OntheChineselunarcalendar,ayearisdividedinto24solarterms.The“BeginningofSpring”(立春)fallsonFebruary3thisyear.Liftingthecurtainofspring,itushersinaperiodwheneverythingoutsideturnsgreenandisfullofvigor.Theweatherstartstobecomewarmer.Springstartsonthisdayandendswiththeseventhsolarterm,the“BeginningofSummer.”
Thissolartermenteredpeople’slivesasearlyastheSpringandAutumnPeriod(770-476BC).Forthelast3,000years,holdingspecialceremoniesonthedayofthe“BeginningofSpring”towelcomespringintothefieldshasbeenanimportantculturalactivity.BoththenobilityandcommonersmadesacrificestoGouMang,thegodofspringandagriculture,toensuregoodweatherforthecrops.
TheSpringFestivalalwayshappensclosetothe“BeginningofSpring.”AsthemostimportantChinesefestival,it’satimeforfamilyreunion.Everyonewhostudiesorworksawayfromhome,suchascollegestudentsandmigrantworkers,joinstheannualSpringFestivaltravelrushinordertogetaplane,trainorbusticketbacktotheirhometownandcelebratethefestivalwiththeirfamilyandfriends.Ineveryhousehold,peoplepasteSpringFestivalcoupletsandpaintingsontheirdoorstoprayforgoodluckintheNewYear.
Chinesefarmersvaluespringthemostofallthefourseasonsastheybelievethewholeyear’sworkdependsongettingagoodstartinspring.Asthewarmthofspringgraduallyseepsintorocks,riversandsoil,thebodiesofhibernatinganimalsarewarmedtooinpreparationfortheirawakening.Thelandisasleepingbeauty.Inthechillyairofveryearlyspring,mostplantskeeptheirflowersunderwraps,butwinterjasminestandsupagainstthecoldandblooms.Fromdarkcornersitsyellowflowerspeepout,shiningwithvitality.
Anymentionofthe“BeginningofSpring”makesChinesepeoplethinkofspecialspringtimeactivities.InmanypartsofChina,peopleobservethecustomof“bitingthespring”onthedayofthe“BeginningofSpring.”Theyeatspringpancakes,springrollsorafewmouthfulsofcarrottogetatasteofthecomingspring.
Springisalsothebestseasonforkite-flying,whichhasbeenatraditionalfolkactivityforover2,000years.Italsohastheaddedhealthbenefitsofboostingbloodcirculationandspeedingupthemetabolism.TraditionalChinsemedicinebelievesthatabreathoffreshairblowsawaythemustysmelldevelopedoverwinter.InsomepartsofChina,peoplewearcolorfulsilkbadgesdepictingswallowsontheircoats,astheswallowisaheraldofspringandasymbolofprosperityandhappiness.