The 24 solar terms change with the lunar calendar, so there will be some differences in the new calendar time. What is the date of the Summer Solstice this year? What should not be done on that day? Let's take a look quickly.

The Time of the Summer Solstice This Year

Time of the Summer Solstice in 2021: June 21, 11:32:00, the twelfth day of the fifth month (big) in the lunar calendar of 2021. The ancient Chinese divided the Summer Solstice into three periods: the first period is when deer antlers shed, the second period is when cicadas start to sing, and the third period is when half-summer plants grow. In addition to paying attention to cooling down and quenching thirst, people should maintain a calm mood on the Summer Solstice, and also pay attention to sleep. Moreover, due to the hot summer weather, the human body's metabolism accelerates, so it is advisable to moderately reduce the intensity of exercise.

What Should Not Be Done on That Day

On that day, it is forbidden to sleep with the air conditioner on all night, so you cannot keep the air conditioner running all night during the Summer Solstice! According to traditional Chinese medicine, "the head is where all yang energy converges." The head is the gathering place of the body's yang energy, and sleeping with cold air can easily cause damage to the yang energy. Therefore, we must especially pay attention to the fact that we should not keep the air conditioner on all night while sleeping. This habit can lead to colds, facial paralysis, joint pain, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which is not conducive to health.
There are many dietary precautions! Try not to eat leftover food; avoid eating too much cold drinks; do not eat expired, unmarked, or damaged packaged food; do not eat or eat less street food such as hot pot, cold dishes, or cooked food; do not eat raw or pickled aquatic products.

Are There Any Traditional Customs or Activities on This Day?

1. Eating Noodles on the Summer Solstice On this day, people in various places generally eat cold noodles, commonly known as "overwater noodles." On the Summer Solstice, the folk in Shandong usually improve their diet. In the eastern part of Jiaodong, people eat noodles, and the legend of Changzhu says: "After the Autumn Equinox comes dumplings, and after the Dog Days comes noodles." In Zhaoyuan, they eat dumplings, and in Wudi, they have a habit of eating noodles, bean soup, and small noodle pieces. In Zoucheng, people like to drink iced water, and some people go to the cave of Fengshan Mountain to cool off. 2. Weighing People on the Summer Solstice On the Summer Solstice, people weigh themselves to check their body condition. Some local customs believe that weighing oneself on this day can determine whether one is fat or thin, and this practice can bring good luck. Therefore, "one should be careful with daily life, avoid curses, and refrain from cutting hair, with many taboos" (as recorded in "Qingjialu"). This is the origin of the custom of weighing people on the Summer Solstice.