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Culture Insider: 7 things you may not know about Summer Solstice

( Chinaculture.org ) Updated: 2015-06-22 06:00:00

The 24 solar terms are determined by changes in the sun's position in the zodiac during the year. They were first used in China and now are followed in many other parts of the world. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. They also reflect China’s rich history through the seasonal festivals, special foods, cultural ceremonies, family gatherings and even healthy living tips that correspond with each solar term.

Here is a peek into the 24 terms in 2015.

Solar Terms	Date	Meaning
Start of Spring(立春)	Feb. 4	Spring begins.
Rain Water（雨水）	Feb.19	It begins to rain.
Awakening of Insects（驚蟄）	Mar. 6	Hibernating animals awaken.
Spring Equinox(春分)	Mar.21	Day and night are equally long.
Clear and Bright(清明)	Apr. 5	It is warm and bright.
Grain Rain(谷雨)	Apr. 20	Rainfall increases for grain to grow.
Start of Summer(立夏)	May 6	Summer begins.
Grain Buds(小滿(mǎn))	May 21	Seeds of summer crops begin to plump.
Grain in Ear(芒種)	Jun. 6	Wheat grows ripe.
Summer Solstice(夏至)	Jun. 22	The longest daylight hours and the shortest night of the year.
Minor Heat(小暑)	Jul. 7	Heat sets in.
Major Heat(大暑)	Jul. 23	The hottest time of the of a year begins.
Start of Autumn(立秋)	Aug 8	Autumn begins.
End of Heat(處暑)	Aug 23	Heat recedes.
White Dew(白露)	Sep. 8	Dew forms.
Autumn Equinox(秋分)	Sep. 23	The middle of autumn comes.
Cold Dew(寒露)	Oct. 8	Dew is very cold.
Frost's Descent(霜降)	Oct. 24	Frost descends.
Start of Winter(立冬)	Nov. 8	Winter begins.
Minor Snow(小雪)	Nov. 22	It begins to snow.
Major Snow(大雪)	Dec. 7	It snows heavily.
Winter Solstice(冬至)	Dec. 22	It has the shortest daylight hours and the longest night of a year.
Minor Cold(小寒)	Jan 6	It is rather cold.
Major Cold(大寒)	Jan 20	The coldest time of the year begins.