Look at your calendar. Can you see Daxue(大雪) and Dongzhi(冬至) on it? They are called “Jieqi”. In English, we call them the 24 solar terms. The rest of the world knows about them too. On Nov 30, 2016, UNESCO added the 24 solar terms to the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
About 2,000 years ago, Chinese people studied the changes of different seasons. Later, they created the 24 solar terms to help people live and work.
Words
calendar /?k?l?nd?(r)/ n.日歷 solar term节气
UNESCO 联合国教科文组织
(United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)
add /?d/ v.增加
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity人类非物质文化遗产
create /kri?eIt/ v.创造 bare /be?(r)/ adj.裸露的
For example, it is usually snowy on Xiaoxue(小雪). After Lichun(立春), the weather gets warm. People then begin to work on the farm. .
Today, the 24 solar terms are still helpful to us. Did your grandma tell you “Dont let your feet be bare after Hanlu(寒露)”? Thats because cold days are coming!