Minor Cold: cold cuts like knife, spring not far away
Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term among the 24 solar terms, and the fifth solar term of winter. It occurs annually between January 5-7 on the Gregorian calendar, when the sun reaches 285° ecliptic longitude. The climate enters the prelude to the severe cold stage, with frequent cold air masses moving southward, and increasing occurrences of cold waves, strong winds, and rain and snow weather.
Folk saying goes: "Minor Cold and Major Cold, cold as one lump." Although Minor Cold is named "lesser cold," in many years Minor Cold is not warmer than Major Cold, and as it approaches around "exiting the nine," the cold becomes most penetrating.
First Pentad - Wild Geese Head North: Wild geese begin their northward migration, yang qi secretly sprouts, indicating that extreme cold will turn back.
Second Pentad - Magpies Begin to Nest: Magpies sense yang qi and begin to select branches for nest building, preparing for spring reproduction.
Third Pentad - Pheasants Begin to Call: Pheasants sense the stirring of yang qi and begin to vocalize, symbolizing that extreme yin is becoming yang.
Daily Routine: Full-body cold protection and warmth, especially for neck, back, waist, abdomen, and feet; maintain ventilation and humidity balance indoors, prevent dryness and protect the throat.
Diet: Warm tonification to nourish yang, secure kidneys and protect spleen; recommended foods include lamb, beef, black sesame, walnuts, red dates, ginger, longan, etc.; avoid cold, chilling, and greasy foods.
Exercise: Focus on gentle and moderate practice, avoid excessive sweating; tai chi, baduanjin qigong, indoor stretching, and basic strength training are all suitable.
Mental Well-being: Secure the way of "storage," delight in emotion and cultivate nature; ensure adequate sleep, maintain regular routines, and strengthen cold-resistance physique.
Laba Food Customs: The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month often falls between Minor Cold and Major Cold, with folk customs of cooking laba congee and making pickled laba garlic, symbolizing prayers for fortune and good omen, warmth and well-being.
Cold-Dispelling Activities: Northern regions hang and dry window decorations, write "Fortune" characters, prepare spring couplets (in advance), while southern regions prepare year goods, clean house and tidy up, preparing for "Tail Fang" and "Sending the Kitchen God" seasonal processes.
Cold Protection Preparation: Acquire cotton clothing and quilts, thermal products, and prepare ice-melting and anti-slip equipment; pay attention to fire, electricity, and gas safety.
After Minor Cold, while daylight in the Northern Hemisphere tends to increase, cold air influence remains frequent; temperature and sensation are mostly in annual low point. Plums, wintersweet, and other flowers braving cold bloom first, becoming important phenological markers of the season.
Astronomical Definition: Minor Cold occurs when the sun reaches 285° ecliptic longitude. After this solar term comes the last solar term of the year, "Major Cold," followed by Beginning of Spring, when a new seasonal cycle unfolds.
Entry into Winter Explanation: The solar term does not necessarily equate to meteorological entry into winter; the latter requires comprehensive determination based on continuous daily average temperature standards.
