Lichun - literally means the beginning of the spring - is the 1st solar term.
Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads. They are first pentad, second pentad and last pentad. Pentads in Lichun include: First pentad - Dōng Fēng Jiě Dòng (东风解冻) which literally means east wind thaw. Lü Shi Chun Qiu said that the east is associated with wood, and wood generates fire, so the air is warm and causes ice to thaw. Second pentad - zhé chóng shǐ zhèn(蛰虫始振) which means literally hibernating insects awaken. Last pentad - yú shàng bīng(鱼上冰) which literally means fish swim upward near ice.
Traditional Customs and Seasonal Food
The tradition of eating special snacks and dinners on the day is called yaochun, which literally means biting the spring. Other favorite dishes on the day include zhouzi, braised pork joints and chunjuan, fried rolls stuffed with leek and eggs.
(Note: Some words are selected from Hujiang English and some pictures from internet.)
