China News Service Client, Beijing, June 21 (Reporter Shangguan Yun) The summer solstice is the fourth solar term in summer. At this time, the sun runs to the yellow longitude 90°, and the time is generally from June 21-22 on the Gregorian calendar.
It is not only one of the twenty-four solar terms, but also a festival in the folk "Four Seasons and Eight Festivals", also known as the "Summer Festival" and "Summer Solstice Festival". It has the custom of worshipping ancestors. In the hot summer, people will also adjust their eating habits, and various forms of noodles become a gourmet on the table.
Tugui's Sunshine Film Determines Summer Solstice
"Twenty-four solar terms" is the product of ancient farming civilization. At that time, people discovered the four seasons of nature and so on, and gradually realized that the climate and phenology changes throughout the year also have rules to follow.
Data map: The summer solstice "Cloudscape" dresses up the ancient city of Gobi in Gansu. Wan Zongping
The summer solstice was established very early. According to some data, in the seventh century BC, the ancestors used Tugui to measure the sun shadow, and found that the day had the longest day and the shortest night, so it was designated as the summer solstice.
There is also a record in the "Abide by the Constitution": "The northernmost day, the longest day, and the shortest day shadow, so it is called the summer solstice. At the same time, the extreme." On the summer solstice, the sun almost hit the Tropic of Cancer. The longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
After the summer solstice, the ground is strongly heated, and the air is vigorously convective. Thunderstorms often form in the afternoon to evening. However, this type of rain comes and goes quickly, and the range is relatively small, often called "Xia Yu Ge Tian Kan".
Why is the summer solstice not necessarily the hottest day of the year?
In "Twenty-four Solar Terms and Folklore", folk expert Xiao Fang mentioned that the ancients believed that the internal driving force of the twenty-four solar terms is the circulation of Yin and Yang Qi, different solar terms, and Yin and Yang Qi are in different positions in the world. .
"Guanzi·Chengma" mentioned: "Spring, autumn, winter and summer, the transition of yin and yang." According to this point of view, the summer solstice is when the yang qi is extremely high, and the yin qi begins to secretly occur.
According to the ancients, the summer solstice is in the mid-summer position, that is, the midday position, and noon is the sun. However, although the summer solstice is full of yang and the day is the longest, it is not necessarily the hottest day of the year. At this time, the heat near the surface is still accumulating, so the saying is "heat is at three volts."
Data picture: June 21st is the summer solstice day, nearly 100 young Taijiquan lovers perform Taijiquan on a square in Duchang County, Jiangxi to welcome the arrival of the summer solstice. Photo by Fu Jianbin
Generally speaking, the dog day starts from the third day of the summer solstice. When the weather is hot, try to avoid going out during the high temperature period, and calmly cool off the summer.
"Practical" customs: women give each other fans and sachets
During the summer solstice, just after the wheat harvest, the ancients gradually thought of the weather, and gradually formed the custom of celebrating the harvest and worshiping ancestors.
"Historical Records·Feng Zen Book": "Summer Solstice, the place of sacrifice is only used for music and dance." In ancient times, the summer solstice was included as a festival and included in the sacrificial ceremony. It is said that before and after the solar term, some places held the grand "Xia Xia Mai", which is the relic of the ancient "Xia Ji" activity.
In ancient times, the more popular custom was to give fans, fat powder and other things to each other. "Youyang Miscellaneous · Li Yi" said: "Summer solstice, enter the fan and the powder capsule, there are words.", the fan can fan, apply the powder to eliminate the odor of sweat, but also practical.
The Song dynasty will also give Baiguan officials three days off, which also reflects the importance attached to the summer solstice from one aspect.
What to eat for this solar term?
In summer, the air is humid, the temperature is high, and the diet is mostly light.
Data Map: On the day of the summer solstice, lotus flowers bloom in Kunming Grand View Park, attracting many citizens to come and watch. China News Agency reporter Li Jinhong
Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the simple and delicious noodles have become the darling of the folk diet, which is said to be "winter solstice wonton summer solstice noodles". "Di Jing Sui Ji Sheng" was written in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is said that at that time, the people of Beijing Xia Zhiri all eat cold noodles, which is very refreshing.
In the area around Jiangnan, "Summer Solstice Noodles" is also an important custom. There are even more types of noodles, such as Yangchun noodles, bridge noodles, and sesame oil cold noodles. The aroma is tangy and mouth-watering.
Due to some reasons such as the approaching date, some customs of the ancient summer solstice have now been transferred to the Dragon Boat Festival. (Finish)