Chinanews.com client, Beijing, September 22 (Reporter Shangguan Yun) "White dew autumnal equinox, autumnal equinox cold dew wheat." The autumnal equinox is the 16th solar term in the 20 solar terms. With its arrival, the weather becomes even cooler. , Autumn is more and more intense.

　　What is the folklore book of the autumn equinox like flying kites and erecting eggs?

Why is it said that the autumnal equinox is "even day and night but cold and hot"?

　　The autumnal equinox is a relatively important time node.

When the autumnal equinox arrives, the time is generally from September 22 to 24 of the Gregorian calendar each year.

"Chunqiu Fanlu · Yin and Yang In and Out of the Upper and Lower Chapters" said: "Autumn equinox, yin and yang are half and half, so the day and night are cold and hot."

Data map: During the autumnal equinox solar terms, light rain began in Beijing, and the temperature dropped significantly.

The picture shows Beijing residents putting on autumn clothes.

China News Agency issued Wen Chen Jian photo

　　The autumnal equinox has two meanings.

To put it simply, one of them is the average time of day and night, each with 12 hours; the other is the climate change from hot to cool.

In ancient China, it was customary to start with the beginning of spring, beginning of summer, beginning of autumn, and beginning of winter as the four seasons. The autumnal equinox day happens to be in the "middle" of the 90 days of autumn. Therefore, it also means to divide autumn equally.

　　The arrival of the autumn equinox reminds people to pay attention to agricultural activities.

The "Siminyue Decree" states: "Anyone who grows big wheat can get in the middle of the field during the Bailu festival, the middle field of the autumn equinox, and the middle field of the last ten days." In other words, the autumnal equinox is a good time for harvest.

It used to be the traditional "moon festival"?

　　According to records, as early as the Zhou Dynasty, ancient emperors had the custom of offering sacrifices to the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the autumn equinox to the moon, and the winter solstice to the sky.

The Moon Altar in Beijing is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped the moon.

"The Book of Rites" mentioned: "The emperor is in the spring and the sun, and the autumn is in the moon.

　　In another view, it is believed that there was a custom of "autumn evening and evening moon" in ancient times, that is, worshiping the "moon god". During the whole ceremony, a large incense table was set up, moon cakes, red dates, etc. were placed, and the whole family had to worship in turn. Moon, I hope to be blessed.

Data map: The full moon hangs high in the sky.

Photo by Yang Bo

　　There is even a view that the autumn equinox was a traditional moon festival, and the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is also related to this.

　　However, folklore expert Wang Juan pointed out that in fact, the ritual of offering sacrifices to the moon has existed since ancient times. According to the records in the Book of Rites, the ancients "sacrifice the sun on the altar and sacrifice the moon on the ridge", and the so-called altar and ridge are the day of sacrifice. Place of the month.

　　However, the rituals for sacrificing the sun and the moon have always been national rituals and national events. These ceremonies are solemn and solemn, the process is cumbersome and complicated, and the atmosphere is too heavy and restrained. It is difficult to connect traditional folk festivals with national sacrifices. Therefore, The argument that the Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the moon sacrifice ceremony needs further discussion.

Diet Guide: Drink "Autumn Soup" and Eat Glutinous Rice Balls

　　In addition, it is said that in the Lingnan area, there is a custom called "Eat Autumn Vegetables on Autumn Equinox".

　　The so-called "autumn vegetables" is actually a kind of wild amaranth, and the harvested autumn vegetables are generally called "autumn soup" with fish fillets.

It is believed that this is good for health.

　　In terms of diet, the ancients believed that autumn is the lung gold. In order to adapt to the natural weather, you should eat less spicy foods such as onions and ginger in autumn, and eat more sour and sweet fruits and vegetables.

　　In addition, in order to reward the hard work of the year, farmers used to have a holiday according to the custom on the autumnal equinox. In some places, every family would eat glutinous rice balls and cook some glutinous rice balls that don’t need to be wrapped. Zizui” to prevent them from destroying crops.

Flying kites, vertical eggs

　　As the saying goes, "Autumn is high and refreshing." At this time, the weather becomes cool and pleasant, and children tend to fly kites.

Data map: Autumnal equinox solar terms. On that day, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology held a special "vertical egg contest". Many students spent the autumnal equinox in the fun game of "vertical egg".

Photo by Cheng Yang

　　It is also said that there will be pictures of sending autumn oxen from door to door at the autumn equinox, and the person sending the picture will also say some auspicious words that do not violate the farming time, so long as the owner is happy and gives the money.

Although the words come out spontaneously, they have rhyme and pleasant to hear, commonly known as "Said Autumn".

　　In addition, Wang Juan said that the autumnal equinox can also play the game of erecting eggs.

The principle is the same as that of the spring equinox, "the autumn equinox is here, the eggs are pretty." The autumn equinox is also the same length of day and night. On the day of the spring or autumn equinox, there are always people willing to try the experiment of "setting eggs".

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