"Catkin dances with the wind, rain gives birth to hundreds of valleys, and summer solstice" refers to the Grain Rain season. At this time, the willow falls, the cuckoo cries at night, the peony spits out, and the cherry is red and ripe, which is the best time for everything to grow. Grain Rain, the last solar term in spring, indicates that summer is coming.
Every year from April 19 to April 2 1 day, when the sun reaches 30, it is Grain Rain, which comes from the old saying "Rain makes a hundred valleys".
In ancient times, Grain Rain was divided into three stages: "The first stage was when Ping was born; The second time, the cuckoo blows feathers; The third class is Dai Ren's surrender. " That is to say, after the rain increased in the valley, duckweed began to grow, then cuckoo began to remind people to sow, and then Dai Sheng birds began to be seen on mulberry trees.
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The local customs of solar terms in Grain Rain;
1. Fishermen worship the sea.
Grain Rain season is the time when the sea is warm in spring, and it is a good day for hundreds of fish to go to the shallow sea. In order to go to sea safely and return home with a full load, fishermen in Grain Rain will hold a sea sacrifice on this day to pray for Poseidon's blessing. This custom is still popular in Rongcheng, Jiaodong.
2. Tea picking in Grain Rain.
According to the custom of picking tea in southern Grain Rain, it is said that drinking tea on this day in Grain Rain will clear fire and ward off evil spirits and improve eyesight. Therefore, no matter what the weather is in Grain Rain, people will go to Chashan to pick some new tea to drink.
3. Grain Rain eats Toona sinensis.
Toona sinensis is eaten in northern Grain Rain, and it is the season for Toona sinensis to go on the market around Grain Rain. At this time, Toona sinensis is mellow and refreshing, with high nutritional value. It is said that Toona sinensis is tender as silk before the rain. Toona sinensis has the functions of improving immunity, invigorating stomach, regulating qi, relieving diarrhea, moistening skin, resisting bacteria, diminishing inflammation and killing insects.
4. Sacrifice to Wen Zu Cang Xie.
Grain Rain, Baishui County, Shaanxi Province, has the custom of offering sacrifices to Cang Xie, Wen Zu. "Grain Rain's Sacrifice to Cang Xie" is a folk tradition that has spread for thousands of years since the Han Dynasty. The river in Grain Rain is also very precious. In the northwest, people in the old society called the river in Grain Rain "Peach Blossom Water". It is said that bathing with it can eliminate disasters and avoid disasters. On Grain Rain Festival, people take a bath with "peach blossom water" and hold shooting, undressing, dancing and other activities to celebrate.