The solar term "Minor Snow" (Xiaoxue) arrives around November 22 each year. While its name suggests winter's first snow, snowfall is rare in Guangdong province. Instead, the season brings cooler, drier air. As temperatures drop, people focus on food preservation, seasonal dishes, and adapting to the gentle chill.
Culinary Traditions: Preserving and Sharing
A key custom during Minor Snow is preparing preserved meats. Families hang sausages, pork, and duck outdoors to dry in the air. This practice, rooted in the saying "curing and air-drying in winter to prepare for the cold," ensures a supply of flavorful food for the winter and Spring Festival. These savory-sweet meats often feature in local dishes, such as preserved meat sticky rice.
Another staple is glutinous rice cakes (ciba). Especially popular among the Hakka community, these soft cakes are made by steaming and pounding glutinous rice.
The season also emphasizes hearty soups. Households brew broths with ingredients such as mustard greens, sweet potatoes, mutton, and Chinese herbs to warm the body and counteract the damp chill.
Adapting to a Mild Winter
Unlike northern China, where winters are harsh, Guangdong's Minor Snow is often mild and sunny, sometimes referred to as a "little spring." People enjoy outdoor activities: elders gather in parks to chat, while others stroll along riversides.
Health practices adjust to the cooler weather. Layered clothing helps people adapt to temperature changes between morning and evening. Foods like nuts, red dates, and lean meats are favored for warmth, while cold drinks and raw foods are often avoided.
Guangdong's traditions differ sharply from those in the north. In colder regions, people eat dumplings or mutton soup to ward off the chill. Here, the focus is on gentle preparation and seasonal rhythms.
For Guangdong residents, Minor Snow is less about snow and more about a quiet, practical transition into winter. It's a season defined by the aroma of simmering soups, preserved meats drying in the air, and a calm readiness for the colder months ahead.
Minor Snow
By Zhang Deng (Tang Dynasty)
The almanac says Minor Snow is here,
Yet trees are green, flowers appear.
The nurturing warmth still lingers on;
This southern land enjoys a prolonged sun.
Author & Poster | Feng Huiting
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
