Why does the summer solstice have the customs it has?

The summer solstice is the fourth solar term of summer. Right now, the sun is running at 90 ° yellow longitude, and the time is generally June 21-22 on the Gregorian calendar.

It is not only one of the twenty-four solar terms, but also a festival in the popular "Four Seasons and Eight Festivals", also known as "Summer Festival" and "Summer Solstice Festival". He has a habit of worshiping ancestors. In the hot summer, people will also adjust their eating habits, and various forms of noodles have become a gourmet on the table.

Tugui's Sunshine movie determines the summer solstice

"Twenty-four solar terms" is the product of the ancient agricultural civilization. At that time, people discovered the four seasons of nature, etc., and gradually realized that the climatic and phenological changes throughout the year also have rules to follow.

The summer solstice was established very early. According to some data, in the 7th century BC, ancestors used Tugui to measure the shadow of the sun, and discovered that this day had the longest day and shortest night, which is why it was designated as the summer solstice.

There is also a record in "Comply with the Constitution": "The northernmost day, the longest day, and the shortest day's shadow, that's why it's called the summer solstice. On the summer solstice, the sun almost hit the tropics Cancer The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

After the summer solstice, the soil heats up strongly and the air is vigorously convective. Thunderstorms often form from afternoon to night. 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 folk customs," popular expert Xiao Fang mentioned that the ancients believed that the inner power of the twenty-four solar terms is the circulation of Yin and Yang Qi. Different solar terms and stations, Yin and Yang Qi are in different positions in the world. .

"Spring, Autumn, Winter and Summer, the transition from yin to yang". According to this view, the summer solstice is when yang qi is extremely high and yin qi begins to occur in secret.

According to the ancients, the summer solstice is in the mid-summer position, that is, the noon position, and noon is a yang. 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. Right now, the heat near the surface is still building up, so the saying is "heat is three volts."

Generally speaking, the day of the dog starts from the third day of the summer solstice. When the weather is warm, try to avoid going out during the high temperature period and cool off calmly in the summer.

"Practical" customs: women give each other fans and bags

During the summer solstice, just after the wheat harvest, when the ancients thought about the weather, they gradually formed a custom to celebrate the harvest and perform rites for their ancestors.

It is said that before and after the solar term, in some places the great "Xia Xia Mai" was celebrated, which is the relic of the ancient activity "Xia Ji".

In ancient times, the most popular custom was to give fans, grease powder and other things to each other.

The Song dynasty will also grant Baiguan officials three days off, which also reflects the importance attached to the summer solstice from one point of view.

What to eat for this solar term?

In summer, the air is humid, the temperature is high and the diet is mainly light.

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, simple and delicious noodles have become a favorite of popular diets. "Emperor Jing Ji Sui Ji Sheng" was written in the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty. At that time, people in Beijing are said to eat cold noodles, which is very refreshing.

In the Jiangnan area, "Summer solstice spicy cold noodles" is also an important custom. There are more types of noodles, such as Yangchun noodles, bridge noodles and sesame oil cold noodles, whose aroma is acidic and delicious.

Due to some reasons, such as the upcoming date, some customs from the old summer solstice have now been transferred to the Dragon Boat Festival.