For international friends looking to understand the traditional Chinese calendar, “Start of Spring” (Lichun) is a word full of hope and vitality. It is the first of the 24 Solar Terms, usually falling on February 3rd, 4th, or 5th in the Gregorian calendar. If winter is a silent rest note in music, then Lichun is the first crisp greeting of spring’s symphony.
What is “Start of Spring”?
In Chinese, “Li” (立) means beginning, and “Chun” (春) represents warmth and growth. The arrival of Lichun signifies that the harsh winter is fading and the season of revival and growth is officially opening.
In ancient China, Lichun was not just a solar term, but a major festival. For a long time, it was considered the true beginning of the new year, with a status comparable to today’s Spring Festival. Ancient people would hold grand “Welcome Spring” ceremonies on this day, praying for favorable weather and bountiful harvests in the coming year.
Nature’s Signals: The Three Pentads of Lichun
Ancient Chinese divided Lichun into three pentads (each lasting five days) to record the subtle awakenings of nature:
- First Pentad: East Wind Thaws the Earth
Warm easterly winds begin to sweep across the land, and frozen rivers and soil start to slowly melt. - Second Pentad: Hibernating Insects Stir
Bugs hiding in the mud for the winter haven’t crawled out yet, but they have felt the call of spring’s positive energy (Yang) and begin to tremble slightly in their burrows. - Third Pentad: Fish Swim Upward Carrying Ice
The ice on rivers begins to melt, and fish eagerly swim toward the surface. Since there are still unmelted ice fragments on the water, the swimming fish appear as if they are carrying ice on their backs.
Fun Customs of Lichun
To welcome the arrival of spring, Chinese folk traditions have spawned many lifestyle customs full of joy:
1. Biting the Spring (Yao Chun)
This is the most classic culinary custom of Lichun. Ancient people believed that as nature thrives in spring, humans should eat fresh spring vegetables to align with the season. In Northern China, people eat Spring Pancakes, wrapping bean sprouts, chives, and shredded meat in thin dough, symbolizing a complete and successful year. Others eat a few bites of raw, crisp radish, representing the resilience to “bite through the roots and conquer all tasks.” This isn’t just about tasting delicacies; it’s about literally “biting” the vitality of spring into one’s stomach.
2. Whipping the Spring Ox (Da Chun Niu)
In ancient times, people crafted an “Ox of Spring” out of clay or paper on Lichun. Local officials or elders would whip this ox with colorful whips in a ritual called “Whipping Spring.” The purpose was to whip away the ox’s laziness, awaken the soil, and urge everyone to prepare for spring plowing. Today, it has evolved into a joyful performance praying for a good harvest.
3. Wearing Spring Ornaments (Dai Chun Sheng)
On Lichun, beauty-loving ancient people would cut swallows, butterflies, or flowers out of colorful paper or silk, wearing them in their hair or hanging them on tree branches. These decorations, known as “Spring Ornaments,” were the earliest blossoms of spring blooming amidst the cold wind.
Conclusion
The Start of Spring is not merely an astronomical or climatic milestone; it is a profound realization of nature’s laws by the Chinese people. It teaches us to maintain hope in the depths of winter and to follow nature’s rhythm as all things revive.
Next time you see ice melting or taste a fresh Spring Pancake during this season, take a moment to think about the millennia-old Eastern wisdom behind it—Spring has arrived.
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