Hello everyone,
I hope you are enjoying your weekend. At this beautiful sunny Saturday, we are very pleased to announce that “the spring is coming”!
Wait a minute! The weather outside is terribly hot, hot enough to fry eggs! What are you talking about?
Actually, today is “Lichun” (立春, りっしゅん, rissyun) in Japan, which means the beginning of spring. Lichun tells people that the winter has past and everything is about to resuscitate: snow will thaw, grass and trees will turn into green. Today is also a symbol of vitality.
Lichun is the first solar term of 24 solar terms(二十四節気, にじゅうしせっき, nijyusisekki) which is from the traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar. Solar terms originated in China, then spread to Korea, Japan, and other neighboring countries. Since it reflects the Earth’s movement around the sun and is a symbol of seasonal change, 24 solar terms is tremendously significant to agriculture. It allows farmers to correctly and efficiently arrange farming. 24 solar terms is also on the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In the morning of Lichun, a piece of paper with words “立春大吉” (りっしゅんだいきち, rissyundaikichi, a wish for a good fortune at this very beginning of a new year (* spring has been considered as the beginning of a year/four seasons)) usually will be put up on the door of temple. In China, people eat spring pancake to celebrate this day.
So, let’s celebrate! And finally, we hope your everything would be fantastic in this year!
See you next time!