The twenty-four solar terms are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. They were created to reflect changes in weather and help people plan farming activities. These terms also influence many parts of daily life. Among them, Start of Winter marks the cold season’s start.

The Start of Winter is the first solar term of winter, marking the official beginning of winter season in Chinese lunar year. In Chinese culture, winter is a time when everything in nature seems to rest. Animals start to hibernate (冬眠), and people store the food they harvested in autumn for the cold months.

After the Start of Winter, the weather becomes much colder and drier in most parts of China. The land freezes over in the northeast, and crops and forest trees begin to overwinter. The “Three Autumns” in the Jianghuai region are coming to an end. The south of the country needs to plant late winter wheat crops, while the north comes to the wintering period. What’s more, the air tends to dry up after the Start of Winter, and the soil holds less water, therefore efforts on forest fire prevention begin at this time.

People in China believe that winter is a good time to eat nutritious food. Eating well helps them stay warm and healthy through the cold season. In the past, most people worked as farmers. They saw the Start of Winter as a day to rest and enjoy a good meal with their families, rewarding themselves for a whole year’s hard work.

The Start of Winter shows how Chinese people live in step with nature, making it a special part of life.