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Major Cold

大寒 · DàhánGregorian Jan 20–21Solar longitude 300°

Cold at its uttermost. Ice thick, snow deep — yet the New Year draws near. Endure the deepest winter, and the east pales toward dawn: spring begins again.

The old snow has not yet melted away;
new snow already crowds the door.
— Shao Yong (Song), “Song of Major Cold”
旧雪未及消
新雪又拥户
邵雍 · 大寒吟
Dawn in the East

Three Pentads

三候

The ancients divided each solar term into three pentads of five days, recording nature's subtle changes.

I
一候 鸡始乳
First pentad — Hens begin to brood
II
二候 征鸟厉疾
Second pentad — Birds of prey grow fierce and swift
III
三候 水泽腹坚
Third pentad — Ice thickens to the water's heart

Seasonal Palette

节气色谱

One leading color with three companions, all drawn from the traditional Chinese color canon.

东方既白#8FB2C9
dōngfāngjìbái · Dawn in the East
积雪青#DCE5EA
jīxuěqīng · Drifted Snow Blue
椒红#AE3B36
jiāohóng · Festival Pepper Red
岁寒墨#3E444C
suìhánmò · Year's-End Ink

Customs

风物
Sweeping out the old year: cleaning house to welcome the new.
扫尘迎年——除旧布新,洒扫门庭,准备迎接新岁。
The year-end “weiya” feast, rewarding a year of hard work.
做牙祭——尾牙宴上以美食酬谢一年辛劳。