The origin and customs of the Millennium

On September 7th in the solar calendar, today is the Millennium solar term, one of the twenty-four solar terms in the lunar calendar. At this time, the sun has reached 165 degrees of the ecliptic. In other words, since the Millennium, the weather has really turned cold, and we not only have feelings on our skin, but also have freshness on our senses! When you go out early in the morning, you will definitely find some seemingly flawless dew on the mosaic on the roadside, which is dew.

This dew is due to the high temperature during the day and the low temperature at night, and the water vapor in the air condenses into white dew on flowers and trees at night. This phenomenon is a natural manifestation of the arrival of the Millennium solar terms.

According to the twenty-four solar terms, the explanation of the White Dew is: "Water and soil condense moisture, autumn belongs to gold, golden white and white dew, and the gas begins to be cold." There is also a saying among the people, "After the Millennium Festival, the cold nights are hot." This is the Millennium, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. There is also an old saying: "The Millennium solar terms are not exposed, so remind me sooner or later." This is to remind people that although this solar term is mild during the day, it is cool in the morning and evening, so you can't go shirtless and get a cold easily. Let's just say that it's even colder when the Millennium solar term arrives. Sooner or later, you have to add clothes, even if you are a guy with great health, don't show off in an ostentatious manner. God waits for no man.

Although the festival is coming, it is also crisp in autumn. Although the climate is getting colder and colder, flowers and trees are still flourishing. There is an ancient poem that says, "Bamboo in front of the sunshine window makes the garden wet after exposure." Night flies help build bricks, and light moths fly around bamboo. "Look at this beautiful scenery! The day before yesterday in Beijing, it was the time when the sky was high and the air was cool, and it was the most pleasant time of the year.

There is such a beautiful day in the Millennium solar terms, so what are the folk customs?

As the saying goes, "millet is harvested in summer, and the Millennium cuts the valley." We old Beijingers just like early adopters, pay attention to everything, and have a say in this solar term. We need to buy corn flour, corn residue, sorghum rice and freshly ground wheat flour, which we have just eaten. In the past, there was a saying that "the white dew hits dates and the autumn equinox unloads pears". Jujube is also the seasonal fruit of this solar term, which is necessary. In addition, this "autumn fat" thing continues, and you have to make up for it.

In some cities in the south, there are also many customs. For example, in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, Bailu tea is very fashionable. Because at this time, the tea tree has experienced the summer heat, which is the best period for growth. This kind of tea is neither as fresh and tender as spring tea, nor as dry and bitter as summer tea, but it has a unique sweetness and mellow fragrance, which is especially loved by tea drinkers.

At the same time, they also have the custom of brewing Bailu rice wine. Every year when the Millennium arrives, every family makes wine to entertain guests. Bailu wine is made from glutinous rice, sorghum and other grains. It is slightly sweet, but it is pure natural, pollution-free and not blended.