What are the characteristics of the Summer Solstice solar term?

High temperatures, high humidity, and thunderstorms from time to time are the characteristics of the weather after the summer solstice.

The summer solstice is in the position of mid-summer, that is, the noon position, and noon belongs to Yang; although the summer solstice has stronger yang energy and the longest day, it is not necessarily the hottest day of the year, so it is close to the surface of the earth at this time The heat is still accumulating and has not reached its maximum.

The Summer Solstice is not only one of the twenty-four solar terms, but also one of the folk festivals of the "Four Seasons and Eight Festivals" in ancient times. Since ancient times, people have had the custom of worshiping gods and ancestors at the Summer Solstice. In addition, after the summer solstice, people generally consume refreshing soup, herbal tea, sour plum soup, etc. to escape the heat.

The summer solstice is the turning point of the sun's northward journey. After the summer solstice, the direct point of the sun begins to move southward from the Tropic of Cancer, and the days in the northern hemisphere begin to gradually become shorter.

For areas of China located north of the Tropic of Cancer, the height of the noon sun begins to decrease day by day after the summer solstice; for areas of China located south of the Tropic of Cancer, the height of the sun at noon returns south after the summer solstice, and the sun After direct exposure again, it began to decrease day by day.

The historical origin of the Summer Solstice

The "Twenty-Four Solar Terms" are the product of ancient farming civilization. People discovered the changes of the four seasons in nature, and gradually realized that the changes in climate and phenology throughout the year also follow regular patterns. Observing the Big Dipper at dusk every day, people found that in different seasons, the orientation of the "Big Dipper" and the pointing of the handle are different.

Therefore, the Big Dipper has long been the star symbol indicating the seasons. For example, it is written in "Guanzi: Circulation Chapter": "The handle of the bucket points to the east, and everything in the world is spring; the handle of the bucket points to the south, and everything in the world is summer; the handle of the bucket points to the west, and everything in the world is autumn; the handle of the bucket points to the north, and everything in the world is winter.

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Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Summer Solstice