1, Xiaoxue is the 20th solar term in 24 solar terms and the 2nd solar term in winter. The time is on the 22nd or 23rd of Gregorian calendar 165438+ 10, that is, when the sun reaches 240. Light snow is a solar term reflecting precipitation and temperature, and it is a solar term with high frequency of cold wave and strong cold air activity.
"The Book of Filial Piety" says: "On the 15th day after (beginning of winter), the bucket pointed to the sea, and it was a light snow. The sky and the earth are overcast, the temperature is rainy, and the cold is snowy. At that time, those who talked less were not cold and the snow was not heavy. " Xiaoxue solar term is a climate concept, which represents the climate characteristics during Xiaoxue solar term.
Climate factors include precipitation, temperature and light, among which precipitation is an important factor of climate. Light snow is a solar term reflecting the changing trend of temperature and precipitation. Meteorology, rain, snow, hail and other water vapor condensation falling from the sky to the ground are called "precipitation".
This solar term is called light snow because "snow" is the product of cold weather. During this solar term, the climate is not deep and the precipitation is not great, so "light snow" is used to compare the climate characteristics during this solar term. The arrival of the light snow solar term means that the weather is getting colder and colder and the precipitation is increasing.
2. Pickled pickles
As the saying goes, "light snow pickles, heavy snow pickles."
The custom of pickling vegetables in light snow solar terms has a long history, which is mainly popular in northern China, mainly pickling potherb and sauerkraut. Snow mustard is also called snow mustard.
After the light snow, the northern region was frozen, and the traffic between the north and the south was underdeveloped in ancient times, so fresh vegetables could not be eaten. Therefore, it became a custom for every household to pickle pickles for winter after the light snow.
3. bacon
In the light snow season, the custom in the north is to pickle pickles, while the custom in the south is to pickle bacon.
After the light snow, the temperature in the south has also dropped sharply, and the air is dry, which is very suitable for curing bacon.
Moreover, this time is the time when the pigs raised at home are getting fat, so every household begins to kill pigs to make sausages and bacon, and store them in the traditional way until the Spring Festival, just to enjoy the food. As the saying goes: "Winter wax is hidden in the wind, and it is preserved to keep out the cold".
4. dried fish meal
In the light snow season, in addition to the custom of pickles and bacon in the north and south of China, there is also the custom of drying dried fish in Taiwan Province Province.
There is a saying in Taiwan Province Province: "October beans are too fat to see their heads", which means that mullet flocks will come to Budai area in Chiayi County before and after the light snow solar terms every year, and swordfish and sand fish are attractive, so the local people have formed the custom of drying dried fish and storing dry food at this time.
5. Drink soup.
The custom of drinking soup is mainly popular in Tujia nationality in China, and it is also an annual local folk activity of "killing pigs to welcome the new".
Soup planing refers to delicious food carefully cooked with the first-class fresh pork that is still hot. Boil the blood and meat of the pig that has just been killed as a main course to reward the butcher and entertain guests.
Planting soup is not a dish that can be eaten all year round. Only before and after the light snow, Tujia people began the annual folk activity of "killing pigs to welcome the new year" to taste it.