Daxue festival customs and activities

"Snow" is the last festival before the winter solstice, usually on December 7 every year (there are some individual years on the 6th or 8th). When the sun's yellow longitude reaches 255 degrees, one of the twenty-four solar terms "snow". Ancient people have said: "the big one, the fullness is also, to this and the snow is also full". At this time, the snow tends to fall in a large and wide range, so it is called the snow. The "moon order seventy-two wait collection explanation" said: "to this and the snow is also."

In ancient times, the snow is divided into three: "a wait for the cuckoo gulls do not whine; two wait for the tiger began to cross; three wait for the Li quite out." This is to say that the weather at this time is cold, the chilling bird is no longer whimpering; as this is the most prevalent period of yin, as the so-called Shengji and decline, Yang has been bud, so the tiger began to courtship behavior; "Li-Ting" for a kind of orchid, but also feel the bud of the Yang Qi buds and draw out new shoots.

December 7 or 8 each year, the sun's yellow longitude of 255 degrees for one of the twenty-four "snow". Big snow, as the name suggests, the amount of snow. Ancient saying: "big, also, to this and the snow is also abundant". By this time, the snow is often large, wide range, so the name of the snow.

This is the time when the minimum temperature in most parts of China have fallen to 0 ℃ or below. Often in the strong cold air front cold and warm air in the region, will fall heavy snow, or even blizzard. It can be seen that the snow festival is expressed in this period, the beginning of the snowfall and the degree of snow, it and snow, rain, rain and other festivals, are directly reflecting the precipitation of the festival.

Ancient China will be divided into three snow: "a wait for the cuckoo gulls do not whine; the second wait for the tiger began to cross; the third wait for the Li quite out." This is to say that at this time because of the cold weather, the chilling birds are no longer whimpering; because this is the most prevalent period of yin, as the so-called Shengji and decline, yang qi has sprouted, so the tiger began to courtship behavior; "Li-Ting" for a kind of orchid, but also feel the yang qi of the sprouting of the new shoots.

It is often said that "snow is a good year". Severe winter snow cover the earth, can keep the ground and crops around the temperature will not be due to the cold snap and fell very low, for winter crops to create a good overwintering environment. When the snow melts, it increases the soil moisture content, which can be used for the spring growth of crops. In addition, the content of nitrogen compounds in the snow is 5 times that of ordinary rain, and there is a certain role in fertilizing the field. So there is a "wheat cover three layers of this year, the next year pillow buns sleep" of the proverb.

The snowy season, in addition to southern China and southern Yunnan winter-free area, China's vast land have been dressed in winter dress. The average temperature in the northeast and northwest has fallen to -10 ℃, the Yellow River Basin and North China temperatures have stabilized at 0 ℃ below. In the climate of normal years, the Yellow River basin and north of the region has snow, winter wheat has stopped growing. After the snow, Jiangnan entered the winter season, the temperature dropped significantly, often freezing phenomenon, "snow after the winter solstice, basket water does not leak" is a true reflection of this time, but some years are not quite, higher temperatures, no freezing phenomenon, often resulting in more rain later.

Snow festival, people should pay attention to the weather station on the strong cold air and low temperature forecast, pay attention to cold and warm. Overwintering crops should take effective measures to prevent frost damage. Pay attention to livestock to prevent freezing and keep warm.

What are the weather characteristics of Daxue

Basic characteristics

Daxue festival, the most common is the cooling, rain or snow. According to statistics, the month with the most strong cold air in China is in November of the lunar calendar. After the strong cold air, the average temperature in most of the northern regions in December is about -20℃ to -5℃, and the south will also have rain or frost, and the strong cold air can often bring rainy or snowy days.

Heavy snow (blizzard)

Strong cold air is often able to form a wide range of snowfall or local blizzard, but the amount of snow is not the largest throughout the year. Such as the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in northern China and nearby areas, the largest amount of snowfall is in late February in the spring rainy season, the reason for this and the "snow snow than snow" is similar, that is, late February has been the coldest period of the year, the weather in early spring, the southern warm air began to be active, moisture began to abound, and at this time, the northern cold air power is still strong, strong, strong, strong, strong, strong, and strong, strong, strong, strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong, and strong. confrontation, the warm air flow in the density of the cold air flow on the back of a strong, long-lasting rise, so it may fall snow.

Freezing rain (freezing rain)

Strong cold air arrives in the south, especially in Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, etc.

Place, prone to freezing rain. Freezing rain is a cold layer from the high altitude landing snowflakes, to the middle layer sometimes melted into rain, to the low altitude cold layer, and become the temperature is below 0 ℃, but still raindrops of overcooled water. Overcooled water droplets fall from the air, when it reaches the ground, touching any object on the ground, freezing occurs immediately, the formation of freezing rain. When freezing rain occurs, an uneven crust of ice appears on the ground and objects, which can have a great impact on transportation, electricity and communication, and can also cause damage to fruit trees. According to the book "The Climate of the Middle and Lower Yangtze River" statistics, in December each year, in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the temperature in -3 ~ 0 ℃, prone to freezing rain, freezing rain chances of appearing to account for 76%.

Freezing fog

According to statistics, generally in November each year to the beginning of the following year in February, the northwest, northeast, and most of the Yangtze River Basin, there will be freezing fog has appeared, the humidity of the mountainous areas more common. Freezing fog is a low temperature when the air water vapor direct condensation, or too cold droplets directly frozen, in the object of milky white ice crystal deposits. China's winter freezing fog days are: Heilongjiang, Jilin, northern Xinjiang, northern Shaanxi. Freezing fog is generally appreciated by the people of a natural beauty, but it can sometimes become a natural disaster, the seriousness of the power lines, trees will be crushed, affecting transportation, power supply and communications, etc..

Haze

In December, in the south of Jiangnan, which has just entered the winter, when the temperature is relatively low in the morning, or after the rain or snow, the humidity near the ground is high, and there may be patches of foggy areas. The hazy weather in northern cities will also take a shot.

Ling flood

In winter, Inner Mongolia Baotou river section of the ice sealing the river, and the south of the Lanzhou River is not sealed, the river flow has been sealed section of the river, due to the sealing of the river section of the river on the ice and the Ling dam blocked the upper reaches downstream downstream of the river, forcing the water level to be raised, easy to Baotou river section of the river to produce water overflowing the embankment of the disaster. If the strong cold air comes late, December will be easy to trigger the flow of the disaster.

Customs of the Snow Festival

Cured meat

The old Nanjing has a saying, called "snow pickles, snow pickled meat". Once the snowy season arrives, families are busy pickling "salty goods". Salt with anise, cinnamon, pepper, sugar, etc. into the pot to fry, to be fried pepper salt cooled, coated in fish, meat and light poultry inside and outside, repeatedly rubbed until the meat color from fresh to dark, the surface of the liquid seepage, and then the meat with the rest of the salt into the tank, with a stone pressure, placed in a cool backlit place, half a month after taking out the pickled brine into the pot with water, skimming off the froth, put into the dried poultry and livestock, and then the meat, and then the salt, and then the meat. A layer of yards in the tank, poured into the salt brine, and then pressed on the big stone, ten days after taking out, hanging in the sunrise under the eaves to dry, in order to meet the New Year.

Ornamental river

"Small snow, big snow river", the north has "thousands of miles of ice, ten thousand miles of snow drift" natural landscape, the south also have "The snowflakes are flying, the sky is silver" charming picture. In the snowy season, the ice in the river is frozen, and people can skate and play to their heart's content.

Tonic

Daxue is a "tonic" good season, there is a "winter tonic, spring tiger" said. Winter tonic can improve the body's immune function, promote metabolism, so that the phenomenon of fear of cold is improved. Winter tonic can also regulate the body's . Substance metabolism, so that nutrients into energy to maximize the storage in the body, to help the body of Yang Qi rise, as the saying goes, "three nine make up for a winter, the next year without disease". At this time, it is appropriate to warm to support Yang, tonifying the kidneys and bones, yin and essence. Winter diet should be supplied with food rich in protein, vitamins and easy to digest. Before and after the snow festival, citrus fruits are on the market in large quantities, such as Nanfeng mandarin oranges, Gwenxi pomelo, navel oranges and snow oranges are the fruits of the day. Appropriate to eat some can prevent and control rhinitis, eliminate phlegm and cough. The northern hemisphere in the snow day short night long, so there are agricultural proverbs "snow snow, cooking not rest" and so on, to describe the short day to the peasant women almost to do three meals in a row degree. You can always drink ginger and jujube soup to fight the cold; eat oranges, use peppermint oil to prevent rhinitis, eliminate phlegm and cough.

The traditional folk activities of the snow festival

Playing in the snow

During the snowy season, people play in the snow in the icy sky. The Southern Song Dynasty Zhou Mi "Old Wulin" Volume III said: "forbidden to appreciate the snow, more than the Royal Palace of the Mingyuan building, the rear garden into the size of the snow lion children, and to the gold bell color strands for decoration, and for the snowflakes, snow lamps, snowy mountains, and so on, and drops of crisp for the flowers and the events, and to the gold basin into, for enjoyment." This vivid text describes the royal relatives in Hangzhou city in the snowy weather pile snowman and pile snow mountain situation. After the snow cleared, the earth and mountains look like a jeweled building, looking far and wide, interesting.

Viewing the river

The river is frozen in the snowy season, so people skate and play, and of course, enjoy the scenery of the river.

Night work

Daxue festival day short, long night, the ancient times of the workshop, family handicraft have opened night work, commonly known as "night work". Handmade textile industry, embroidery industry, dyeing late into the night to eat the night meal, so there is a "night cooking" "night snacks". In order to meet this demand, a variety of food stalls have opened night market, until the end of the five night, business is booming.

Snow pickled meat

"Snow pickled vegetables, snow pickled meat" "has not been in the New Year, the first fat eaves" is the custom of the snow festival, that is, pickled meat. Once the snowy season arrives, every household is busy pickling "salty goods", whether it is poultry, or fish, people use traditional methods to process into fragrant food to welcome the upcoming New Year. The custom of curing meat in the snow has a long history, which, like the origin of firecrackers, is related to the year. "Nian is a ferocious beast with sharp horns that comes out every New Year's Eve to hurt people. In order to avoid the harm, people stay home at the end of the year, and store meat and vegetables by curing them, and fresh vegetables by drying them in the air.

Daxue tonic

"Winter tonic, the beginning of spring to fight the tiger." Since ancient times, there has been the custom of snow tonic, which can improve the body's immunity, promote metabolism, so that the phenomenon of fear of cold is improved.

Folktales of the Snow Festival

The Chilling Bird

Legend has it that there is a small bird called the Chilling Bird. This bird was different in that it had four legs and two bare, fleshy wings and did not fly like ordinary birds. In the summer, the hornbill was covered with gorgeous feathers and looked very beautiful. The hornbill was so proud of itself that it thought it was the most beautiful bird in the world, and even the phoenix could not compare with it. So it shook its feathers all day long, walked around, and smugly sang, "The phoenix is not as good as me! The Phoenix is not as good as me!"

The summer is over, the fall is coming, the birds are busy, some of them began to fly to the south, ready to spend the warm winter there; some stayed behind, it is busy all day long, accumulating food, repair nests, and make preparations for the winter. Only the hornbill, neither the ability to fly to the south, but also do not want to work hard, is still wandering around all day, but also in a strong everywhere to show off their beautiful feathers.

Winter finally came, the weather is very cold, the birds are returned to their own warm nest. At this time, the chilly bird has lost all of its beautiful feathers. At night, it hid in the cracks of the stone, freezing and shivering, it kept screaming, "It's cold, it's cold, wait until dawn to build a nest ah!" When dawn came, the sun came out, and the warmth of the sun shone on it, and the chilly bird forgot the coldness of the night again, so it kept singing again, "Get over it! It's warm under the sun!"

And so the hornbill muddled along day after day, day after day, and never managed to build itself a nest. In the snowy season, the wind howled and the sun lost its warmth. The chilly bird did not survive the cold snowy season and finally froze to death in a rocky crevice.

Chengmen Lixue

Yang Shi, the word neutral, was a native of Jiangle in Jiannan. When he was young, he was exceptionally intelligent and good at writing essays. When he was a little older, he concentrated on the study of books on the classics and history. Song Xining nine years and first degree, at that time, Henan Cheng Hao and younger brother Cheng Yi in Xining, Yuanfeng years to teach Confucius and Mencius academic essence (i.e., science), scholars in Luoyang, Henan, these places go to worship them as a teacher, Yang was transferred to do the official he did not go, in Yingchang to worship the teacher rites Cheng Hao as a teacher, teachers and students get along very well. When Yang Shi went home, Roy Cheng saw him off and said, "My doctrine will spread to the south." After another four years, Roy Ching died. When Yang Shi heard about it, he set up Roy Ching's memorial table in his bedroom to cry and offer sacrifices, and he also wrote letters to his classmates to inform them of his death. After Cheng Hao's death, he went to Luoyang to see Cheng Yi, and Yang Shi was about forty years old at that time. One day when he visited Cheng Yi, he was sitting with his eyes closed, and Yang Shi and his classmate You Yu (游酢)were standing outside the door without leaving, and when Cheng Yi woke up from his sleep, the snow outside the door was already more than a foot deep. Virtue and prestige day by day, the four sides of the personnel from thousands of miles to meet with the tour, its name is Mr. Guishan.

Daxue food

Drink sweet potato porridge

Daxue, is the twenty-four seasons in the twenty-first solar term, the time is the Gregorian calendar every year, December 7 or 8 days. After the snow after the temperature gradually become cold, people inside and outside the house are very careful to keep warm, have put on winter clothes, to prevent freezing, frostbite. Lubei folk "threshing floor on top of the door, light drink red sticky porridge" said, meaning that the day cold no longer string door, only at home to drink warm sweet potato porridge day. Sweet potato porridge is sweet and savory, spleen and stomach, or a good diet food.

Eating radish rounds

Radish rounds processed with radish, for many years has been popular in the area of the old city south. At that time, in the vegetable market or on the street, there were radish rounds made of radish, which was a very unique and delicious snack. The people in the old south of the city had the habit of eating dim sum in the afternoon, sitting around in front of the stall, the stallholder scooped out a few rounds in the boiling water and served them in a bowl, sprinkled with some garlic flowers, which was really fragrant and flavorful to eat. Now although a variety of snacks and fast food varieties, but the charm of the Jinling snacks are still there, and with the authentic local specialty flavor of the radish round, will certainly re-emit the intoxicating fragrance.

Tui Sugar

"Sugar customers, slowly take the burden, a small interest followed by a large class." Every time around the "Big Snow" festival, the streets of Wenzhou will be filled with a kind of "sugar exchange". Caramel workshops around the whole version of the caramel will be made available to the specialized vendors picking up the streets and alleys, commonly known as "sugar child guest".

"Sugar" while beating the sugar knife, shouting to sell sugar. Children are often attracted to the parents will be the family of copper scrap, copper money copper plate and other objects to bring with the "Sugar" exchange caramel. Because of the health benefits of eating caramel in winter, nowadays this "sugar" has developed into a business mode of operation.

Lamb

"Winter tonic, spring tiger", snow reminds people to start tonic, tonic role is to improve the body's immune function, promote metabolism, so that the phenomenon of fear of cold to be improved, healthy winter. The old Nanjing snow tonic love to eat mutton, drive cold tonic, benefit gas deficiency, promote blood circulation, enhance the ability to protect against cold. Mutton can also increase digestive enzymes to help digestion. Experts suggest that the winter consumption of mutton tonic, and yam, goji berries and other "mix and match", more nutritious.

As for the northern peoples, this time has been quite cold, such as in the Baotou area, there is a proverb that says, "Snow kills pigs, snow slaughter sheep," snow festival to, is to kill pigs to prepare for the time of the New Year's Eve. At this time, no matter whose family slaughter livestock, friends and relatives will come to help, the host family to prepare food, wine, small dishes feast, so the snow, snow season is the family of friends and relatives to catch up on old times and contact with the moment of love.

Dog meat

As the saying goes, "hanging sheep's head to sell dog meat", in fact, we Wenzhou people have been "winter meat to warm up the stomach" said that the meat is dog meat. Cold winter season is the best time to eat dog meat complementary, "Daming Ben Cao" on the "yellow dog big complementary benefit people, the rest of the color slightly complementary" records. It is said that the body is weak and drowning children, eat one or two back to the dog will be able to see the cure. In the past, many people in Wenzhou will be dog meat as a maternal body good gift to each other.