Major Cold is the last of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms. The handle of the Big Dipper points to the Chou position; the sun reaches 300 degrees celestial longitude. It arrives around January 20 of the Gregorian calendar each year. Like Minor Cold, Major Cold indicates the severity of cold weather, signifying the peak of frigid temperatures.

Historical Origins of Major Cold

As the final solar term, Major Cold falls between January 20 and 21 on the Gregorian calendar when the sun hits 300° celestial longitude. Comprehensive Observations on Timing · Heavenly Phenomena quotes Annotations to the Three Ritual Classics: “Major Cold takes its form from Minor Cold, hence the term ‘Major’… Cold reaches its extreme reversal, thus it is named Major Cold.”

This passage vividly describes the bitter chill of this period. Major Cold overlaps with the Third and Ninth Nine periods, when cold surges frequently sweep south. It is the coldest and driest stretch of the whole year. A folk proverb goes: “In Minor and Major Cold, bitter cold prevails even without wind.” Major Cold stands for the peak of winter frost, a season when vitality lies dormant and all creatures hibernate.

Three Phenological Phases of Major Cold

• Hens begin to brood: With longer daylight hours in late winter, hens sense rising yang energy and start laying eggs to hatch chicks.

• Raptors fly swiftly to hunt: Eagles, falcons and other birds of prey intensify their hunting, circling the sky to stock up energy against the bitter freeze, driven by extreme low temperatures.

• Water bodies freeze solid to the core: In the final days of Major Cold, ice thickens all the way to the center of waters, forming the firmest ice cover of the year — proof that this is the coldest season.

Traditional Customs of Major Cold

Bid Farewell to the Old, Welcome the New; Year-End Preparations Are in Full Swing

Major Cold comes right before the Spring Festival, and “welcoming the Lunar New Year amid Major Cold” is its core theme. Diverse folk customs across regions arise both to ward off winter cold and embody hopes for the coming year.Northern folk have a saying: “If Major Cold brings mild weather, the Spring Equinox will lack warmth.” Well aware of this natural rhythm, northern farmers focus on composting to prepare for spring farming and reinforcing livestock shelters against frost. Meanwhile, families start spring cleaning, curing preserved food and stocking New Year goods. Laba porridge is usually cooked around Major Cold: a nourishing winter treat mixed with grains, peanuts, chestnuts and red dates, symbolizing a bumper harvest of all crops.

Southern customs prioritize winter nourishment and New Year preparations. In Foshan, Guangdong, locals cook glutinous rice in clay pots during Major Cold. Warm and sweet glutinous rice works wonders for cold resistance and tonic care, matching winter health regimens. An ancient maxim states: “During Major Cold, guard against wind and cold; drink ginseng and astragalus wine in the morning, take Qiju Dihuang Pills at night,” reflecting southerners’ emphasis on winter tonics.

North or south alike observe the tradition of year-end cleaning. The Chinese word for dust (chen) sounds identical to “the old” (chen), so sweeping dust means “casting off the old to make way for the new”. By tidying homes, people leave behind weariness and misfortunes of the past year to greet spring with a fresh start.The Tang poet Yuan Zhen wrote in Ode to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms · Major Cold in the Twelfth Lunar Month: “Jars brim with Lunar New Year wine; bronze braziers glow with beast-shaped charcoal. In Major Cold, stay close to the fire; do not venture out without cause.” The scene of full wine jars and warm braziers perfectly depicts families staying indoors to escape frost and prepare for the festival.

Key Health Preservation Principles for Major Cold

Preserve Yang Energy in Harmony with Nature for Physical and Mental Peace

The core of Major Cold health care is “align with seasonal rhythms and store yang energy”, balancing body and mind via daily routines, exercise and emotional regulation.The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine teaches: “In the three winter months, retire early and rise late, waiting for sunlight to appear.” This rule is especially vital in Major Cold. Yang energy is faint this time; early bedtime nourishes yang, while late rising avoids cold exposure. Sufficient sleep is fundamental to resisting frost and protecting vitality.

Daily care centers on cold-proof warmth. Focus on vulnerable areas prone to cold: the head and neck, chest and abdomen, lower back and limbs. The elderly, infants and those with weak constitutions must wear hats, gloves, scarves, thick socks and insulated shoes outdoors to prevent frostbite. Keep indoor ventilation while heating: open windows wide in morning and evening (skip ventilation on hazy days; air out when sunlight clears the air). Add green plants or humidifiers to ease dry indoor air.

Exercise should be mild and moderate, avoiding strenuous activity that dissipates yang energy. The folk saying “Move a little in Major Cold, ward off a whole season’s ailments” does not encourage intense workouts; gentle activities such as walking, Tai Chi and Baduanjin are recommended. Noon is the ideal exercise window, with brighter sunshine and milder temperatures to boost blood circulation without catching cold. Additional wellness practices include massaging acupoints Fengchi (GB20), Baihui (GV20) and Zusanli (ST36), or soaking feet in ginger and prickly ash water to dispel cold and activate qi and blood.

Emotional regulation is equally important. Short daylight and frigid weather easily trigger low mood. As The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine warns: “Anger harms the liver, joy disturbs the heart, sorrow injures the lung.” Maintain a cheerful mood through music, reading and social interaction, avoiding extreme mood swings to secure holistic peace.

Dietary Wisdom for Major Cold

Warm Tonic to Beat Cold, Nourish Yin to Support Storage

Winter dietary rules derive from the Canon’s principle that “the three winter months are the season of storage”. The core diet philosophy is “warm tonics against cold, nourish yin to relieve dryness” — defending against frost without generating dry heat that damages body fluids.The folk maxim “Adequate tonics in Major Cold grant robust health all next spring” highlights the value of winter nourishment, replenishing bodily reserves for the new year.

Warm tonics top the menu. Northerners favor warming meats such as beef and mutton. The classic medicinal diet Danggui Ginger Mutton Soup is ideal for Major Cold: blanch mutton and simmer with Chinese angelica and ginger, add rice wine to enhance flavor. It warms yang, nourishes blood and dispels internal cold to withstand winter chill.Southerners prefer glutinous rice, longan and red dates. Apart from glutinous rice dishes, they brew charred jujube and ganoderma tea: stir-fry jujubes until charred and steep with ganoderma to tonify qi and blood while invigorating the spleen and calming the spirit, perfectly suited to southern damp cold.

Given dry winter air, yin-nourishing and moistening foods are also essential: fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, oranges and spinach, plus sour ingredients such as vinegar and hawthorn balance the dry-heat nature of warm tonics, preventing lung damage from cold raw food intake.

Note that winter tonics should be gradual and tailored to individual constitutions. Another folk warning: “Excessive tonics in Major Cold lead to stubborn internal heat in spring.” Avoid overconsuming spicy, heat-inducing ingredients. Those with weak digestion may pair tonics with spleen-strengthening ingredients like Chinese yam and lotus seeds for better nutrient absorption.

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