The traditional Chinese solar (太阳的) calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Heat, Dashu in Chinese, is the 12th solar term of the year.
During Major Heat, the sunshine, high temperatures, and heavy rainfall are good for crops. But many natural disasters such as floods and droughts also happen during Major Heat. Therefore, it’s important to collect and plant crops in time to avoid loss.
Sending the Major Heat ship is a tradition in Taizhou, Zhejiang province. The ship is filled with various animals for sacrifice (祭祀) such as pigs, sheep, chicken, and fish. More than 50 fishermen take turns carrying the ship as they walk through the streets. Drums are played and fireworks are lit. Both sides of the street are filled with people. After a series of ceremonies, the ship is finally carried to the port. Then, it is pulled out of the port and burned at sea. People carry out this to hope for good harvests and health.
Major Heat is a season with the largest number of crickets (蟋蟀) that can be found in the fields along the countryside. Cricket fighting is very popular for some people in China during this period. This custom dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty.
On the day of Major Heat, people in Putian, Fujian province often eat litchi. People usually put litchi in cold well water first and eat it. In southern Shandong province, it is a custom to drink mutton (羊肉) soup during Major Heat. It’s called “summer mutton soup.” Grass jelly, Xiancaodong in Chinese, is eaten in Guangdong during Major Heat. It is described in a popular saying that goes, “eating herb jelly in Major Heat will make you stay young like the immortals (神仙).”
奇速英语 原创编写 版权所有 侵权必究！ 每日更新 个性化阅读 英语飙升！
13980503458
13980503458
admin@qisuen.cn
