As winter's last act unfolds, Major Cold arrives on January 20, marking the final stretch of the traditional lunar calendar. Though its name hints at deep frost, this solar term also carries a quiet sense of transition. In Guangdong province, winters are milder than in the north, yet damp and chilly winds push residents to turn to food and customs for warmth.
Ancient scholars observed three natural signs of Major Cold: hens begin hatching eggs, birds of prey grow fiercer in their hunt, and lakes freeze solid to their core. These subtle shifts speak of nature readying for renewal. While snow is rare in the subtropical south, the humidity invites locals to focus on internal warmth through diet, movement, and household rituals.
At the heart of Guangdong's Major Cold practice is food. Families prepare glutinous rice in clay pots, blending it with cured meats, dried shrimp, and mushrooms. The dish, believed to boost energy and fend off the cold, reflects a regional wisdom: eat warm, stay balanced. In other southern areas, the Weiya festival sees employers thank staff with feasts centered on boiled chicken, a gesture of gratitude before the Lunar New Year.
As the season overlaps with the pre-Spring Festival rush, households clean thoroughly, shop for decorations, and in rural parts, even set traps for field mice to protect crops. While some customs have simplified, the spirit of “out with the old, in with the new” remains strong.
Traditional health practices also emphasize harmony with the cold. Healers advise going to bed early and rising late, doing gentle exercises like tai chi after sunrise, and favoring warm ingredients like ginger, nuts, and lamb. Special attention goes to keeping the head, back, and feet warm, areas thought to be gateways for cold.
When Major Cold ends, the solar calendar turns again with the Start of Spring. For many, these cold days are less about endurance than the expectation of reunion meals, plum blossoms soon to open, and the steady rhythm of nature's cycles. As one proverb puts it: "When Major Cold comes, spring waits just beyond the door."
Ode to Major Cold
By Shao Yong (Song Dynasty)
Before the old snow melts, new snow piles high.
The courtyard's frozen white, ice hangs from the eaves on high.
The sun is pale, the daylight faint and weak;
Violent winds angrily shriek and shriek.
We all have tongues, yet no one can speak—
So bitter is this cold, it's left us meek.
Author & Poster | Feng Huiting
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
