After the delightful National Day holiday, have you noticed the day getting shorter, the weather becoming cooler, and your skin feeling drier ? These signs indicate that the progress bar of seasons has loaded into late autumn! Today, October 8th, marks the quiet arrival of Cold Dew, the fifth solar term of autumn, upon us.
Although Guangdong has not fully embraced autumn during Cold Dew, residents can still feel a hint of coolness in the air. So, what customs do Guangdong residents follow during this solar term?
Customs of Cold Dew
Climbing Mountains
Climbing mountains during Cold Dew is a well-known custom, with a long history of mountaineering on the Double Ninth Festival. Since the Double Ninth Festival falls around the Cold Dew solar term, and the pleasant climate of Cold Dew is ideal for hiking, the custom of climbing mountains on the Double Ninth Festival has gradually become a tradition of Cold Dew as well. At this time, autumn settles in southern China, and Guangdong residents trek over mountains to pay tribute to their ancestors, expressing their memories and gratitude.
Admiring Chrysanthemums
The ninth lunar month is also known as the Month of Chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums are truly the "top stars" during this period, and people in Guangdong gather for chrysanthemum exhibition events around this time. In ancient times, people often drank chrysanthemum wine during Cold Dew as a lucky drink to ward off disasters and bring blessings. Today, adding a pot of goji berry and chrysanthemum tea to the dining table will offer you to relieve autumn dryness. Chrysanthemum wine, made from chrysanthemums, glutinous rice, and distiller's yeast, is called "longevity wine"previously. It tastes cool and sweet, with effects of nourishing the liver, improving eyesight, enhancing brain function, and delaying aging.
Autumn Fishing
Cold Dew is an excellent time for fishing, as the weather gradually cools, and water temperatures drop to a level appealing to fish. At this time, fish that have suffered through the hot summer become vibrant again, swimming around in search of food. Especially during the late autumn of the "Cold Dew" and "Frost's Descent" solar terms, fish become even greedier as they store food for the winter, making them easy to catch. Fishermen must seize this golden opportunity.
Drinking Warm Autumn Lung-Nourishing Soup
Cold autumn weather can easily harm the lungs, but a bowl of nourishing soup with tonics can relieve dryness and nourish the lungs, becoming a comforting delight during cold times. Many foods of mild and moist nature have good effects on nourishing the skin, lungs, and clearing the intestines, such as Polygonatum odoratum for nourishing yin, Ophiopogon japonicus for strengthening the spleen, and lily bulbs for nourishing the lungs. These ingredients can all showcase their nutritional value in Guangdong's soups.
As Cold Dew unfolds, Guangdong residents are embracing the subtle changes of autumn, following traditions that have been handed down through generations and finding comfort in the simple pleasures of nature and nourishing foods.
Author/Poster | Alice
Editor | Will, Nina, James
