The term Start of Summer appeared over 2200 years ago. Since it is an important time for the harvest (收获) of summer plants, ancient Chinese emperors in different dynasties paid special attention to it.
In the Zhou Dynasty (1050-221 BC), the emperor led his officers to celebrate the Start of Summer and encouraged his people to do farm work in time. Everything, including the emperor's and the officers' dress, the horses and the flags, was decorated (装饰) in the color red, in order to show respect to the god of summer and hope for a good harvest.
One of the most interesting customs (风俗) is weighing people at the Start of Summer. It began to be celebrated from the Three Kingdoms Period (220-180) and is getting popular in South China today.
It was believed that this custom would bring heath and good luck to the people who were weighed. After lunch on the day of Start of Summer, the young and old took turns to get weighed while receiving good wishes from the people around him. It is said that those who were weighed would stay healthy in the hot summer and that those who weren't would get back sooner or later.
| Information about the term Start of Summer |
| The Start of Summer is important because it is the time for the harvest of summer. |
| In the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor celebrated the day with his officers and encouraged his people to do farm work. |
| Weighing people at the Start of Summer started in the Three Kingdoms Period andin South China today. People took turns towith people offering good wishes because they believed they would bein the hot summer if they were weighed. |
