The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring (Chinese: 立春), the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb. 4.
The Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that, everything turns green and full of vigor. People can clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer, and the weather is becoming warmer.
Here are some things you should know about the Start of Spring.
Start of Spring and Spring Festival
As a solar term, Start of Spring had already entered people's lives in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). At that time, there were eight solar terms. According to some experts, the 24 solar terms were used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), when the Start of Spring was set as the Spring Festival. In 1913, the first day of the first month of the lunar year was mandated as the Spring Festival.
Flying a kite
Spring is the best season for kite-flying. It has more than 2,000 years of history as a traditional folk activity. It can help build one’s health and prevent diseases. It also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and speeding up metabolism. A breath of fresh air outside can discharge the foul smell accumulated in winter.
Erecting the egg
In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of the Start of Spring, Spring Equinox Day and Autumn Equinox Day. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future.
Biting the spring
In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Start of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.
Posting spring calligraphy and paintings
The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one's door in the spring first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring.
(By Yang Jiming/Qi Qian)
