The Beginning of Summer is the first solar term (节气) in summer. As for the date, it is different, maybe on May 5", 6 or 7 each year according to the movement of the sun. Here is what people usually
·Eating the Beginning of Summer Rice The rice for this day used to be made with many kinds of colorful beans, which means"a bumper grain harvest". Now the rice is only cooked with glutinous rice and broad beans, but the sweet taste and people's good wishes keep unchanged. |
·The Egg Competition On that day, parents prepare boiled eggs and put them in a bag before hanging them on their children's chests(胸). They hope it can stop children from getting summer diseases. Children play a game called "The Egg Competition", and the child with the last unbreakable egg is the winner, called "King of Eggs"! |
·Weighing There is a custom of weighing people's weight on the Beginning of Summer in many areas of China. When the hot summer starts, people are more likely to lose weight, which is a bad thing they think. Therefore, people usually weigh themselves to know their health conditions. |