This year, Feb 4th marks Beginning of Spring(立春 lì chūn), the first solar term of this year. It lifts the curtain of spring, and the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer afterwards.
As a solar term, Beginning of Spring had already entered people’s lives in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). In ancient China, people would often celebrate the day with ceremonies and worships for a prosperous year, and even nowadays, many traditional celebration events still remain.
迎春 (yíng chūn ) Welcoming Spring
People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Beginning of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), welcoming spring had become an important folk activity.
咬春 (yǎo chūn ) Biting Spring
In many parts of China, people observe the custom of “biting spring” on the first day of Beginning of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.
竖鸡蛋 (shù jī dàn) Erecting Eggs
In China, it is said that eggs can be set upright on the first day of Beginning of Spring, the Spring Equinox and the Autumn Equinox. It is believed that if someone can make eggs stand on the first day of Beginning of Spring, he will have good luck in the future.
鞭春牛 (biān chūn niú) Whipping the Spring Ox
The custom of whipping the spring ox was meant to encourage farming. Even today, the custom, which is closely related to agriculture, remains in some places. However, some of the details have been changed.
