The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring (Chinese: 立春), the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb 4 and ends on Feb 18.

傳統的中國農歷將一年分為24個節氣，“立春是一年中的第一個節氣。今年的“立春節氣從2月4日始，到18日結束。

Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that everything turns green and full of vigor; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer.

“立春拉開了春季的帷幕。此后萬物復蘇，充滿勃勃生機。人們也能明顯感覺到白天開始變長，天氣回暖。

Here are nine things you should know about Start of Spring.

以下是關于“立春你應該知道的9件事。

Start of Spring. [Photo/IC]

Start of Spring and Spring Festival

立春和春節

As a solar term, Start of Spring had already entered people's lives in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). At that time, there were eight solar terms. According to some experts, the 24 solar terms were used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), when the Start of Spring was set as the Spring Festival. In 1913, the first day of the first month of the lunar year was mandated as the Spring Festival. 作為24節氣之一，“立春從春秋時期就走進了人們的生活。那時，一年分為8個節氣。據專家所說，24節氣首次出現在史書上是在西漢，當時“立春被定為春節。1913年，農歷元月首日才被定為春節。

A fish-shaped kite. [Photo/IC]

Flying a kite

放風箏

Spring is the best season for kite-flying. A traditional folk activity, it has a history of more than 2,000 years. It can help build one’s health and prevent diseases. It also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and speeding up metabolism. A breath of fresh air outside can discharge the foul smell accumulated in winter.

春季最適合放風箏。作為一種傳統的民間活動，放風箏已經有兩千多年的歷史了。放風箏有益健康，可以預防疾病，還可以促進血液循環，加快新陳代謝。呼吸室外新鮮空氣，可以排出冬季身體里積攢的陳舊氣味。

Two girls erect eggs. [Photo/asianewsphoto.com]

Erecting the egg

立雞蛋

In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of the Start of Spring, Spring Equinox day and Autumn Equinox day. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future.

按中國民間說法，立春、春分和秋分時，雞蛋很容易豎起來。人們認為在立春能把雞蛋豎起來的人，來年有好運。

According to astronomers and physicists, setting the egg upright has nothing to do with time, but with mechanics. The most important thing is to shift the egg’s center of gravity to the lowest part of the egg. In this way, the trick is holding the egg until the yolk sinks as much as possible. For this, people should choose an egg about 4 or 5 days old, whose yolk is inclined to sink down.

據天文學家和物理學家所說，豎雞蛋和時間沒有關系，只與力學有關。關鍵是把雞蛋的重心移到最低點，握住雞蛋，盡量讓蛋黃下沉。還要挑選已經下了四五天，蛋黃容易下沉的雞蛋。

A swallow. [Photo/IC]

Wearing fabric swallows

“佩燕子

Wearing fabric swallows is a custom in some regions in Shaanxi. Every Start of Spring, people like to wear a swallow made of colorful silk on their chests. The custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The swallow is a harbinger of spring and a symbol of prosperity and happiness.

陜西某些地方立春時節有“佩燕子的風俗。每年立春，人們喜歡在胸前佩戴用彩綢剪成的“燕子，這種風俗起自唐代。因為燕子是報春的使者，也是幸福吉利的象征。

Spring cake. [Photo/IC]

Biting the spring

“咬春

In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Start of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.

立春這一天，中國很多地方有“咬春的風俗。人們吃春餅、春卷，或者咬幾口胡蘿卜。

An ox in the field. [Photo/IC]

Making a Spring Ox

糊春牛

This custom in Shaanxi is practiced right before the Start of Spring. The local government hires some skilled artisans and gathers them to build the frame of an ox out of bamboo strips and the legs with wood. Then they paste some paper and paint onto it—and, voila! The image of an ox is complete. It is said that if more red and yellow paper is used, then there will be a good harvest that year; if black paper is pasted, then the year will be poor. When the paper ox is ready, there is a ritual to paint the eyes. After that, people will set up an altar for it and worship it.

糊春牛這項陜西的風俗活動是在立春前開始進行的，按傳統的作法，由縣政府(縣衙)聘請紙扎能手好匠，于立春前到縣城聚會，精心制作春牛圖像。一般用竹篾綁成牛的骨架，用春木做腿，再糊上紙，涂上顏料，一個牛的形象就制作成功了。俗謂糊上紅黃色的紙多，當年就“五谷豐收；糊上黑色紙，當年收成不好。春牛糊好后，舉行開光點睛儀式，即設立香案，頂禮朝拜。

A paper-cut of the Chinese character "spring". [Photo/IC]

Posting spring calligraphy and paintings

剪春花貼春字

The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one's door in the spring first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring.

在門上剪春花貼春字的習俗源自唐朝。人們以此表達迎接春天到來之意，并祈求好運降臨。

Plum blossoms. [Photo/IC]

Appreciating plum blossoms

賞梅

Plums blossom from the 12th lunar month to the second month of the next year. The plum blossom, as it fights against the cold, is the most highly regarded. In China, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are praised as the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers.

梅花從農歷寒冬臘月開到第二年二月，梅花與嚴寒抗爭，備受尊重。梅蘭竹菊在中國被稱為“花中四君子。

Image of Gou Mang, the god of Spring. [Photo/gmw.cn]

Welcoming spring

“拜春

People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. In Beijing, government officials welcomed spring in the wild field near Dongzhimen (the east gate of Beijing).

三千年前，中國人就開始舉行迎春儀式了。人們拜祭主宰農業的春神“句芒。清朝時，“拜春成為重要的民間活動。明清時京兆尹和各府衙官員，都必須去“東郊的東直門外五里的“春場去迎春。

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring (Chinese: 立春), the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb 4 and ends on Feb 18.

傳統的中國農歷將一年分為24個節氣，“立春是一年中的第一個節氣。今年的“立春節氣從2月4日始，到18日結束。

Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that everything turns green and full of vigor; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer.

“立春拉開了春季的帷幕。此后萬物復蘇，充滿勃勃生機。人們也能明顯感覺到白天開始變長，天氣回暖。

Here are nine things you should know about Start of Spring.

以下是關于“立春你應該知道的9件事。

Start of Spring. [Photo/IC]

Start of Spring and Spring Festival

立春和春節

As a solar term, Start of Spring had already entered people's lives in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). At that time, there were eight solar terms. According to some experts, the 24 solar terms were used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), when the Start of Spring was set as the Spring Festival. In 1913, the first day of the first month of the lunar year was mandated as the Spring Festival. 作為24節氣之一，“立春從春秋時期就走進了人們的生活。那時，一年分為8個節氣。據專家所說，24節氣首次出現在史書上是在西漢，當時“立春被定為春節。1913年，農歷元月首日才被定為春節。

A fish-shaped kite. [Photo/IC]

Flying a kite

放風箏

Spring is the best season for kite-flying. A traditional folk activity, it has a history of more than 2,000 years. It can help build one’s health and prevent diseases. It also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and speeding up metabolism. A breath of fresh air outside can discharge the foul smell accumulated in winter.

春季最適合放風箏。作為一種傳統的民間活動，放風箏已經有兩千多年的歷史了。放風箏有益健康，可以預防疾病，還可以促進血液循環，加快新陳代謝。呼吸室外新鮮空氣，可以排出冬季身體里積攢的陳舊氣味。

Two girls erect eggs. [Photo/asianewsphoto.com]

Erecting the egg

立雞蛋

In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of the Start of Spring, Spring Equinox day and Autumn Equinox day. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future.

按中國民間說法，立春、春分和秋分時，雞蛋很容易豎起來。人們認為在立春能把雞蛋豎起來的人，來年有好運。

According to astronomers and physicists, setting the egg upright has nothing to do with time, but with mechanics. The most important thing is to shift the egg’s center of gravity to the lowest part of the egg. In this way, the trick is holding the egg until the yolk sinks as much as possible. For this, people should choose an egg about 4 or 5 days old, whose yolk is inclined to sink down.

據天文學家和物理學家所說，豎雞蛋和時間沒有關系，只與力學有關。關鍵是把雞蛋的重心移到最低點，握住雞蛋，盡量讓蛋黃下沉。還要挑選已經下了四五天，蛋黃容易下沉的雞蛋。

A swallow. [Photo/IC]

Wearing fabric swallows

“佩燕子

Wearing fabric swallows is a custom in some regions in Shaanxi. Every Start of Spring, people like to wear a swallow made of colorful silk on their chests. The custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The swallow is a harbinger of spring and a symbol of prosperity and happiness.

陜西某些地方立春時節有“佩燕子的風俗。每年立春，人們喜歡在胸前佩戴用彩綢剪成的“燕子，這種風俗起自唐代。因為燕子是報春的使者，也是幸福吉利的象征。

Spring cake. [Photo/IC]

Biting the spring

“咬春

In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Start of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.

立春這一天，中國很多地方有“咬春的風俗。人們吃春餅、春卷，或者咬幾口胡蘿卜。

An ox in the field. [Photo/IC]

Making a Spring Ox

糊春牛

This custom in Shaanxi is practiced right before the Start of Spring. The local government hires some skilled artisans and gathers them to build the frame of an ox out of bamboo strips and the legs with wood. Then they paste some paper and paint onto it—and, voila! The image of an ox is complete. It is said that if more red and yellow paper is used, then there will be a good harvest that year; if black paper is pasted, then the year will be poor. When the paper ox is ready, there is a ritual to paint the eyes. After that, people will set up an altar for it and worship it.

糊春牛這項陜西的風俗活動是在立春前開始進行的，按傳統的作法，由縣政府(縣衙)聘請紙扎能手好匠，于立春前到縣城聚會，精心制作春牛圖像。一般用竹篾綁成牛的骨架，用春木做腿，再糊上紙，涂上顏料，一個牛的形象就制作成功了。俗謂糊上紅黃色的紙多，當年就“五谷豐收；糊上黑色紙，當年收成不好。春牛糊好后，舉行開光點睛儀式，即設立香案，頂禮朝拜。

A paper-cut of the Chinese character "spring". [Photo/IC]

Posting spring calligraphy and paintings

剪春花貼春字

The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one's door in the spring first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring.

在門上剪春花貼春字的習俗源自唐朝。人們以此表達迎接春天到來之意，并祈求好運降臨。

Plum blossoms. [Photo/IC]

Appreciating plum blossoms

賞梅

Plums blossom from the 12th lunar month to the second month of the next year. The plum blossom, as it fights against the cold, is the most highly regarded. In China, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are praised as the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers.

梅花從農歷寒冬臘月開到第二年二月，梅花與嚴寒抗爭，備受尊重。梅蘭竹菊在中國被稱為“花中四君子。

Image of Gou Mang, the god of Spring. [Photo/gmw.cn]

Welcoming spring

“拜春

People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. In Beijing, government officials welcomed spring in the wild field near Dongzhimen (the east gate of Beijing).

三千年前，中國人就開始舉行迎春儀式了。人們拜祭主宰農業的春神“句芒。清朝時，“拜春成為重要的民間活動。明清時京兆尹和各府衙官員，都必須去“東郊的東直門外五里的“春場去迎春。