There is a custom in the south of "eating autumn melons at the beginning of autumn". Gnawing autumn means eating melons at the beginning of autumn, which means that the hot summer is unbearable and it is the beginning of autumn, so bite it. Watermelon is sweet and juicy, refreshing and thirst-quenching. It is a great fruit in mid-summer. Eating watermelon on this day of autumn can prevent autumn dryness and has become a custom over time. In addition, eating watermelon at the beginning of autumn also means welcoming the arrival of autumn.

Why do we eat watermelon at the beginning of autumn?

The beginning of autumn is the first solar term of autumn, celebrated every year on August 7-9 of the Gregorian calendar. The beginning of autumn means that precipitation, humidity, etc. are at a turning point in the year and tend to decrease or decrease.

The Beginning of Autumn does not mean the end of the hot weather. The Beginning of Autumn is still in the hot period and the summer heat has not yet begun. The summer heat does not come until the second solar term in autumn (end of summer).

The Beginning of Autumn is one of the "Four Seasons and Eight Festivals" in ancient times. Folks have the custom of offering sacrifices to the land god and celebrating the harvest, as well as customs such as "sticking autumn fat", "biting autumn", and "suning autumn".