Great Cold is the final solar term in the twenty-four solar cycle, usually occurring on January 20th or 21st annually. By this time, cold waves frequent the land, and the weather reaches its most frigid state of the year, hence the name "Great Cold." It signifies the peak of deep winter and simultaneously marks the end of winter as well as the beginning of a new seasonal cycle. In nature, Great Cold presents a severe scene of "frozen expanses and all life in deep dormancy." In traditional agrarian understanding, it represents both the final phase of rest and conservation, and a pivotal moment for making the last preparations for spring farming.
Historically, Great Cold carried the dual significance of ending the year and welcoming the new, giving rise to rich customs that combined practical cold-defense measures with spiritual solace. The folk saying "Great Cold welcomes the New Year" reflects people's busy activities during this period: cleaning houses, purchasing goods for the Spring Festival, and writing spring couplets to bid farewell to the old and usher in the new. The diet emphasizes "warming and nourishing the body," with widespread practices of stewing chicken soup, lamb, and other warming foods, as well as consuming glutinous rice products to resist the cold. Some regions still preserve ancient rituals like the "Year-End Sacrifice Banquet" to give thanks to the earth god and past blessings while praying for safety and health in the coming year. Furthermore, the practice of "cutting and storing ice in cellars" for summer use in imperial courts demonstrated the forward-looking wisdom of aligning with nature's rhythms.
Today, Great Cold remains a bridge connecting natural cycles, cultural memory, and the pace of modern life. Although traditional ceremonies have largely simplified, core traditions like cleaning to welcome the new year and nourishing the body against the cold still permeate contemporary Spring Festival preparations, serving as warm touchpoints of collective memory.
By Yuan Ruichen
