With the gentle blowing of the spring breeze, the earth warms up, and everything recovers, and the ancient Chinese lunar calendar records a special solar term - stunning. It marks the beginning of the thunder of spring, the awakening of hibernating insects, and the vibrancy of nature at this moment. And in such a vibrant solar term, there is a long-standing custom among the people of our country: "Eat pears in surprise". This custom not only contains profound cultural connotations, but also carries people's yearning for a better life and prayers for a good harvest of crops.
Pears, a seemingly ordinary fruit, have a unique symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. In Chinese, "pear" is homophonic with "leave", so in the poems of ancient literati and writers, pear is often used to symbolize parting. However, on the day of the sting, the meaning of the pear has changed wonderfully. People eat pears no longer to express their feelings of separation, but to place a good wish - to keep pests away from crops, to ensure that crops can grow healthily and bring a good harvest.
In the sting season, it is the critical period of spring plowing and spring planting, and farmers are busy in the fields, hoping that the crops can grow smoothly after sowing. However, as the temperature rises and the humidity increases, various pests also become active, and they can pose a threat to shoots and seedlings. In this context, the custom of "eating pears in surprise" has a deep meaning: by eating pears, it is hoped that with the help of the homonym of the word "li", it can drive away pests and protect crops from damage.
In addition to the desire to protect crops, "eating pears in surprise" also implies the expectation of sweetness in life. The pears are sweet and juicy, with a crisp taste that moistens the lungs and relieves cough. While enjoying this freshness and sweetness, people also hope that their days can be like pears, getting sweeter and sweeter, and life is full of happiness and harmony. Therefore, this custom is not only a symbol of agricultural activities, but also a pursuit and prayer for a better life.
In traditional Chinese culture, food is often endowed with rich symbolism and auspicious meanings. Consuming a particular food on a particular festival or solar term is not only for celebration and commemoration, but also as a good wish for the future. For example, eating dumplings during the Spring Festival means saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new. Eating zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Similarly, "eating pears in shock" is also a traditional custom with deep cultural connotations, which reflects the Chinese people's awe of nature, the importance of agriculture and the love of life.
Nowadays, although many traditional customs have gradually faded out of people's daily life, "eating pears in surprise" is still preserved and passed down in some areas. This is not only because it is a simple act of eating, but also because it carries people's hopes for the future and yearning for a happy life. In the modern world, we may no longer need to rely on homophony to repel pests, but this traditional custom still reminds us to respect nature and care for the environment, and at the same time allows us to find a little solace in our busy lives.
To sum up, the custom of "eating pears in surprise" is not only a wish for a good harvest of crops, but also a kind of expectation for the sweetness of life. It symbolizes people's vision for the future, awe and gratitude for nature, and respect and inheritance of traditional culture. In this solar term, let's taste the sweet pears together, feel the blessings from the ancient customs, and look forward to every day of life being as sweet as pears and the crops growing as desired.