过了大寒，又是一年
Major Cold marks the last solar term of the year, when cold waves frequently move southward, making it the coldest season. According to ancient Chinese phenology (物候学), Major Cold is divided into three phases:
1) Chicken Starts to Milk: This means that hens begin to hatch chicks during Major Cold, sensing the upcoming spring’s yang energy.
2) Bird Disease is Severe: “Zhengniao” refers to sharp and fierce birds like eagles, which hover in the air to hunt and gather energy to resist the harsh cold.
3) Water Full and Strong Clothing: It indicates that the ice on the water reaches its thickest and firmest state of the year, providing strong support for the end of winter.
These changes reflect the low temperatures and shifts in animal behavior during Major Cold. In traditional Chinese culture, this period is closely linked to agricultural production and daily life, emphasizing the importance of staying warm and preventing the adverse effects of low temperatures.
The old year doesn’t start with Major Cold, but the new year begins with it. The folk customs of Major Cold are rich with traditions for bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, such as rushing to buy sesame (芝麻) straw and pasting window paper.
During Major Cold, people often rush to buy sesame straw because “sesame flowers bloom high,” symbolizing good fortune. Window pasting is a folk activity in the areas above the Yellow River. During the severe cold, new paper is used to paste windows, symbolizing “pasting windows for good luck.”
In Nanjing of Jiangsu province, the tradition is drinking chicken soup. It means that families eat a chicken every nine days after the Winter Solstice (dongzhi) to boost their immune system.
In Beijing, people enjoy eating “dispelling cold cake” during Major Cold. This rice cake has a higher sugar content than regular rice cakes and feels warm after consumption. It helps remove wind and cold, and moisturizes the lungs. Eating rice cakes on the day of Major Cold also symbolizes a “high year”, wishing for good luck, safety, and step-by-step progress.
In Anqing of Anhui province, there’s the custom of making spring rolls by wrapping fillings in thin, cooked pancakes, then frying them until they turn golden and float to the top. The fillings can be meat or vegetables and can be either salty or sweet.
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