The sixth day of the Lunar New Year is the beginning of spring, welcoming the new year with spring in the air

In the long river of time, the encounter between traditional festivals and solar terms is like a carefully choreographed event, which always brings people special surprises and touches. This year, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year and the beginning of spring, two important time nodes, collided with each other, adding a more festive atmosphere to the Spring Festival and giving this special day more meaning and value.

The sixth day of the Chinese New Year: Horse Day traditions and hopes

The sixth day of the Lunar New Year is called "Horse Day" in traditional customs. Legend has it that when Nuwa created the world, she created horses on this day, hence the name. This day has rich and unique traditional customs among the people, each of which is full of people's yearning and pursuit for a better life.

Sending away the God of Poverty is an important custom on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. People get up early on this day and sweep out the garbage that has accumulated in their homes for several days, which means sending away poverty and bad luck. In ancient folklore, the "God of Poverty" is a symbol of poverty and destitution. People hope to send away the poverty and misfortune of the past year in this way and usher in wealth and good luck in the new year. This custom is not only a simple cleaning activity, but also contains people's beautiful expectations for future life, hoping to get rid of poverty in the new year and live a rich and happy life.

At the same time, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year is also a good day for shops to open and people to go out to work. After a short break during the Spring Festival, merchants open their shops on this day to prepare for the new year's business. The shops are decorated with lights and firecrackers, and the atmosphere is very lively. People believe that opening a business on this day can bring good luck and make the business prosperous. This custom reflects people's emphasis on commercial activities and their desire for economic prosperity, and also reflects the traditional virtue of the Chinese nation of hard work and wealth. On this day, people who go out to work also embark on the journey of struggle in the new year. With the blessings of their families and their own dreams, they rush to their respective posts and work hard to achieve their life goals.

Beginning of Spring: The charm and significance of the first of the 24 solar terms

The Beginning of Spring, as the first of the 24 solar terms, occupies an extremely important position in my country's traditional culture. The ancients said: "Beginning means to start. It is the beginning of spring." The arrival of this solar term marks the official start of spring when all things revive, and a new cycle begins.

From an astronomical perspective, the beginning of spring usually falls between February 3rd and 5th of the Gregorian calendar. When the sun reaches 315° of the ecliptic longitude, it is the beginning of spring. At this time, the earth revolves to a specific position, the sun's direct point begins to move northward, the days in the northern hemisphere gradually become longer, and the temperature begins to rise slowly. "When the year comes, the ice and frost are less, and when spring comes, the grass and trees know it." With the arrival of the beginning of spring, the warmth of the sun gradually increases, the earth begins to feel the breath of spring, and the grass and trees are also unconsciously sprouting, preparing to welcome a new growth cycle. This change in astronomical phenomena not only affects the growth of all things in nature, but also profoundly affects human life and agricultural activities.

However, although the beginning of spring is called "spring", the weather does not immediately become warm and pleasant. The climate at this time is characterized by "warm and cold", with a large temperature difference between day and night, and frequent cold air activities. During the day, the sun is bright and shining on the earth, making people feel as if spring has arrived and it is as warm as spring; but in the morning and evening, the cold is still pressing, and the cold wind blows, as if winter has not left yet. Just as the Song Dynasty poet Li Qingzhao wrote in "Sheng Sheng Man·Xun Xun Mi Mi", "When it is warm and cold, it is the most difficult to rest", this sudden change in weather has brought many inconveniences to people's lives. Therefore, special attention should be paid to "spring cover" during the beginning of spring, and do not rush to take off thick clothes to prevent colds. Spring cover is not only a way to maintain health, but also a wise manifestation of people's adaptation to natural climate changes.

Colorful customs of the beginning of spring: a cultural treasure passed down for thousands of years

The Beginning of Spring has rich and colorful traditional customs, which have been passed down from generation to generation and have become an important part of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation.

"Biting the Spring" is one of the most distinctive customs on the day of the Beginning of Spring. People will eat spring pancakes, spring plates, radishes and other foods on this day. Spring pancakes are a kind of hot pancakes with fine craftsmanship and a soft and chewy taste. People roll all kinds of fresh vegetables and meats in spring pancakes. When you bite them, the rich taste blooms on the tip of your tongue, which means welcoming the arrival of spring. Spring plates are a variety of seasonal vegetables placed on a plate. They are colorful and beautiful in shape. They are not only a delicacy, but also an art. There is a saying among the people that "if you bite the grass roots, you can do everything", which symbolizes that you can overcome difficulties and everything will go well in the new year. Radishes are crisp and refreshing, rich in vitamins and minerals, and have the effects of clearing heat, promoting body fluids, and digesting food and removing stagnation. They are very suitable for eating during the Beginning of Spring. "Spring plates with fine lettuce in spring, suddenly remember the time when plum blossoms bloomed in the two capitals." This poem vividly depicts the scene of ancient people eating spring plates during the Beginning of Spring, and also allows us to feel the long history and unique charm of this custom.

"Dachun" is also one of the important customs of the beginning of spring. In ancient times, people would hold a grand ceremony at the beginning of spring, whipping the spring ox with a colorful stick, implying that the old ox would go to the fields to plow the fields, hoping for good weather and good harvests in the new year. The spring ox was originally a real ox, but later it was changed to a clay ox for various reasons, and then to a paper ox in the late Qing Dynasty. The ceremony of Dachun is solemn and lively, and people gather together to participate in this activity and pray for a good harvest in the coming year. This custom not only reflects the ancients' emphasis on agricultural production, but also reflects their awe of nature.

Spring outing is also a traditional activity after the beginning of spring. After the beginning of spring, the weather gradually warms up and the earth begins to glow with vitality. People like to go out to enjoy the beauty of spring and appreciate the beauty of nature. The custom of spring outing has a long history and was formed as early as the pre-Qin period. "On a fine day, I went to the banks of the Si River to look for flowers. The boundless scenery was new for a moment. I could easily recognize the east wind, and the colorful flowers were always spring." This poem describes the scene of ancient people going out to look for flowers in spring, which makes people feel the colorful and vibrant spring. In the process of spring outing, people can breathe fresh air, relax their bodies and minds, get in close contact with nature, and at the same time enhance the relationship between relatives and friends.

Pasting the spring ox is also an interesting custom before the beginning of spring. People use bamboo strips, paper and other materials to paste the shape of the spring ox, and the craftsmanship is very delicate. The image of the spring ox is lifelike, implying a good harvest. Pasting the spring ox is not only a kind of handicraft, but also a kind of expectation and blessing for a better life. In the process of making the spring ox, people put their wishes and hopes into it, hoping that the new year will be good weather and good harvests in agricultural production.

Health preservation in the beginning of spring: follow nature and nourish the body and mind

At the beginning of spring, Yang energy begins to grow, and nature presents a vibrant scene. At this time, people also need to pay attention to following the laws of nature in their daily lives to achieve the purpose of health care.

Going to bed early and getting up early is one of the important principles of health preservation in the beginning of spring. With the arrival of spring, the days gradually become longer and the nights become relatively shorter. People should follow this natural change, go to bed early and get up early, and ensure adequate sleep to nourish their spirits. After getting up in the morning, you can go outdoors to do some simple exercises, such as walking, jogging, etc., to breathe fresh air, stretch your muscles and bones, and promote your body's metabolism. Appropriate outdoor activities help the growth of yang energy and enhance the body's immunity.

Maintaining a happy mood is also the key to health preservation in the beginning of spring. Spring is the season for all things to grow, and people's emotions should be full of vitality and vigor like all things in spring. We should learn to regulate our emotions and avoid excessive anxiety and depression. We can relax by listening to music, reading, chatting with friends, etc., and maintain an optimistic and positive attitude. "The warm sun and breeze in the spring mountains, the curtains of the pavilions and willow swings in the courtyard." In such a beautiful spring, appreciate the beauty of nature, feel the beauty of life, and make your mood happy.

In terms of diet, you can eat more spicy and sweet foods during the Spring Festival, such as leeks, Chinese toon, bean sprouts, etc., to help nourish the liver and spleen. Leeks have the effects of warming the stomach and appetizing, promoting qi and blood circulation. Chinese toon is rich in vitamins and minerals, and has the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach and regulating qi. Bean sprouts are rich in protein and vitamins, which can promote digestion and absorption. These foods are not only nutritious, but also in line with the principles of spring health preservation. At the same time, eat less acidic foods to avoid affecting the release of liver qi.

The beginning of spring coincides with the sixth day of the Lunar New Year: double the joy and hope

This year, the beginning of spring falls on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, a rare coincidence that adds a double festive atmosphere to the festival. On this day, people can feel the excitement and joy of the Spring Festival, welcome the arrival of spring, and feel the vitality and vigor of nature.

When traditional festivals meet solar terms, people's celebrations become more colorful. While sending away the god of poverty and opening the market, people also hold various activities related to the beginning of spring, such as biting spring and beating spring. Families sit together, eating spring pancakes and radishes, and talking about plans and hopes for the new year, and they are very happy. People who go out for spring outings will also enjoy the beautiful scenery, feel the festive atmosphere, take photos, and record this beautiful moment.

The arrival of the Beginning of Spring brings us the breath of spring and hope. Although the weather is still a little cold, everything has begun to recover and the earth is nurturing new life. On this special day, let us welcome the arrival of spring and start a beautiful journey in the new year. Whether in career or in life, we should be full of confidence and courage, strive to pursue our dreams and create a better future. As the ancients said, "A year's plan lies in spring." Let us cherish this great spring, live up to our youth, work hard, and write our own wonderful chapters. At this beautiful moment when the Beginning of Spring meets the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, I wish each of us good health, successful career, happy family, and all the best in the new year!

About the author: Liang Renhai, a teacher at Guilin University of Technology, a senior laboratory technician, an expert in Science Popularization China, and the operator of the Science Popularization China Top 100 account "Guangdong Science Popularization" in 2023 and 2024. He is a member of the China Science Writers Association, a member of the Guangxi Scientist Spirit Propaganda Team, one of the top ten science communication experts in Guangdong Province, a member of the Guangdong Science Popularization Lecturer Team, and a senior youth science counselor of the China Youth Science and Technology Education Workers Association.