Xiaohan Solar term – the Lesser Cold

As the name of this season suggests, this is one of the coldest seasons of the year. Its second half, which corresponds to the well-known “Epiphany frosts,” has long been famous for its particularly low temperatures.

The Xiaohan Season 小寒 is the twenty-third of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese calendar. It is the third month of winter and the fifth of the winter seasons, annually beginning on January 5-7 and corresponding to the first half of the month of the Ox. With the end of this season, around January 21-22, the last solar term of the year begins – Dahan, the “Greater Cold”.

CLIMATE

Xiaohan and Dahan are the two coldest solar terms of the year. Judging by the name, Dahan should be colder than Xiaohan, however, in fact, everything is exactly the opposite. It can be said without hesitation that the twenty-third minor season of the Chinese agricultural calendar is the coldest season of the Chinese agricultural year. According to meteorological research in China, the lowest air temperatures are recorded during this period. Its second half, corresponding to the well-known “Epiphany frosts”, has long been famous for its especially low temperatures.

TRADITIONS

After the beginning of Xiaohan, the time of the New Year begins – the Spring Festival according to the Chinese Lunar calendar. Since this New Year is celebrated according to the Lunar calendar, it can begin on any day between mid-January and mid-February, on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. The Chinese begin preparing for this solemn and joyful holiday: they prepare paired inscriptions with New Year's wishes, cut out paper patterns to stick them on the windows, buy New Year's pictures, red lanterns, as well as firecrackers and fireworks. In this coldest season of the year, the Chinese experience the warmest feelings. And this happy bustle lasts until the eve of the Spring Festival.

HEALTH

Xiaohan is an ideal time for strengthening health and improving your physical condition. It is noteworthy that in the cold season, you cannot harden yourself too early, you should do a warm-up, in addition, you need to dress warmly, taking into account specific weather conditions, to avoid prolonged hypothermia.

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Feet should be warm; foot massage and warm foot baths in the evenings are recommended. A light daily abdominal massage will also be appropriate.

During this period, you should not allow too much sweat to appear on the skin, as this harms the breath-qi of the stomach. It should not be too hot. You should not be outside during heavy snowfall.

You should get enough sleep, dress for the weather, do not neglect moderate physical activity, listen to quiet calm music and stay in a peaceful state of mind if possible.

DIET

According to traditional Chinese medicine, during this solar term it is necessary to eat food that helps rid the body of internal cold. During this period of time, our body can truly absorb all the nutritional reinforcement.

Lamb dishes, hot multigrain porridges and broths with lamb, chicken or duck are considered especially effective for maintaining warmth in the body on Xiaohan.

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Fermented tea is preferable in the Lesser Cold solar term — this is almost all varieties of black tea, in China it is called red. Post-fermented dark tea, in China it is called black, and brown varieties of pu-erh tea are also suitable. Modern cereal teas, for example buckwheat tea, are also great.