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Major Snow

source:DISCOVER SHAANXI           editor:Wenny

Major Snow, or Great Snow (Chinese pinyin: Da Xue), the 21st solar term of the year and the third one of the winter, begins this year on Dec 7 and ends on Dec 20.

Wait wait where is the snow?

You still remember that the last solar term "minor snow" doesn't mean that there is a minor amount of snow? Neither does the Major Snow.  

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Major Snow means that during this solar term, it's more likely to see heavy snow in more areas and snow begins to accumulate on the ground. It doesn't imply that a heavy snow will be seen at the first day of the solar term period.

During this period, the temperature of southern China drop significantly due to cold waves, especially in the Yangtze River Delta, which is just entering winter at the time of the Major Snow. Temperatures has fallen below 0 degrees in most of northern China and it may snow. And it may not. Like in Xi'an today, we only see cold winds and few drops of rain. If you are waiting for a heavy snow, just be more patient.

Though heavy snow is absent, the Major Snow is still a solar term of abundance. Most of the 24 Chinese solar terms reflect the agricultural activities of ancient times, but in winter the crops have been harvested in most areas, so it's time to make sausages and wine at home.

Making sausages 

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As the saying goes, "Pickled vegetables at the Minor Snow, salt meat at the Major Snow". During Major Snow, people in southern China, including Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei and Chongqing, make sausages or cured meat of other kinds, an important part of preparation for Spring Festival.

The best meat for sausage comes from the butt of the pig. The sausage should be dried in a well-ventilated place in the shade, and is edible after a week.

Eating lamb 

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Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow. It's excellent for nourishing the body, promoting blood circulation and providing protection against the cold. People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup or stewed lamb soup with their families and friends. Nanjing residents like to stew lamb with yams or wolfberries to make it more nutritious, while northern Shaanxi residents must vote for the hele with lamb soup.  

Brewing Wine 

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How can meat go without wine in such cold winter. The ancients would make millet wine from the beginning of winter to the beginning of spring the following year. There was abundant wine all winter long.

Eating porridge 

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Too much alcohol does harm to your health. Here is an easy regime for you. Hot porridge could help warm you and nourish your body in cold weather. In China, it's customary to eat red bean porridge on the first day of Major Snow and eight-treasure porridge on the eighth day of the last month of the lunar year. Other varieties such as wheat porridge, sesame porridge, radish porridge, walnut porridge and tuckahoe porridge are all good choices.

Preventing respiratory illness 

Watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water. During Major Snow, it's drier and colder, so people should drink more water.