The Season
Things come and go in seasons. These days, the year unfolds in 24 small seasons, each lasting about 15 days. Right now weβre in Start of Spring π±.
βοΈ
Small Cold
1/6
Temperatures quickly drop
π₯Ά
Big Cold
1/20
Ice thickens, hens huddle together
π±
Start of Spring
2/4
Ground thaws, fish appear under ice
π§οΈ
Rain Waters
2/18
Snow recedes, mist lingers in the air
π
Insects Awaken
3/6
Bugs surface from hibernation
πΈ
Vernal Equinox
3/21
Sparrows start to nest, cherry blossoms bloom
π
Clear and Bright
4/4
Geese fly north, rainbows appear
πΎ
Grain Rain
4/21
Reeds sprout, rice seedlings grow
πΈ
Start of Summer
5/6
Birds and frogs begin singing
πΊ
Small Blooming
5/21
Flowers bloom, wheat ripens
πΏ
Seeds and Cereals
6/5
Praying mantises hatch, fireflies emerge
βοΈ
Summer Solstice
6/21
Longest days, irises bloom
π»
Small Heat
7/7
Warm winds blow, young hawks learn to fly
π₯
Big Heat
7/23
Peak summer heat with heavy rains
π
Start of Autumn
8/8
Cooler winds, thick fogs
πΎ
Lessening Heat
8/23
Rice ripens, summer fades
π§
White Dew
9/7
Dew drops on grass
βοΈ
Autumnal Equinox
9/23
Day and night equal length, my love's anniversary
π¦
Cold Dew
10/8
Temperatures drop, crickets stop chirping
π
Frosting
10/23
First frosts, maple leaves turn yellow
π§
Start of Winter
11/8
Ground begins to freeze, commerce intensifies for year-end
π¨οΈ
Small Snow
11/23
Light snow, last leaves fall, a mad rush to finish yearly tasks
βοΈ
Big Snow
12/8
Cold sets in, bears hibernate, reflect on the past
π―οΈ
Winter Solstice
12/22
Shortest days of the year, work abates, we pull indoors
These seasons mark natural phenomena rather than fixed calendar dates. Adapted from Small Seasons.