What Is Lichun?

立春，为二十四节气之首。立，是“开始”之意；春，代表着温暖、生长。

According to the traditional Chinese solar calendar, there are 24 solar terms in a year. Lichun is the first solar term. Lichun is the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 315° (i.e. 45.66 days before the spring equinox). The date of Lichun is not fixed to one Gregorian calendar date, but it always occurs on February 3rd, 4th, or 5th, mostly on February 4th.

二十四节气最初是依据“斗转星移”制定，当北斗七星的斗柄指向寅位时为立春。现行是依据太阳黄经度数定节气，当太阳到达黄经315°时为立春，于每年公历2月3-5日交节。

明代作品《群芳谱》对立春解释为：“立，始建也。春气始而建立也。

干支纪元，以寅月为春正、立春为岁首，立春乃万物起始、一切更生之义也，意味着新的一个轮回已开启。在传统观念中，立春有吉祥的涵义，标志着万物闭藏的冬季已过去，开始进入风和日暖、万物生长的春季。

《史记.天官书》(The Records of the Grand Historian)：“正月旦，王者岁首，立春日，四时之始也”，立春为四时之始。

Lichun History

The history of the 24 solar terms dates back three millennia. They were used for farming in China since the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), but, according to some experts, the 24 solar terms were only used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 9 AD).

廿四节气是上古农耕文明的产物，它在我国传统农耕社会中占有极其重要的位置。

The beginning of spring was of great significance to farmers in ancient times, as it marked the beginning of a new year's work. Major celebrations and traditional Lichun activities were handed down by the generations.

Traditional Lichun Customs

There are still some traditional activities held on the day of Lichun, especially in rural areas.

Welcoming Spring

迎春

To welcome spring, people draw a picture of the spring god and display it in their homes. It is said that the God of Spring has the head of a human and the body of a bird. People offer sacrifices to both the God of Spring and Taisui, the Guardian god of the year.

古人重视立春，有迎春之仪。 迎春是立春的重要活动，事先必须做好准备，进行预演，俗称演春。迎春是在立春前一日进行的，目的是把春天和句芒神接回来。

To welcome the Spring God, people hold folk activities, such as beating drums, performing local operas, and bull fights.

句芒为春神，即草木神和生命神。句芒的形象是人面鸟身，执规矩，主春事。浙江地区立春前一日有迎春之举。立春前一日抬着句芒神出城上山，同时又祭太岁。因此民间也多祭之。迎神时多举行有大班鼓吹、抬阁、地戏、打牛等活动。

Making a Spring Ox

糊春牛

In northern China, people enjoy the tradition of making a spring ox a day before ‘Start of Spring’. Local craftsmen use bamboo strips to make the skeleton of an ox. The four legs are made of wood, and then pasted with red paper and colorful paintings.

It is said that the more red and yellow paper is used, the bigger the harvest will be in the coming year. After the spring ox is made, a completion ceremony is held. And an incense table is placed in front of the spring ox for people to worship at.

糊春牛这项风俗活动是在立春前开始进行的，按传统的作法，由县政府（县衙）聘请纸扎能手好匠，于立春前到县城聚会，精心制作春牛图像。一般用竹篾绑成牛的骨架，用春木做腿，再糊上纸，涂上颜料，一个牛的形象就制作成功了。俗谓糊上红黄色的纸多，当年就“五谷丰收”; 春牛糊好后，举行开光点睛仪式，即设立香案，顶礼朝拜。

Beating the spring cattle

打春牛

Beating the spring cattle" is also a folk tradition for farmers. A "cow" made of paper, mud or clay, is beaten by farmers with a colorful club or a whip, dispelling winter laziness of the cattle and praying for the good harvest.

中国民间在立春当天也有“打春”或者“鞭春牛”的习俗。“春牛”是个用土制作的牛，人们把它的肚子里塞上五谷，牛被击碎后五谷就流出来。鞭策春牛后，拾起谷粒放回仓中则代表仓满粮足。

Spring Outings to

Appreciate Plum Blossom

踏春赏梅

To welcome spring, people draw a picture of the spring god and display it in their homes. It is said that the God of Spring has the head of a human and the body of a bird. People offer sacrifices to both the God of Spring and Taisui, the Guardian god of the year. To welcome the Spring God, people hold folk activities, such as beating drums, performing local operas, and bull fights.

古人重视立春，有迎春之仪。 迎春是立春的重要活动，事先必须做好准备，进行预演，俗称演春。迎春是在立春前一日进行的，目的是把春天和句芒神接回来。

句芒为春神，即草木神和生命神。句芒的形象是人面鸟身，执规矩，主春事。浙江地区立春前一日有迎春之举。立春前一日抬着句芒神出城上山，同时又祭太岁。因此民间也多祭之。迎神时多举行有大班鼓吹、抬阁、地戏、打牛等活动。

Going out to parks or grasslands/hills to enjoy the spring views is another popular activity during Lichun festival. It is the time for plum blossom. In Chinese culture, the plum blossom is the favorite of many Chinese artists and painters, as it fights against the cold of winter to show its beauty. This represents the Chinese spirit of courage to fight against difficult situations.

立春后，人们在春暖花开的日子里，喜欢外出游春，俗称出城探春、踏春，这也是春游的主要形式。

‘Biting Spring’

咬春

People eating food related to spring is called ‘biting spring’ in Chinese. Spring pancakes, spring rolls, or Spring vegetables are the most popular “spring foods” eaten on the day of Lichun.

立春日时令饮食是作春饼、赠春盘、食春菜等饮食之俗，以迎春、庆春。春饼是立春日典型的时令食品，从魏晋南朝时代起，人们迎春食春饼。《荆楚岁时记》载：“立春之日，亲朋会宴，啗秦饼、生菜，帖‘宜春’二字。”春饼是一种薄面饼，取生菜、果品、饼、糖等置于盘中，取迎新之意，时称“春盘”，也可赠送亲友品尝

Spring Pancakes

春饼

People eat spring pancakes wrapped around some spring vegetables on the first day of spring. A spring pancake is a kind of thin flour crepe. People wrap lettuce, fruits, and sugar in the middle and eat them to welcome the spring and the new year. Spring pancakes can also be given to relatives and friends as spring gifts.

Spring Rolls

春卷

Spring rolls are cylindrical-shaped fried rolls with meat, cabbage, or other vegetable fillings inside thin dough wrappers. The rolls are often deep-fried to achieve their golden-yellow color, which represents wealth for the whole year.

Spring Platters

春盘

People put vegetables, fruits like sweet melons, etc. on a big plate. The main choices are bean sprouts, radishes, leeks, spinach, lettuce, beans, eggs, and potatoes. Eating (or simply displaying) a spring platter is another way of welcoming spring.

在于春之计一年

A year’s plan starts with spring.

在每期【用英语说中国】这个板块结尾,我们都会给大家一个小小的问题：

本期的问题是：

立春前后，你的家乡有什么特别的传统和习俗吗？