We all know that there are 24 solar terms in a year, and there are many different solar terms in each season. Today, the 23rd is the autumnal equinox, so here we need to learn about the autumnal equinox. What is the meaning? The origin and customs of the autumnal equinox?
What is the meaning of the autumnal equinox?
The meaning of the autumnal equinox is the middle of autumn. The sixteenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms of the lunar calendar usually falls between September 22nd and 24th every year. Its climate characteristics are that the temperature gradually drops and the temperature difference between day and night gradually increases. The average temperature is between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius. The sun reaches 180 degrees of ecliptic longitude on this day and shines directly on the earth's equator. Therefore, in most areas of the earth, day and night are equally divided into 24 hours each, with 12 hours each. During the autumnal equinox, the main agricultural work is autumn harvest, autumn plowing, and autumn planting. In North China, winter wheat is grown. In the southern region and the Yangtze River Basin, wheat is harvested and the land is renovated. During the autumnal equinox, not only the north, but also most areas in the south begin to enter autumn, and the heat of summer quickly subsides.
The origin and custom of the autumnal equinox
It was established by the ancients to guide life and agricultural production. The autumnal equinox is one of the twenty-four solar terms. The original meaning of the twenty-four solar terms is the twenty-four dates determined by our ancestors based on years of research and calculations to guide life and agricultural production. They were gradually established for us based on the seasons and characterizations. The twenty-four solar terms we are now familiar with are also the origin of the autumnal equinox. The Autumnal Equinox is the fourth solar term of autumn, and it has the meaning of dividing autumn equally. Therefore, in ancient times, there were very grand celebrations at the beginning of autumn. These activities are now mainly concentrated in places far away from the city. Moreover, the Autumnal Equinox is now also known as the Autumnal Equinox. Known as the "Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival", activities to celebrate the harvest are held every year to celebrate. The autumnal equinox is located on the 90th day of autumn, in the middle of autumn, and has the meaning of equal parts of autumn. On the autumnal equinox, the sun reaches 180° of ecliptic longitude (the autumnal equinox point), almost directly hitting the earth's equator. Days and nights are of equal length in all parts of the world. The hours will shorten significantly, the evening hours will gradually lengthen, and the climate will become much more comfortable.
The latest autumn process map: Where is autumn
When the autumnal equinox begins, the frontier of autumn in my country has crossed the Huaihe River and reached central Anhui, central Jiangsu, and central Hubei. However, the start of autumn is late this year. Until the eve of the autumnal equinox, autumn is still lingering in North China, and autumn has not yet begun in southern Hebei and other places. Compared with normal years, autumn begins later this year in some areas of Beijing and Hebei. Autumn is already late in central and eastern Henan, northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, and some areas in Hubei and Shandong. Judging from the national autumn progress map launched by China Weather Network, as of September 22, my country's autumn territory covers most of the northwest, Inner Mongolia, Northeast, northern North China, most of the southwest, etc., including the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, northeastern Inner Mongolia, Winter has even entered in the northwest area of ??Heilongjiang. Among the big cities, autumn has begun in Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Hohhot, Urumqi, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Taiyuan, Xi'an and other places. Shi Yan, a meteorological analyst at China Weather Network, said that the subtropical high pressure is strong this year. On the eve of the National Day, autumn tigers are still "entrenched" in the Jiangnan and South China areas. The Yangtze River Basin, which should complete the transition from summer to autumn during the autumnal equinox, may enter autumn later.
What foods should be eaten during the Autumn Equinox?
Autumn vegetables: In the Lingnan region, there was a Xie surname in Cangcheng Town, Kaiping, which used to be four cities (now five cities including Heshan). The custom is called "eating autumn vegetables at the autumnal equinox". "Qiucai" is a kind of wild amaranth, which the locals call "Qiubi Artemisia".
Tangyuan: On the day of the autumnal equinox, people in some places have the custom of eating glutinous rice balls. Glutinous rice balls are mostly made of glutinous rice and other ingredients. The added ingredients are often high in sugar and calories. Helps replenish body heat, replenish deficiency and regulate blood, promote yang and strengthen the spleen.
Crabs: The autumnal equinox is the time when crab meat is the most plump and nutritious. Crabs are high-quality and valuable aquatic products, and their meat is tender and delicious. Not only that, crabs also have extremely high nutritional value. Their protein content is several times higher than that of pork and fish, and they are rich in nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin A.