As June arrives, we first welcome Children's Day on June 1st.
Let us enjoy the joyful atmosphere of Children's Day with this painting from the Southern Song Dynasty called "Bai Zi Tu."
In the painting, children are seen riding on wooden horses, wearing masks, playing drums and flutes, dancing and performing plays, all kinds of entertainment for their amusement.
While we reminisce about how carefree childhood was during this time, the third solar term of summer, Mang Zhong, arrives punctually on June 6th. Every year when mantises are seen in fields and farms it is a sign that Mang Zhong has arrived.
It is also known as the busiest farming season where wheat is harvested followed by sowing late millet crops such as sorghum and broomcorn. There can be no delays during this season.
So what customs do people follow during Mang Zhong? In southern Anhui Province in China, after planting rice paddies people hold an Anmiao ceremony to pray for a good harvest in autumn.
There are also many delicious foods to enjoy around Mang Zhong. In the south of China, Mei Zi (plums) have ripened and it's a great time to pick some during the rainy season and cook them with new tea for a fine taste of late spring.
When the wheat is harvested, it's time for apricots as well. Although they are delicious, one should not overindulge in them as too much can cause indigestion.
Father's Day on June 18th is the second festival in June, don't forget to send blessings to your father.
June 21st marks the summer solstice which is known as "Xia Zhi". In ancient times, there was a three-day holiday for avoiding heatstroke. The Song Dynasty book "Wen Chang Za Lu" records: "From this day of Xia Zhi onwards, all officials get three days off."
During hot summers when people feel irritable due to body heat and muggy air; according to "Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang," women in ancient China would exchange fans and rouge on Xia Zhi. Fans can create wind while rouge prevent prickly heat rash, such practical gifts!
As the saying goes, "dumplings on Winter Solstice and noodles on Summer Solstice." In Suzhou, in addition to eating noodles, there are also customs of eating bamboo tube rice and roasted goose during the Summer Solstice.
Bitter gourd is now in season. Although bitter, it can clear heat and relieve summer heat. Honeysuckle flowers that bloom during this time have a similar effect.
The day after the Summer Solstice is Dragon Boat Festival. Every year, families hang mugwort, calamus, pomegranates or garlic on their door lintels.
People also put various herbs into sachets to ward off evil spirits and poisonous insects; some places even grind realgar powder to scatter around houses to repel snakes, insects, rats, and ants.
Of course, dragon boat racing is one of the most important events during the Dragon Boat Festival.
In addition to eating Zongzi and pomegranates during this festival, there are also peonies in full bloom and hints of fragrant gardenia lingering in the air.
During this season colorful hibiscus flowers are blooming spectacularly too.
If you're interested in making a Dragon Boat Festival-themed flower arrangement, it's an excellent idea!
After the Dragon Boat Festival, summer flowers start blooming one after another. Every morning you can see clusters of oleander on the roadside.
When morning glories bloom, dragonflies and butterflies appear in the grass. They often rest on lilies growing between rocks.
As soon as the lilies bloom, cicadas start their "chirping-chirping" sounds from willow trees. During daytime, there is a chorus of cicada songs while at night frog calls fill the air.
In this symphony of summer crescendos, lotus flowers under the shade of willows also begin to blossom.
It is interesting to see that even in the clothing of the field workers that a lot of fabric is being used. In particular the lady carrying sheaves of grain has sleeves that entirely hide her hands. You'd think they'd either be a more practical length or tied back for work. Unless the artist just wanted to avoid drawing hands. 😎