With the holiday season from Christmas to New Year over, many people are probably able to relax a bit.
This time we will talk about the 23rd season of the 24 solar terms, Little Cold.
What is Xiaohan?
Little cold refers to the period from January 6th to January 19th.
The weather is about to get even colder, so much so that it is also called "kan no iri" (the beginning of winter).
The approximately one month period from Kokan to Setsubun is called "Kan no Uchi" (Warm Within), and the beginning of spring is called "Kan Ake" (End of the Cold).
Koyuki's Food
A popular food for this season is
"Seven-herb rice porridge."
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"Seven Herbs Rice Porridge" is eaten on the Jinjitsu Festival to pray for good health.
Seri shepherd's purse
Gogyo Hakobera Buddha's Shrine
Suzuna Suzushiro
Nanakusa-gayu, which contains these ingredients, is not only a way to pray for good health, but is also perfect for giving your stomach a break after a string of delicious New Year's dishes.
What is the "Jinjitsu Festival"?
Many people know that we eat Nanakusa-gayu, but don't know about Jinbi.
It originates from ancient China.
1/1 Chicken Day On this day, chickens are to be cherished, i.e., not eaten.
1/2 Dog Day 1/3 Sheep Day .
1/4 is Pig Day, 1/5 is Cow (or Pig) Day, 1/6 is Horse Day .
1/7th is human day and 1/8th is grain day .
Apparently, it was a rule to take good care of the animal that fell on that day.
It is said that the custom of praying for good health has existed since the Heian period, but it was not established as a seasonal festival until the early Edo period.
This is the Jinjitsu Festival.
Light Snow Flower
The flower that blooms on Koyuki is the holly .
Holly produces small white flowers, but be careful as it has thorns.
Because of its thorns, many people grow this plant at home as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
72nd generation
- Seri no Sakau (Seri ni Sakau) Seri grows well
- Water spring movement (including Shimizu Atataka) A frozen spring underground begins to move.
- The male pheasant begins to cry.
*The 72 seasonal divisions (shichijunikou) are a system of representing the seasons devised in ancient China. They refer to periods in which the 24 solar terms are further divided into three periods of approximately five days each.
Author: Sekido Edited by: Yui and Kambara
