立冬|立冬：迎接惬意慢时光( 二 ) |二十四节气|冬季

In Southern China, however, during Start of Winter when it’s relatively warmer, people can still do various farming activities. This is depicted in Yu Hongmei’s painting, in which farmers are harvesting the famous Quzhou sweet oranges grown in east China’s Zhejiang Province. The image of the contented farmers carrying big cloth bags and bamboo baskets, resembles those in the traditional Chinese paper-cutting works, conveying a sense of fun and creativity.
To cope with the increasingly cold weather, people have the custom of eating rich and hearty foods during Start of Winter. At this intersection of autumn and winter, Northern Chinese eat their beloved Chinese dumplings “Jiaozi” which sounds similar to the word “jiaozi” meaning “intersect”; whereas Southern Chinese tend to eat the nourishing chicken, duck and fish.
In the painting by Dai Shuliang, a woman wearing stunningly-colored winter clothes is coming home, where her family is waiting for her around the table to enjoy their hot, freshly-prepared dishes together on an early winter day. Not far away, labourers are busy working in the farmland, making the most of the last few days of the growing season.
For children, Start of Winter brings along delightful amusement.
In Wu Guanying’s artwork, the children dressed in thick winter clothes are holding a mouthwatering Tanghulu (crispy candied fruit), smiling cheerfully; whilst Mukeren’s illustration features a joyful encounter between a boy and some animals during Start of Winter, full of playful imagination.
Start of Winter is a solar term when leisure meets tranquility. We gather energy and vitality for the approaching cold winter, embracing our leisurely days and flowing with the cycles of the seasons.
文字素材来源：光明日报
出品：光明日报&中国传媒大学
责编：张永群
编辑：邢妍妍孙小婷