There is a saying in our country that refers to the long summer.
In the traditional culture of China, people pay special attention to commemorating and celebrating solar terms. The twenty-four solar terms are based on the position of the sun on the ecliptic, and the time of each solar term is very accurate. Long summer is also one of the most important solar terms. Usually, the long summer appears around May 5 of the Gregorian calendar, that is, when the longitude of the sun is 45 degrees.
During the long summer solar term, the temperature gradually rises, the air becomes moist, plants grow vigorously, and vegetation is lush. Wheat, corn and other crops enter the critical growth period in spring; At the same time, in the coastal areas, after a long summer, it is also a good time for fishermen to go fishing in the sea, because the temperature of seawater is gradually rising, which is suitable for many fish to breed, which is also the peak of fish migration.
The custom of long summer varies from region to region, but generally speaking, on this day of long summer, people will get up early and go outdoors to watch the sunrise to welcome the arrival of summer; At the same time, some people will go to the fields to pick herbs for summer, and at the same time, they will organize some celebration activities, such as tortoise race and blowing objects, to celebrate the arrival of summer.
The origin of long summer solar terms;
In the traditional culture of China, the long summer has rich symbolic significance. I ching said, "in the long summer, everything is beautiful. This is the first day of summer." . This sentence shows that on this long summer day, everything begins to thrive and be full of vitality, which is the beginning of summer. Therefore, on this day in the long summer, people will also carry out some sacrificial activities to pray for a bumper harvest and wish summer peace and success.
There are many legends about the long summer solar terms. A wider legend is that this solar term came from Lv Buwei, the prime minister of Wei during the Warring States Period. At that time, he was ordered to inspect the border, and when he came back, he found that Wei had a deep yin qi, which led to the low mental state of the people. The long summer solar term is one of the most important nodes, which indicates that nature begins to enter summer and the temperature rises.
Lv Buwei suggested to the king, "Look at the summer for a long time", in order to awaken people, eliminate Yin Qi and benefit the public. The king thought it was a good idea, so he allowed Chang Xia to watch this custom, which has been passed down to this day. The long summer solar term is one of the 24 solar terms, usually on the second or third day of the fifth lunar month. The origin of the long summer solar terms can be traced back to the ancient farming society.