"There is less frost in the late year of the law, and the grass and trees in the world know when spring arrives", today, we usher in the first of the 24 solar terms - the beginning of spring. The beginning of spring is the starting point of the four seasons, marking the beginning of a new round of the four seasons. As the saying goes, "On the first day of spring, the grass sprouts." "When spring returns to the earth, everything is revived, everything is renewed, and the warm east wind blows over the earth, bringing a vibrant message.
According to the "Seventy-two Candidate Explanations of the Lunar Order": "The beginning of spring, the first month of the month, the beginning, and the beginning of the construction are also ......Summer, autumn and winter are the same. 立, which means "to begin"; Spring represents warmth and growth. China has a vast territory, the climate difference between the north and the south is large, according to the meteorological standard of spring, the process of spring is different in various places. The chill of winter has not yet dissipated, but the breath of spring has already sprouted.
Taking five days as a wait, the ancients divided the beginning of spring into three waits: "One waits for the east wind to thaw; Second, the stinging insect begins to vibrate; Three Waiting Fish Negative Ice. "After the beginning of spring, the east wind warms up, the frozen earth begins to thaw, the insects that live in the holes gradually wake up from hibernation, and as the river warms up and the ice melts, the fish begin to swim on the water.
Spring fights for the day, summer fights for time, the major events of the year should not be delayed", the beginning of spring is always full of people's good expectations for the new year. Welcome spring, step on spring, hit spring, bite spring ......Since ancient times, people have attached great importance to the beginning of spring, and the folk have also spread a variety of folk activities.
"Welcoming Spring" is an important activity of the beginning of spring. On the day of the beginning of spring, every household will post spring posts, hang spring flags, and wear spring chickens, which has the meaning of auspiciousness and abundant food and clothing. After the beginning of spring, the grass and trees are beginning to sprout, the buds are beginning to bloom, and people will also go out for a spring outing to enjoy the beautiful scenery of spring, commonly known as exploring spring and stepping on spring.
Lichun also has a very close relationship with agriculture. The ancients would break the spring ox made of clay on the beginning of spring, that is, "beat the spring cow", in order to pray for a good harvest in the new year. Especially after the promulgation of the Song Dynasty's "Tu Niu Jing", the custom of beating spring spread more widely. To this day, there are still some areas that retain this ancient custom, reminding everyone not to miss the agricultural season. As the temperature rises, all parts of the country will successively press the start button of spring plowing and preparation to lay a solid foundation for agricultural production in the new year.
"Biting spring" refers to the day of the beginning of spring, when people are accustomed to eating spring cakes, eating spring rolls, chewing radishes, etc. In the Qing Dynasty's "Ji Sheng in the Years of Emperor Jing", it was introduced, "Offering Xin Pan on the New Year." Although the Shishu family, they will also cut chickens and porpoises, cook dough cakes, and mix lettuce, green leeks, horn onions, chonghe vegetable skin, and raw edible water carrots, which is called biting spring. ”
This year's beginning of spring is approaching the Spring Festival, and the New Year's flavor in the streets and alleys is getting stronger and stronger. Let's say goodbye to the old and welcome the new together, welcome auspiciousness, start from spring, and walk towards hope.
*: People's Daily Online.