What is the meaning of the summer festival and what are the folk customs
The solar term is one of the twenty-four solar terms, usually in August every year Between the 22nd and the 24th.Whenever the end of summer comes, folks have the custom of offering sacrifices to ancestors, worshiping ghosts and gods, eating ducks, putting on river lanterns, holding fishing festivals, worshipping land gods, and splashing water.
Introduction to the summer heat
The summer heat is the fourteenth of the twenty-four solar terms.Douzhiwu; the ecliptic longitude of the sun is 150°; the festival is on August 22-24 of the Gregorian calendar.Chu means termination and hiding, and Chushu means the end of a hot summer day.At this time, the dog days have passed or are nearing the end, the daytime is hot, the morning and evening are cool, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and autumn rains come from time to time.The end of summer, the solar term, means entering the meteorological autumn.During the summer season, it is time for crops to be harvested.In ancient times, people held various ceremonies to worship ancestors and thank the land master.
Characteristics of the summer season
1.Temperature
The summer season is a solar term, and the temperature begins to drop.The direct point of the sun continued to move southward, and the solar radiation weakened; the subtropical high pressure in the western Pacific retreated to the south, and the Mongolian cold high pressure began to be eager to try and show its edge.Under the control of the cold high pressure, sinking and dry cold air is formed.The end of the rainy season in Northeast China, North China, and Northwest China is the first to start the most beautiful weather of the year-the high autumn air.The subtropical high, which dominates the roost in summer, may still rise to the north even though it retreats to the south.For people who have just enjoyed the coolness of autumn, they often encounter high temperatures again at the end of the summer.This is a veritable "autumn tiger".Meteorological experts believe that the "Autumn Tiger" generally has a maximum temperature of over 33°C and continues to be extremely hot for several days.For the places that have just stepped out of the dog volts, if they continue to be controlled by the subtropical high, it is often easy to form droughts in summer and autumn, which will greatly advance the autumn fire prevention period, so vigilance is required.
2.Precipitation
Thunderstorms are not as active as in the hot summer, but there are still more thunderstorms in South China, Southwest China and West China.In South China, because the warm and humid air flow at low latitudes is still relatively active, there are more thunderstorms than other places; while in Southwest China and West China, due to the edge of the subtropical high and the role of mountains, there are more thunderstorms.Entering September, most of China began to enter a period of less rain, while the autumn rain in Western China was more frequent.It is a special weather phenomenon in autumn in western China.In addition to the Weishui and Hanshui basins, the scope of the autumn rain in Western China also includes the autumn rains that occurred in Sichuan, most of Guizhou, eastern Yunnan, western Hunan, and western Hubei.Because of the early autumn rain, it can appear in late August.The earliest appearance date can sometimes start in late August and end in late November at the latest.But the main rainfall period is in September and October.The main feature of "Autumn Rain in Western China" is that there are many rainy days, and another feature is mainly drizzle, so although there are many rainy days, the rainfall is not very large, generally less than in summer, and the intensity is weaker.
Customs of Relieving Heat
1.Worshiping ancestors and welcoming autumn
The folk customs before and after the summer season are mostly related to worshiping ancestors and welcoming autumn.Before and after the end of the summer, there will be folk activities to celebrate Zhongyuan, commonly known as "July and a half" or "Zhongyuan Festival".In the old days, from the beginning of July, there was a ceremony to open the gate of ghosts, and until the gate of ghosts was closed at the end of the month, there would be Pudu almsgiving activities.It is said that the Purdue activity starts with opening the ghost gate, then erecting the lantern pole and placing the river lanterns to cause lonely souls; while the main body is building the Purdue altar, erecting a solitary shed, interspersed with robbing orphans, etc., and finally ending with closing the ghost gate.Today, it has become a major event period for ancestor worship.
2.Eating ducks
"Ducks in July and taro in August", the ancients believed that ducks in the middle of July in the lunar calendar were the most plump and nutritious.On the day of Lushu, the old Beijingers would go to buy Lulily Duck, and in Jiangsu, when making duck dishes, they would bring a bowl to their neighbors.
3.River lanterns
River lanterns are generally placed on the base of lamps or candles.Before and after the end of the summer, there will be folk activities to celebrate Zhongyuan, commonly known as "July and a half" or "Zhongyuan Festival".
4.Fishing Festival
After the end of the summer, it is a period of fishery harvest.China’s coastal areas often hold various forms of activities during this solar term to welcome fishermen to the sea and look forward to a good harvest.Since the first China Fishing Festival was held in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province in 1998, it has been held every year.The Fishing Festival not only has solemn and solemn sea sacrificial ceremonies, but also carries out various cultural, tourism, and economic and trade activities, attracting countless domestic and foreign merchants and tourists.So that they not only appreciate the local enthusiastic fishing culture, but also taste the delicious seafood.
5.Worshiping the Landlord
The summer solar term coincides with the harvest of crops, and farmers have held various ceremonies to thank the Landlord.Some slaughtered animals to worship in the Temple of the Earth, some planted flags and banners in the middle of the field to express their gratitude, and some did not wash their feet when they came home from work in the fields on this day, lest they would wash away the harvest they received.On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, folk sacrifices to land and crops are also popular.Scatter offerings into the fields.After burning the paper, the five-color paper cut into shreds is wrapped around the ears of the crops.Legend has it that it can avoid hailstorms and get a good autumn harvest.In some places, sacrifices are also performed at the Houtu Temple at the same time.
6.Water Splashing Carnival
Water Splashing Carnival is not only held in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, but also in Japan, where there is a custom of organizing water splashing to cool down during the month from the big summer to the summer heat.
微信扫码关注
更新实时通知