In the countryside, there are thousands of years of common sayings, like an ancient mirror, reflecting the sensitivity and wisdom of farmers to nature. Among them, the saying "February is not nine, starving pigs and dogs" is like a pearl, shining with a profound farming philosophy.
"February is not nine".
When it comes to "February is not nine", some friends may understand that February has 28 days and 29 days (28 days in ordinary years and 29 days in leap years), if February is only 28 days in the year, it belongs to the year of February without nine, and February has 29 days, it belongs to the "nine". But in fact, this proverb does not simply refer to the presence or absence of February 28 or 29 in the solar calendar, but to whether the second month of the lunar calendar has a year of "number nine".
What is the "number nine"?This is a traditional method of calculating the date of cold weather and spring flowers, starting from the winter solstice, adding 19 every 9 days, for a total of 81 days. This is a sign that spring is coming. After a long period of observation, it was found that at the end of the number nine, that is, the last day of the "number nine", some years are in the first month of the year, and some years are in February. And in the year of the first month, it is called "February no nine".
"Starving pigs and dogs".
The expression "starving pigs and dogs" is not a literal expression for animals starving, but rather a metaphor for poor crop yields in a given year. It is often used to describe that in certain years, especially in the year of "February 9", the crop harvest may be affected by adverse factors, resulting in reduced yields.
These disadvantages can include a variety of situations. Warmer temperatures in early spring may lead to an increase in pests and diseases in the field, affecting crop growth and yield. In addition, prematurely rising temperatures may lead to insufficient rainfall in the coming years, increasing the likelihood of drought. It is also possible to have a spring chill in the spring, where the weather suddenly becomes colder, which can cause damage to the crop.
The combination of these headwinds can have a negative impact on agricultural output, leading to reduced crop yields and ultimately food scarcity. Because the harvest of crops is directly related to people's food, once the crop yield is reduced, it may lead to a shortage of food, which will affect people's lives and diets.
Thus, the expression "starving pigs and dogs" reflects poor crop yields in some years, which may be due to climate change and other adverse factors. In this case, people may face food scarcity and need to take steps to alleviate or cope with this food shortage.
Whether there are "nine" in February this year
Through the calculation of the solar and lunar calendars, we know that March 3, 2024 to March 11, 2024 is the time of "ninety-nine", which proves that February of this year is the year of "nine". This good omen may bring us a good harvest and say goodbye to the fear of "starving pigs and dogs".
However, with the rapid development of agricultural technology in modern society, some people have begun to question whether these ancient agricultural disciplines are still accurate. Some people believe that these statements are the culmination of many years of experience, the result of the accumulation of experience in the past when there were no weather forecasts. On the other hand, there are also those who believe that modern society has more advanced agricultural technology and can respond to droughts, pests and diseases in a timely manner, and does not have to worry too much about crop yields. Advances in agricultural technology seem to have opened a new window into agricultural production more accurately.
In this land, farmers see the changes of nature as part of their lives, and these sayings are like an agricultural encyclopedia, which has been passed down for thousands of years. Now, with the development of modern technology, we have more tools to understand and respond to the changes of nature. However, respecting and preserving these old sayings is a way to cherish the culture of farming. Perhaps in the future, we can better protect our farmland under the guidance of modern technology, and make the harvest season an eternal theme.