Grain Rain is usually from April 19th to 21st every year, which is the sixth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms and the last solar term of spring, representing the end of spring and the arrival of summer. So how did the name 'Gu Yu' come from? Originally, "Gu Yu" was derived from the meaning of "rain gives life to all grains". During the Grain Rain season, precipitation increases, as the seedlings and crops in the fields have just been planted, which need the nourishment of rainwater very soon. Therefore, “Grain Rain” is a reflection of ancient Chinese agricultural culture in terms of solar term.
谷雨一般在每年的4月19日至21日，是二十四节气中的第六个节气，也是春季的最后一个节气，代表着春将尽夏将至。“谷雨”这一名字是怎么来的呢？原来，“谷雨”取自“雨生百谷”之意，谷雨时节，降水增加，而田地里的秧苗和作物刚刚种下，最需要雨水的滋润。因此，“谷雨”这一名字正是中国古代农耕文化在节令的反映。
As we enter the Grain Rain solar term, the intersection of cold air and warm and humid air in South China often results in prolonged rainfall weather. Taking the Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River as the boundary, spring rain continues southward and sharply decreases northward. In the north, Grain Rain is also a symbol of "final frost", just as the ancients’ saying "Qingming Festival cut off snow, Grain Rain cut off frost". However, the cold air activities affecting the north have not stopped, and many places will experience initial thunderstorms.
进入谷雨节气，华南地区由于冷空气与暖湿空气交汇，往往形成较长时间的降雨天气。以秦岭-淮河流域为界，向南春雨绵绵，向北春雨急剧减少。在北方，谷雨是“终霜”的象征，正如古人所言“清明断雪，谷雨断霜”的说法。但是影响北方的冷空气活动并没停止，很多地方会出现初雷。
As one of the 24 solar terms, the Grain Rain solar term not only reminds people of the timing of farming, but also has rich connotations in daily life and folklore.
作为二十四节气的一种，谷雨节气不仅提醒着人们农耕的时序，还具有丰富的生活与民俗内涵。
Drinking Grain Rain Tea
Grain Rain has the custom of drinking tea. Grain Rain tea is a type of tea made from fresh tea leaves collected on the morning of the day, also known as Yuqian tea or Erchun tea. It is said that drinking tea on Grain Rain day will clear away heat, get rid of evil spirits, and brighten the eyes. Therefore, during Grain Rain, regardless of the weather, people will go to the tea mountain to pick some new tea to drink.
喝谷雨茶
谷雨有喝茶的习俗。谷雨茶就是谷雨这天上午采的鲜茶叶制成的茶叶，也叫雨前茶、二春茶。传说谷雨这天的茶喝了会清火、辟邪、明目，所以谷雨时节不管天气如何，人们都会去茶山摘一些新茶回来喝。
“Eating Spring”
Before and after the rainy season, the Chinese toon is mellow, refreshing, and has high nutritional value, so there is a saying that "The Chinese toon is as tender as silk before the rain". People refer to picking and eating Chinese toons in spring as "Eat Spring". Fresh Chinese toon sprouts are rich in protein, carotenoids, and vitamin C, which have various effects such as strengthening the stomach, regulating qi, stopping diarrhea, and moistening the skin.
“吃春”
谷雨前后，香椿醇香爽口营养价值高，所以有“雨前香椿嫩如丝”之说。人们把春天采摘、食用香椿说成是“吃春”。鲜椿芽中含丰富的蛋白质、胡萝卜素和大量的维生素C，具有健胃理气，止泻润肤等多种功效。
Worship Cangjie
Worship to the Yellow Emperor in Qingming Festival and to Cangjie in Grain Rain are folk traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years since the Han Dynasty. According to the Huai Nan Tzu, the Yellow Emperor issued an edict in late spring and early summer, announcing the success of Cangjie's Chinese characters creation, when there was a rain of millet in the world. Afterwards, Cangjie Temple Fair is held as scheduled every Grain Rain in Baishui County, Shaanxi Province.
祭仓颉
清明祭黄帝，谷雨祭仓颉，是自汉代以来流传千年的民间传统。据《淮南子》记载，黄帝在春末夏初发布诏令，宣布仓颉造字成功，当天下了一场谷子雨。后来，每年的谷雨，“仓颉庙会”都会在陕西白水县如期举行。
Going out in Grain Rain
There was the custom called“Going out in Grain Rain” in ancient time, which means young women walked to neighboring village and visited relatives, or took a stroll in suburb, wishing for merging with nature and building up their bodies.
走谷雨
古时有“走谷雨”的风俗，谷雨这天青年妇女走村串亲，有的到野外走一圈就回来。寓意与自然相融合，强身健体。
Grain Rain Sticker
Grain Rain sticker is a kind of New Year pictures, on which the scene such as God chicken catching the scorpion was painted, indicating the hope of killing pests and harvest. After the Grain Rain, the temperature rises, and diseases and pests enter the high reproduction period. In order to reduce the harm to crops and people, farmers put up Grain Rain stickers while entering the field to exterminate pests, praying to repel evil and receive luck.
谷雨贴
谷雨贴，属于年画的一种，上面刻绘神鸡捉蝎等形象，寄托人们查杀害虫、盼望丰收的心理。谷雨以后气温升高，病虫害进入高繁衍期，为了减轻病虫害对作物及人的伤害，农家一边进田灭虫，一边张贴谷雨贴，进行驱凶纳吉的祈祷。
Enjoy the flowers
Because peonies bloom around Grain Rain, they are also called "grain rain flowers". "Three days after Grain Rain is the best time to visit peonies", it has been thousands of years since enjoying peonies became an important leisure entertainment activity. Nowadays, Heze in Shandong Province and Luoyang in Henan province hold peony fairs during Grain Rain for people to enjoy.
赏花
谷雨前后也是牡丹花开的时节，因此，牡丹花也被称为“谷雨花”。“谷雨三朝看牡丹”，赏牡丹成为人们闲暇重要的娱乐活动已绵延千年。如今，山东菏泽、河南洛阳都会在谷雨时节举行牡丹花会，供人们观赏游玩。
Grain Rain is Spring’s whisper before leaving, beating on the eaves, tick tock tock, so please enjoy the remaining spring!
谷雨是春天离开前的低语，敲打在屋檐上，滴答滴答，好好享受这最后的春光吧！
Date: April 19, 2023
