The Awakening of Insects solar term, which always begins on the 5th or 6th of March, is the third of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. During this period, the point on the earth’s surface at which the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the ground reaches 345 degrees. At this moment, the weather gets warm and the first spring thunderstorms crash, waking the hibernating animals in the soil. Actually, the reason that hibernating animals finish their dormancy and move out is not the spring thunder but the warm weather.
In ancient times, Chinese people divided the fifteen days of the Awakening of Insects into three “hou's,” or five-day parts. It is said that peaches come into bloom in the first hou. Then in the second hou, yellow birds begin to chirp. In the third hou, hawks and other cooing birds begin to breed. In this period, the peach blossom turns red, the plum blossom turns white, the yellow bird sings happily and the swallow flies back. Most areas in China enter their busy spring ploughing season. In addition, hibernating animals begin to incubate their winter worm eggs at this time. Therefore, the Awakening of Insects solar term reflects natural seasonal phenomena.
As a solar term, the Awakening of Insects is very important for the busy farming season. In China, working people of all ages attach great importance to it, viewing it as the start of the busy spring plowing season.
The spring thunder is most noticeable in the Awakening of Insects solar term. In China there is an old saying that goes: “If the first spring thunder crashes before the Awakening of Insects solar term, there will be abnormal weather that year.” The Awakening of Insects solar term is in the middle of the cold weather of the end of winter and the warm weather of the beginning of spring. The wind in the Awakening of Insects solar term proved to be an important factor of weather forecasting. Modern meteorological science shows that around the Awakening of Insects period, the earth becomes humid and the hot air near the ground surface rises; meanwhile, the hot humid air from the north is strong and acts frequently. For this reason, the loud crash of thunder can be heard in this period. China covers a large latitude range, from the south to the north, so the first spring thunder appears at different times in different areas. Generally speaking, it appears at the end of January in the southern part of Yunnan province, and at the end of April in Beijing. The saying that “the Awakening of Insects solar term starts with the spring thunder” only reflects the climate in the Yangtze River basins of China.
During the Awakening of Insects solar term, people should pay more attention to the weather forecast, be wary of cold air activities and weather changes, and protect themselves from getting the flu and other seasonal diseases.
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