What does the Great Heat mean?

The Great Heat represents extremely hot weather. "The Collection of Seventy-two Hours of the Moon Order" says: "Summer means heat. The heat is divided into big and small. The first month is small, the middle of the month is big, and now the heat is still big." The ancient Chinese divided the Great Heat into three parts. Seasons: "The first phase is when the rotting grass becomes fireflies; the second phase is when the soil is moist and the heat is cool; the third phase is when it rains heavily."

During the Great Summer Season, just before and after midsummer, the weather has entered the hottest period of the year. This is also the season of hot and rainy weather, with significantly more rainfall than in other months. During this period, farmers must not only pay attention to heavy rains to prevent floods, but also make field preparations to resist drought and ensure harvests.

At this time, most areas in China have entered the hottest period of the year. Except for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the northern part of Northeast China, most areas have hot weather. High temperatures of 35°C are common, and temperatures of 40°C are common. In the high temperature weather of ℃, there is not much temperature difference across the country.

High temperatures during the Great Summer are a normal climate phenomenon. At this time, if there is insufficient light, the growth of temperature-loving crops such as rice and cotton will be affected. However, long periods of continuous high temperature weather are very detrimental to the growth of crops such as rice. There is a farmer's proverb in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River: "If there is no rain for five days, there will be a small drought, if there is no rain for ten days, there will be a big drought, and if there is no rain for a month, there will be smoke." The fastest period is also the season with the most thunderstorms. A folk proverb says: "If you flash to the east, there won't be a drop of it; if you flash to the west, you won't be able to get away." In the summer afternoon, if lightning appears in the east, the rain will not fall; if lightning appears in the west, the rain will soon rush to the top of the head as the wind and clouds turn, so you need to take shelter quickly to avoid being showered by heavy rain.

“The wind is like a mountain, and the rain is like a river.” The Great Summer Period is also a period of high incidence of typhoons. The destructive power of severe tropical storms and typhoons is self-evident, and they are the protagonists of summer weather.

Folk customs during the Great Heat:

Sun-dried ginger

Fujiang originates from Shanxi, Henan and other places in China. During the dog days, people will slice or squeeze ginger. Then mix it with brown sugar, put it in a container, cover it with gauze, and dry it in the sun. After being fully mixed and eaten, it has miraculous effects on cold stomach, colds and coughs, etc., and has the effect of warming and health care.

Sending "Great Summer Boats"

Sending "Great Summer Boats" is a traditional folk custom in many fishing villages in the coastal areas of Zhejiang, especially in Taizhou. Its significance is to send the "Five Saints" out to sea. Send summer heat and protect the people. When sending off the "Great Summer Boat", there will be colorful folk performances.

Drinking Fu tea

Fu tea is tea drunk in the dog days of summer. Drinking Fu tea is a custom during the Great Summer. What kind of tea is fu tea? In fact, this kind of tea is made from more than ten Chinese herbal medicines such as honeysuckle, prunella vulgaris, and licorice. It has the effect of cooling and dispelling heat, and is especially suitable for drinking during the summer.

Burning incense

Why is there the custom of burning incense? Because the temperature in the Great Summer Festival is the highest and crops grow the fastest. During this period, most areas are experiencing drought, Floods and wind disasters are frequent, so people burn incense and pray for good weather and abundant harvests. This gave rise to the custom of burning incense during the Great Summer Festival!

Cricket Fighting

The Great Summer Festival is the season when there are the most crickets in rural fields. People in some areas of China enjoy cricket fighting after meals. customs.

Eating lychees

People in Putian, Fujian Province have the custom of eating lychees, mutton and rice grains during the great heat season, which is called "excessive heat". Lychees contain glucose and a variety of vitamins and are rich in nutritional value, so eating fresh lychees can nourish the body. First soak the fresh lychees in cold well water, then take them out and taste them as soon as the hot weather arrives. Eating lychees at this moment is the most pleasant and nourishing.