In China, Lichun (立春 /lee-chwnn/) means ‘Start of Spring’. The date of Lichun in 2022 is February 3rd. There are many traditions for this special day. Some of them have a history of more than 3,000 years!
Content Preview
What Is Lichun?
According to the traditional Chinese solar calendar, there are 24 solar terms in a year. Lichun is the first solar term. Lichun is the day when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 315° (i.e. 45.66 days before the spring equinox). There are many traditional activities on this special day to welcome spring, including making a spring ox, standing up eggs, and worshipping ancestors.
Farmers start to grow rice from Lichun‘Start of Spring’ and the Spring Festival
‘Start of Spring’ marks the end of winter and the beginning of the spring. The weather becomes noticeably warmer, and plants start to grow again. Due to China's vast territory, spring comes at a different times from north to south. ‘Start of Spring’ is only a prelude to spring for many northern regions. Everything has not yet left its frozen state in most of northern China around February 4th.
The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) marks the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar. Because it is regulated to occur within half a lunar month of ‘Start of Spring’, people call it the Spring Festival and it welcomes the coming spring. It is the first and the most important festival in the Chinese calendar.
Lichun is near the Spring FestivalThe Date of Lichun
The date of Lichun is not fixed to one Gregorian calendar date, but it always occurs on February 3rd, 4th, or 5th, mostly on February 4th.
• Lichun date in 2022: February 3rd
• Lichun date in 2023, 2024: February 4th
Lichun History
The history of the 24 solar terms dates back three millennia. They were used for farming in China since the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), but, according to some experts, the 24 solar terms were only used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 9 AD).
China’s 24 solar terms were formed during its ancient agricultural civilization, and they played an important role in China's traditional agricultural society. Before the Qin and Han dynasties, the customs and cultures of north and south China were different, but these dynasties unified north and south.
The beginning of spring was of great significance to farmers in ancient times, as it marked the beginning of a new year’s work. Major celebrations, such as worshipping Heaven and ancestors, making a spring ox, welcoming spring, and other traditional Lichun activities were handed down by the generations. Lichun’s folk culture has been preserved up to today.
Traditional Lichun Customs
There are still some traditional activities held on the day of Lichun, especially in rural areas. Chinese people welcome spring in different ways. The most popular are making a spring ox, ‘biting spring’, standing up eggs, or just going out to enjoy the spring season.
Welcoming Spring
To welcome spring, people draw a picture of the spring god and display it in their homes. It is said that the God of Spring has the head of a human and the body of a bird. People offer sacrifices to both the God of Spring and Taisui, the God of Age. To welcome the Spring God, people hold folk activities, such as beating drums, performing local operas, and bull fights.
Welcoming SpringMaking a Spring Ox
In northern China, people enjoy the tradition of making a spring ox a day before ‘Start of Spring’. Local government craftsmen use bamboo strips to make the skeleton of an ox. The four legs are made of wood, and then pasted with red paper and colorful paintings. It is said that the more red and yellow paper is used, the bigger the harvest will be in the coming year.
After the spring ox is made, a completion ceremony is held. And an incense table is placed in front of the spring ox for people to worship at.
‘Biting Spring’
People eating food related to spring is called ‘biting spring’ in Chinese. Spring pancakes, spring rolls, or Spring vegetables are the most popular “spring foods” eaten on the day of Lichun.
Standing Up Spring Eggs
In China, it is an interesting activity to try to stand eggs upright on the first day of ‘Start of Spring’. According to the Chinese folk culture, if you can make an egg stand up on the first day of ‘Start of Spring’, then you will have good luck in the new year.
Standing Up Spring EggsMany young people like to have a try at standing an egg up on Lichun Day. This is particularly difficult on a hard, flat surface like a table!
Spring Outings to Appreciate Plum Blossom
Going out to parks or grasslands/hills to enjoy the spring views is another popular activity during Lichun festival. It is the time for plum blossom. In Chinese culture, the plum blossom is the favorite of many Chinese artists and painters, as it fights against the cold of winter to show its beauty. This represents the Chinese spirit of courage to fight against difficult situations.
Worshipping Ancestors
For many ancient Chinese traditional festivals, worshipping Heaven and ancestors is a major activity. This is the same on Lichun Day. As well as to Heaven and ancestors, people offer sacrifices to the Spring God who oversees farming, Taisui (the God of Age), the Land God, and the Water God to pray for a good harvest and a healthy life for their family in the coming year.
Lichun Food
Spring Pancakes
People eat spring pancakes wrapped around some spring vegetables on the first day of spring. A spring pancake is a kind of thin flour crepe. People wrap lettuce, fruits, and sugar in the middle and eat them to welcome the spring and the new year. Spring pancakes can also be given to relatives and friends as spring gifts.
Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are cylindrical-shaped fried rolls with meat, cabbage, or other vegetable fillings inside thin dough wrappers. The rolls are often deep-fried to achieve their golden-yellow color, which represents wealth for the whole year.
Spring RollsSpring Platters
People put vegetables, fruits like sweet melons, etc. on a big plate. The main choices are bean sprouts, radishes, leeks, spinach, lettuce, beans, eggs, and potatoes. Eating (or simply displaying) a spring platter is another way of welcoming spring.
Lichun Taboos
There are many things you shouldn’t do on the day of Lichun in China according to local beliefs and superstitions:
1. Don’t see a doctor on Lichun Day
It is said that seeing a doctor on Lichun Day will bring misfortune and bad luck for the rest of the year. So, most Chinese people avoid seeing a doctor on this special day.
2. Avoid moving into a new house
In Chinese culture, the date of moving into a new house should be chosen according to lucky days on the lunar calendar. Lichun, as the first day of spring, is perceived as good for planting, marriage, worshipping ancestors, and so on. But moving into a new house is said to disturb the spring energy inside a dwelling.
3. Don’t cut your hair
‘Start of Spring’ is the time for plants to grow and regenerate. Hair was likened to vegetation in ancient Chinese culture. Cutting hair on Lichun day is seen as acting against the new growth of spring.
4. Don’t quarrel with others
Quarreling with others on the first day of spring is thought to drive away your good luck and bring bad luck for the rest of the year. It is recommended to keep harmonious relationships with others on the first day of spring.
5. Don’t lie in on Lichun Day
According to Chinese yin and yang (Taoist) culture, ‘Start of Spring’ is the time for yang to become stronger during the day. On this day, it is thought that people should get up early to absorb more of the yang of spring in order to keep fit and become strong.
