The Start of Summer is the symbol of the season transition. On this day, there are many interesting customs.

Checking one's weight

The custom of weighing people at the Start of Summer originated from the Three Kingdoms Period (220-180) and prevails in South China today. After lunch on the day of the Start of Summer, people will suspend a stool or basket from a beam. The young and old take turns to get weighed while the person calculating the weight will offer good wishes and auspicious words. It is said those who were weighed would stay healthy in the hot summer and those who weren't would suffer illness.

Eating eggs

In ancient China, people believed a round egg symbolized a happy life, and eating eggs on the Start of Summer was a prayer for good health. The traditional snack, Tea Egg, is believed to be created on this day. People put leftover tea into boiled water together with eggs. Later people improved cooking methods and added spices to the eggs to make them taste more delicious.

Egg competitions

As an old Chinese saying goes "hanging an egg on children's chest can prevent them from getting summer diseases", on the Start of Summer, children will wear egg nets made of silk around their necks and put boiled chicken and duck eggs inside, and some children like painting patterns on eggs. They will dash against each other to conduct strength competitions, which people call crashing eggs. The one whose egg is not broken wins.

Drinking tea

In Jiangxi, Yangzhou and other places, it is a tradition to drink tea on the day of the Start of Summer. With the advent of scorching summer, drinking tea regularly, especially naturally cool green tea, will help you get rid of summer heat and have therapeutic effect. In addition, due to the high temperature of summer days, human body will lose more water, and drinking tea regularly can timely replenish the losing water.

Tasting seasonal food

The custom of "tasting seasonal food on the day of the Start of Summer” prevails in China's many places. People act on the custom and tuck in seasonal food on the day to pray for good health and good luck. A wide choice of seasonal fruits and vegetables such as cherries, bamboo shoots, green beans, garlic sprouts, edible amaranth and green plum is available.

Eating porridge

In the past, the Chinese ancients established the tradition of eating porridge on the day of the Start of Summer. According to a folk legend, whoever eats porridge on the day of the Start of Summer would be blessed with health and safety. Adding some lotus leaves to porridge is highly recommended. With the lotus leaves, the porridge will be more fragrant and help you get rid of the scorching heat.