The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Autumn, the 13th solar term, reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The fruitful season is approaching. The following are several things you should know about it.
“Autumn Tiger”
Although Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather won’t come to an end. The period of hot days after Start of Autumn, is called “Autumn Tiger”. Because of decreasing rainfall, it is even more sweltering (闷热的) during this period than during Major Heat.
Eating longans
The Start of Autumn period is harvest time for Taiwan longan. People believe that eating longan will help their children become senior officials.
Eating red beans
Starting from the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, people in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, have eaten red beans on Start of Autumn day. They take 7 to 14 little beans, swallowing them with well water. When taking the beans, one must face west, it is said, so as not to get dysentery (痢疾) during the autumn.
Eating gourds (葫芦)
During the Qing Dynasty, people would put gourds outside for a day before the Start of Autumn, and eat them on Start of Autumn day to drive off the summer heat.
Today people in Tianjin still keep this custom, believing that eating melons such as towel gourd, white gourd and bitter gourd can prevent diarrhea (腹泻) in autumn.
【小题1】What causes “Autumn Tiger” according to the passage?| A．The reducing rainfall. | B．The ending of summer. |
| C．The approaching autumn. | D．The beginning of the solar term. |
| A．To avoid heat. | B．To keep the custom. |
| C．To prevent diseases. | D．To help children become senior officials. |
| A．Sports. | B．Culture. | C．Entertainment. | D．Politics. |
