The meaning of the rain solar term.
Rain, as the second of the 24 solar terms, marks the arrival of spring and the importance of suitable precipitation for crop growth. It not only represents changes in the natural world, but also a profound reflection of the seasons in agricultural culture. The meaning of the rainy season is explained in detail in the "Seventy-two Candidate Explanations of the Lunar Order", pointing out that at this time the rain begins, and the amount of rain gradually increases, moistening the earth and providing the necessary water for the growth of all things.
Differences in climate between the north and the south.
Although different parts of China exhibit different climatic characteristics in the same solar term, the rainy solar term is no exception. In the northern region, there is still no spring at this time, and it will take some time before the spring flowers bloom; And in most places in the south, it is full of spring, a scene of early spring. This difference in climate is a natural phenomenon caused by the vastness of our country.
The traditional custom of the rain festival.
3.1 La Bao Bao: On the day of the rain, there is a very interesting activity among the people, called La Bao Bao. Bao Bao refers to the godfather. In the past, there was a custom of asking the gods for their daughters to ask them for a fortune in order to understand their fate. In order for children to grow up smoothly, people will look for godfathers, hoping to raise children with the help of godfathers' blessings. The custom of pulling the godfather during the rain festival is intended to wish the child a healthy growth with the help of the meaning of "rain and dew moisturize and easy to grow".
3.2 Birthday Greeting: Another major custom of the Rain Festival is that sons-in-law give festivals to their fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law. The gift for the festival is usually two rattan chairs with a red belt one foot and two feet long, which is called "receiving longevity". The meaning of this custom is to wish the father-in-law and mother-in-law a long life.
3.3 Rain back to one's hometown: In the western Sichuan area, the folk customs of returning to one's hometown during the rain festival are popular. On this day, the married daughter will bring gifts back to her parents' home to visit her parents. In particular, women who have given birth to children bring gifts such as cans of meat and chairs to thank their parents for their nurturing grace. This custom not only reflects the affection between families, but also shows the concept of filial piety in Chinese culture.