Winter
Minor Snow
Nov 22–Dec 6
Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) is the twentieth solar term of the twenty‑four solar terms, and the second solar term of winter. The sun reaches the celestial longitude of 240°. It is a solar term that reflects the changing trends in temperature and precipitation. This article explains its climatic characteristics (cold waves become active, a sharp drop in temperature, and precipitation gradually increases but is not yet heavy), the phenological phenomena of its three pentads (rainbows hide and are not seen, the qi of heaven ascends and the qi of earth descends, obstruction and stagnation set in, forming winter), and folk customs such as curing preserved meat and eating glutinous rice cakes (ciba). It reminds that as the weather turns cold, it is advisable to guard against the cold, keep warm, and focus on nourishing and storing.
Minor Snow (Xiaoxue) is a climatic concept and the twentieth of the twenty-four solar terms, as well as the second solar term of winter. It occurs annually on November 22 or 23 in the Gregorian calendar, when the sun reaches the ecliptic longitude of 240°. Climatic elements include precipitation, temperature, and sunlight. The name “Minor Snow” derives from the fact that “snow” is a product of cold weather; during this solar term, the cold has not yet deepened and precipitation has not yet become heavy, hence “Minor Snow” is used as a metaphor for the climatic features of this period. The “Minor Snow” solar term reflects the changing trends of temperature and precipitation; it does not indicate that only a small amount of snow falls during this time, and the solar term “Minor Snow” has no necessary connection with weather reports of “light snow.”
As early as the pre-Qin period, the method of using the gnomon (guibiao) to measure the sun's shadow was already employed to determine the four major solar terms, such as the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. By the Qin and Han dynasties, the twenty-four solar terms had been fully established, serving as the primary basis for agricultural activities. The ancient Chinese text Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Collected Explanations of the Seventy-Two Pentads of the Monthly Ordinances) records: “In the middle of the tenth month, rain falls and is overcome by cold qi, thus it condenses and becomes snow. ‘Minor’ means it has not yet reached its fullness.” The Ming dynasty text Qunfang Pu (Compendium of Floriculture) records: “During Minor Snow, the qi is cold and snow is about to fall, but the earth's cold has not yet intensified and the snow has not yet become heavy.”
Minor Snow is a solar term that reflects precipitation and temperature; it is a period with a relatively high frequency of cold wave and strong cold air activity. The arrival of the Minor Snow solar term signifies that the weather will become increasingly cold and precipitation will gradually increase. It indicates that a relatively stable meridional circulation has been established over East Asia, and when the Siberian low-pressure system or trough shifts eastward, large-scale cold air will sweep southward, bringing widespread strong winds and falling temperatures. At this time, in the northern regions, temperatures in most areas begin to drop below 0°C. In the southern regions, apart from the Lingnan area and coastal regions, all other areas begin to enter winter, presenting an early winter scene where “the lotus has withered, no longer holding up the rain; the chrysanthemum has faded, yet still its frost-defying branches stand proud.” During Minor Snow, folk customs include eating glutinous rice cake, curing preserved meat, and eating paotang (fresh pork soup).
