What are the customs of the "Xiaoxue" (Minor Snow) solar term? Who in China dries fish during Xiaoxue? The tenth lunar month is also called "Yin Month," and the reason is said to originate from ancient yin-yang theory, where the tenth month is "pure yin in charge, but lacking yang, so it is named accordingly." Come to Huayi.com to see more related information about the tenth lunar month in 2022.

What are the customs of the "Xiaoxue" (Minor Snow) solar term

1. Pickling vegetables
In the southeastern coastal areas of Zhejiang, there is a custom of pickling vegetables during the Xiaoxue solar term, which locals call "pickling cold vegetables." In the Qing Dynasty, the literary figure Li Qizhai recorded this scene in his "Introduction to the Bamboo Branches of Zhenzhou": "After Xiaoxue, people start pickling vegetables, called 'cold vegetables.'"
2. Eating "Pao Tang"
"Xiaoxue" is the time when the Tujia people begin their annual "slaughtering of pigs for the New Year" folk activities, adding a lively atmosphere to the cold winter. Eating "Pao Tang" is a traditional custom of the Tujia people. During the "slaughtering of pigs for the New Year" folk activity, the delicacy made from the fresh pork still warm from the slaughter is called "Pao Tang."
3. Making wine
The "Book of Songs · Guofeng" says: "In October, the rice is harvested, and this is the spring wine, to bring long life." In ancient times, wine was often brewed at the beginning of winter, that is, around Xiaoxue. At this time, the autumn harvest had just ended, and the ancestors had relatively abundant grain. Meanwhile, in ancient society, drinking alcohol not only served entertainment purposes as it does today, but was also often part of religious rituals, belonging to the category of rites. As the year came to an end, it was also the peak period for various ritual activities, and the demand for wine was therefore high.

Who in China dries fish during Xiaoxue?

In Taiwan, there is a custom of drying fish during the Xiaoxue season.
During the Xiaoxue season, fishermen along the coasts of central and southern Taiwan begin to dry fish and store dried food. The silverfish shoals arrive in the Taiwan Strait before or after Xiaoxue, along with other types of fish such as marlin and shark. A common saying in Taiwan goes: "October beans are so fat you can't see the head," referring to the fact that in the area of Buda, Jiayi County, one can catch "bean fish" in the tenth lunar month.