The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Snow, (Chinese: 小雪), the 20th solar term of the year, begins this year on Nov 22 and lasts until Dec 5.

During this period, snow begins to fall, mostly in China's northern areas, and temperatures continue to drop nationwide.

Here are a few things you should know about Minor Snow.

Light snow

An ancient Chinese book about plants explains that "during Minor Snow, the weather turns cold, and it is expected to snow. Yet, the earth is not quite frozen and the snow is light." The minimum temperature in most northern regions drops to zero degrees or below. Meanwhile, most places in the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River receive their first snowfall during the Minor Snow solar term. The snow is light and freezes at night, but melts quickly during the day.

Wearing hats and scarves

As Minor Snow begins in China, northeast winds frequently blow, but many people still skip wearing hats and scarves. However, an old Chinese saying reminds us, "The head is the place where all passages of the body converge," highlighting the practical need to keep it warm.

Drinking soup

During Minor Snow, indoor heating begins to work, which means the air indoors is dry, affecting our noses and mouths. According to practices in traditional Chinese medicine, this accumulation of "inner heat" in one's body can cause problems, including oral ulcers and breakouts. The solution is to drink more hot soup, such as cabbage and bean curd soup, spinach and bean curd soup, and mutton and radish soup.

Making preserved pork

With the onset of Minor Snow, the temperature declines sharply and the air becomes dry. That makes it the best time to start making preserved pork, a traditional delicacy prepared in anticipation of the Chinese Spring Festival. Preserved pork was developed in China as one of the creative solutions to poor food storage conditions in years past. Having this specially prepared treat meant the whole family could enjoy meat, and some even say preserved pork tastes more delicious than fresh meat!

Vocabulary:

小雪

xiǎo xuě

Minor Snow

融化

róng huà

melt

帽子

mào zǐ

hat

围巾

wéi jīn

scarf

热汤

rè tāng

hot soup

腊肉

là ròu

preserved pork

气温持续下降。

qì wēn chí xù xià jiàng

The temperature continues to drop.

北方大部分地区的最低温度将降至零度或更低。

běi fāng dà bù fen dì qū de zuì dī wēn dù jiāng jiàng zhì líng dù huò gèng dī

The minimum temperature in most northern regions drops to zero degrees or below.

这是开始制作腊肉的最佳时机。

zhè shì kāi shǐ zhì zuò là ròu de zuì jiā shí jī

This is the best time to start making preserved pork.