Heavy Snow

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Heavy Snow (Chinese: 大雪),  the 21st solar term of the year, begins this year on Dec 7 and ends on Dec 21. During Heavy Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly.

Greater Snow is divided into three phases in Chinese lunar calendar. In the first phase, birds enter into energy-conservation mode and limit their activity due to the freezing weather.In the second phase, the peak period of tiger mating starts as the temperature continues to drop. In the third, a cold season grass named Liting starts to sprout, adding a hint of green to the winter view.

Climate Characteristi

During Major Snow,the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly.

The snow in north China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. The natural scenery is “ice blockading for hundreds miles and snow flying through thousands miles”.In the South, the snowflakes fly and the world turns white.
Although Daxue (Heavy Snow) does not necessarily fall during this solar term as the name suggests, temperature has dropped to 0℃ or below in most parts of China. Some rivers and lakes in the north have been frozen and ice rinks in many parks have been opened for people to skate and play.

“Greater Snow” is a very important period for farmers. If the snow is very heavy, it means next year will be a harvesting year. This is because that the nitrogen compound in snow is 4 times more than those in the rain. When the snow melt and soak into the soil, the increased nitrogen in soil can be absorbed by crops quicker. At the same time, the freezing snow water can kill many pests on earth’s surface layer，creating a favorable environment for crops to survive the winter.

About the snow, a proverb goes, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".

Hard Rime

Heavy Snow is the best time for watching hard rime, the name for white ice formed by frozen fog which clings to trees and other surfaces. From every December to the next February, in Northwest China, Northeast China and most part of Yangtze River Valley, hard rime will appear depending on the conditions. Among these, the hard rime of Jilin, also called Jilin Frost, is best known to the world. The world of ice and snow which is formed by several days’ hard rime always provides travelers and photographers with a pleasant surprise.

Appreciating plum blossom

When northern China is enjoying their beautiful winter landscapes draped in snow, southern China also has its own ways to admire this term. Watching the bloom of winter-sweets is definitely one of them. Wintersweet usually blossoms in mid-to-late December in some southern cities of China. Sometimes it even blooms earlier. Winter-sweet’s durability during cold weather has long been highly admired by Chinese people. Winter-sweet, bamboo and pine are together regarded as the “three durable friends of winter”.

Eating Lamb

Lamb is the main food chosen by Chinese people during Heavy Snow. It is excellent for nourishing the body, promoting blood circulation and providing protection against the cold. People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup or stewed lamb soup with their families and friends. Nanjing residents like to stew the lamb with yams or wolfberries to make it more nutritious.

Preserved Meat

As soon as Heavy Snow arrives, every family gets down to preserving meat for the upcoming Spring Festival. As an old saying goes, people should “make preserved vegetables during Xiaoxue and preserved meat during Daxue”. Pork, chicken, duck, fish and all kinds of meat can be cured; cabbage, potherb mustard, green beans, radish, bamboo shoots, mustard root, pepper and a variety of vegetables are all suitable for pickling.People preserve meat with salt, sugar, anise, Sichuan pepper, and Chinese cinnamon. They hang the preserved meat under the eaves to dry it, and sit under the roof with their family, waiting in anticipation for the most important Chinese festival.

During Heavy Snow, Chinese people in South China such as in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Chongqing make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.The best meat for sausage is that of the pig’s buttock. The sausage should be dried in a well-ventilated place in the shade. After a week, they are edible. Cut a certain amount off, and boil or fry it as you like.

Tonic Food

It makes one strong enough to beat the fierce tiger in spring.” Heavy Snow is the perfect time for tonics. Eating nourishing food in winter can improve the immune system, promote metabolism, and mostly important, strengthen our tolerance to the cold. People have developed a custom of eating citrus fruits as a significant amount of the fruits come into season during this period. In the meanwhile, ginger jujube soup and hot pot have also become firm favorites.

A timely snow promises a good harvest

Hot porridge

Hot porridge could help warm you and nourish your body in cold weather. In China, it’s customary to eat red bean porridge on the first day of the Major Snow and eight-treasure porridge on the eighth day of the last month of the lunar year.

In addition, there are other varieties such as wheat porridge, ，sweet potatoes, sesame porridge, radish porridge, walnut porridge and tuckahoe porridge.

Preventing respiratory illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.

Source:TransinterpretersPlus译加