奇速英语

小暑：小暑至，盛夏始

Minor Heat, or Xiaoshu, begins on July 7 this year and ends on July 22. Minor Heat means that the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive. The following are some things you need to know about Minor Heat.

The Lotus (荷花) Flower Season

In Minor Heat, high temperatures are good for the growth of the lotus flower. From Minor Heat to the Double Ninth Festival, the lotus flower is in full bloom, showing a simple yet elegant charm.

A Season for Firefly (萤火虫)

Minor Heat is the season when fireflies become lively. Zhu Shuzhen, a woman of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), once described in her famous poem Summer Fireflies a happy scene of children playing with fireflies in the woods at night.

Eating Small Melons (瓜)

Minor Heat comes when all kinds of melons are being harvested. One custom in Nanjing, Jiangsu province incluides enjoying small melons on the day of Minor Heat and having big melons on the day of Major Heat.

Eating Dumplings

Dumplings are a traditional and popular dish among Chinese people. When the “dog day” comes, people may lose their appetite, and dumplings can help stimulate their appetite.