source:发现陕西 editor:张雯妮
The Autumn Equinox is the sixteenth of the twenty-four solar terms, and the fourth solar term in autumn.
Autumn Equinox, in Chinese Pinyin Qiu Fen, literally lies the midpoint of the entire autumn, and the 'Fen' means "equally divided".
At the Autumn Equinox, most parts of China have entered a cool autumn. The cold air going south meets the declining warm and humid air, generating the frequent precipitation and temperature drop. As people normally say, "as an autumn rain comes, another round of coldness arrives".
Folk Customs
The predecessor of Autumn Equinox was actually the traditional festival "Sacrifice to the moon", and the Mid-Autumn Festival also originated from this ritual. Created in 2018, the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival is held each year on the Autumn Equinox during the September harvest season, the major activities include the art performances and farming competition.
Stand eggs on end
Choose an egg that’s about 4 or 5 days old with smooth surface and balanced weight, for its yolk is inclined to sink down. Then all you have to do is to stand it lightly.
Eat Qiucai
In Lingnan, there is a custom popularly known as "having Qiucai (autumn vegetable) on the Autumn Equinox day". Qiucai is a kind of wild amaranth. Every Autumn Equinox day, all the villagers go to pick Qiucai in the wild. Qiucai is taken back and made into soup with fish, named "Qiutang" (autumn soup). Then people pray for the safeness of family and good health.
Lingnan:A geographic area referring to lands in the south of China's Nan Mountains, which generally covers the modern Chinese provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.
Season for eating crab
In this season, the crab is delicious. It helps nourish the marrow and clear the heat inside the body.
Pass the "Autumn Cow"
The Autumn Cow painting refers to the red or yellow paper (530×760mm) painted with the annual lunar solar terms and the scene of farming, then villagers will pass it from house to house.
Seal the bird's mouth
On the day of Autumn Equinox, farmers usually have their day-off, and every family eats glutinous rice balls. They cook the rice ball without stuffing, then string them with thin bamboo skewers, and place them on the ridge of the outdoor field to block the disruption of the birds against the crops, hence the name "Seal the bird's mouth".
Farming activities
A beautiful and pleasant period, the Autumn Equinox is also an important solar term in agricultural production. The half month from the Autumn Equinox to the cold dew is the last but crucial phase for the filling and yield of autumn crops. Therefore, it is necessary to keep up the field management work before the harvest.
Health suggestions
Wash face with cold water to prevent colds
There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening in autumn, so it is necessary to increase or decrease clothing according to outdoor temperature, but it will be too much to "add the layers" too early. Cold-resistant exercises and aerobic exercises are strongly recommended. In addition, moderate cold water exercise has a certain effect on preventing colds, runny nose, and bronchitis.
Eat more fruits and vegetables to prevent dryness
During the Autumn Equinox, be aware of the autumn dryness and adjust the diet accordingly. You can eat relatively more moisturizing and warm-based food. Also, the pungent, sour, sweet flavored fruit and vegetables, as well as those that could lower the lung qi, are recommended. Try white radish and carrots in particular.
Don't forget to treat your skin nicely with some lotion and moisturizer in this dry season!
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