A Chinese lunar year has twenty-four solar terms. Grain Rain is the sixth. It originates(起源) from the old saying, "Rain brings up the g of hundreds of grains," which shows that this period of rainfall is very ito crops. Grain Rain brings a marked increase in temperature and rainfall and the grains grow fand stronger. It's a key time topthe crops from insect pests.
There is an old custom isouthern China that people drink tea on the day of Grain Rain. Spring tea during Grain Rain is rin vitamins and amino acids(氨基酸), which can help to remove heat from the body and is good for the eyes. It is also said that drinking tea on this day would prevent bad l. What's more, it is tfor people in northern China to eat the vegetable. toona sinensis(香椿) during Grain Rain, which has lasted for several centuries. The vegetable is nutritious(有营养的) and can help to ithe immune (免疫的)system. It is also good for the stomach and skin.
Grain Rain marks the start of the fishermen's first sailing of the year. The custom dates back more than 2,000 years ago, when people bthat there were the gods protecting them. People would always make wishes on the Grain Rain festival for a wonderful harvest and a safe sailing for their loved ones.
