The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Cold, or da han in Chinese, is the last solar term in the annual solar calendar. Here are some things about Major Cold.
Cold currentDuring Major Cold, as the cold current moves southward, the weather is often cold to the extreme. Though the related data in China show that the lowest temperature in a year is usually recorded during the Major Cold period, it may not be as cold as Minor Cold in most areas on the whole since spring is approaching.
Dispelling (驱散) coldDuring Major Cold, the freezing weather has a big influence on Chinese people’s lives. Rather than take up outdoor activities, people tend to reduce movements and choose to stay at home to keep fit in various ways. For example, to stay warm, people in Beijing have a habit of eating dispelling cold cake, a kind of rice cake that is thought good to warm and nourish. Besides, in Chinese, “rice cake” has the same pronunciation with the words “higher in a new year”, which symbolizes good luck and continual promotion. For another example, residents in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province like to drink nourishing chicken soup during Major Cold.
The ending and the beginningMajor Cold often coincides with the end of the year, so the folk customs of this period have an added sense of farewell to the old and welcoming the new. With the traditional Spring Festival around the corner, people are busy making preparations for it, like stocking up delicacies, sweeping and decorating. The cheerfulness of the reunion adds warmth to the cold winter days.
【小题1】What is the feature of Major Cold?| A．Lasting much longer than Minor Cold. |
| B．Being colder than Minor Cold on average. |
| C．Resulting from cold current moving southward. |
| D．Dropping to the lowest temperature of the year. |
| A．By eating specific food to keep warm. | B．By expressing new year’s resolution. |
| C．By doing exercise to keep healthy. | D．By decorating their houses to dispel cold. |
| A．Diet. | B．News. | C．Culture. | D．Art. |
