millennium, the dew will increase and the temperature will be lower when it is cold and dew. At this time, frost will appear in some parts of China. In the north, it is already a scene of late autumn, with white clouds and red leaves and occasional early frost. In the south, autumn is getting stronger and cicadas are dying.

(3) Eat flower cakes

Because the weather is getting colder and colder, flowers and trees will soon die, so people call this "resignation." 1999 climb high, still want to eat cake. Because "high" and "cake" are homophonic, we should call the cake "Chongyang Flower Cake", which means "step by step". Flower cakes mainly include "coarse flower cakes", "fine flower cakes" and "money flower cakes". Stick some coriander leaves as a sign, and put dried fruits such as olives, dates and walnuts in the middle: there are three or two layers of fine flower cakes, and each layer is sandwiched with finer candied dried fruits, such as candied apples, peaches, apricots and dates; Money flower cake and fine flower cake are basically the same. But it is very small, like "money", and it is mostly the food of the upper class aristocrats.

(4) Drink chrysanthemum wine

Cold dew is near the Double Ninth Festival. At this time, chrysanthemums are in full bloom. In order to get rid of autumn dryness, some areas have the custom of drinking "chrysanthemum wine". This custom, together with climbing, gradually moved to the Double Ninth Festival. Chrysanthemum wine is made from chrysanthemum, glutinous rice and distiller's yeast, which was called "longevity wine" in ancient times. Its taste is cool and sweet, and it has the effects of nourishing liver and improving eyesight, strengthening brain and delaying aging.