When the coldest day arrives, spring is approaching

Major Cold - Introduction to the Seasonal Festival 

During the coldest time of the year, cold air frequently sweeps southward. In the north, the land is covered with ice and snow, and the sky is blanketed with snowflakes. Everything is serene and vast. In the south, although there is no severe cold or heavy snow, it is still damp and chilly, with the wind carrying water vapor that brushes against the skin, bringing a touch of refreshing penetration. At this time, the days are the shortest and the temperature is the lowest. Everything hibernates in silence. Plants lie dormant, waiting for the chance to grow, rivers freeze to store energy, and even people's lives take on a more "hidden" flavor - closing doors and gathering around the stove, adding more clothes to warm themselves, and resting in the cold to accumulate strength in tranquility.

The customs of the Great Cold: The year-end ritualistic feeling hidden within the fireworks

The Great Cold coincides with the end of the year. In the customs, there is both reverence for the harsh winter and anticipation for the new year. Each aspect is infused with the aroma and human touch.

The Tail-Year Festival, thanking for the efforts of the previous year. "Tail-Year" originated from the ancient worship of the Land God. The 2nd and 16th of each month were called "teeth", and the tail-year on the 16th of the last month was the last sacrifice of the year. In ancient times, merchants would hold banquets on this day to reward their employees for their hard work throughout the year. Now it has evolved into a time for family gatherings and friends to meet, with the dishes on the table serving as both a summary of the past and a blessing for the future.

Preserving New Year Cabbages, storing the flavor of the end of the year. During the Great Cold season, the temperature is extremely low, which is the perfect time to pickle pork and vegetables. Households in the north often preserve pickled cabbage and dried radishes, while those in the south prefer to make sausages, pickle pork, and dry fish. The bright and lustrous preserved meats hang under the eaves, and the air is filled with the salty aroma and the flavor of human interaction. This is the most simple beginning of the year's flavor. These preserved cabbages can not only withstand the cold of the winter but also add a unique flavor of the end of the year to the New Year's table.

Staying up to welcome spring, looking forward to the warmth of the new year. As the Great Cold approaches the New Year's Eve, many households have already started preparing for New Year's goods and cleaning their houses, known as "sweeping dust", symbolizing the removal of the dust and bad luck of the previous year and the welcoming of a clean and auspicious new year. As night falls, family members sit around the stove, chatting and keeping the lights on. In the cold night, they hold onto a warmth, waiting for the bell of the New Year to ring.