(ENG) Minor Snow or “Xiao Xue” in Chinese, is the 20th solar term of the Chinese lunar year. It is the second solar term of winter season, and usually falls on November 22 or 23 in the Gregorian calendar, but this year it starts from November 22. Minor Snow refers to the time of year when the weather is getting colder and the precipitation is increasing.

During Minor Snow, people adjust their eating habits to adapt to the environment. In most parts of north China, the temperature will drop below zero degrees. People drink more hot soups, such as radish soup, to keep them warm. Meanwhile in some areas of south China, it is customary to eat glutinous rice cakes for more energy. The customs of Minor Snow include making preserved pork, eating glutinous rice cake, drinking soup and so on.

(DAN) Mindre Sne eller ”Xiao xue” på kinesisk er den 20. soltermin i den kinesiske månekalender. Det er den anden soltermin i vintersæsonen og falder normalt den 22. eller 23. november i den gregorianske kalender, men i år starter den 22. november. Mindre Sne afspejler til den tid på året, hvor vejret bliver koldere og nedbøren stiger.

Under Mindre Sne perioden tilpasser folk deres spisevaner for at tilpasse sig miljøet. I de fleste steder af det nordlige Kina falder temperaturen til under nul grader. Folk spiser mere varme suppe, såsom radise suppe for at holde sig varm. I mellemtiden er det i nogle områder i det sydlige Kina almindeligt at spise glutinøse riskager for at få mere energi. Skikkerne under Mindre Sne inkluderer bl.a. at lave konserveret svinekød, spise glutinøs riskage, spise suppe osv.

Making Preserved Pork

Fremstille Konserveret Svinekød

(ENG) After Minor Snow, the temperature declines sharply and the air becomes dry. It is the best time to start making preserved pork. Some farmers will begin to make sausages and bacon, and the excess preserved pork will be stored using traditional methods. During the Chinese Spring Festival, a couple of months later, the excess pork will be well made and enjoyed.

 (DAN) Efter Mindre Sne falder temperaturen kraftigt, og luften bliver tør. Det er det bedste tidspunkt at begynde med at fremstille konserveret svinekød. Nogle landmænd begynder at fremstille pølser og bacon, og de overskydende konserveret svinekød opbevares ved hjælp af traditionelle metoder. Under Den Kinesiske Forårsfestival, som er et par måneder senere, vil de overskydende svinekød blive godt lavet og nydt.

Eating Glutinous Rice Cake

Spise Glutinøs Riskage

(ENG) In many areas of Southern China, people eat glutinous rice cakes during Minor Snow. The glutinous rice cake is a kind of food made by steamed and pounded glutinous rice. It is a popular delicacy in some areas of southern China. In ancient times, glutinous rice cake was a traditional festival offering to the bull god.

(DAN) I mange områder i det sydlige Kina spiser folk glutinøse riskager under Mindre Sne. Den glutinøse riskage er en slags mad fremstillet af dampet og dunkende glutinøs ris. Det er en populær delikatesse i nogle områder i det sydlige Kina. I de gamle dage i Kina var glutinøs riskage et traditionelt festivals ofring til tyreguden.

Making Pickled Vegetables

Fremstille Syltede Grøntsager

(ENG) Nanjing is known for its pickled vegetables. In the past, due to some limited conditions, vegetables sold in Nanjing in winter were few and expensive. Thus, people were accustomed to make pickled vegetables before and after the Minor Snow and lived on these foods for the winter.

(DAN) Nanjing er kendt for sine syltede grøntsager. Tidligere på grund af nogle begrænsninger var grøntsager, som blev solgt i Nanjing om vinteren, få og dyre. Derfor var folk vant til at lave syltede grøntsager før og efter Mindre Sne og levede på disse fødevarer til vinteren.

Drinking Soup

Spise Suppe

(ENG) Eating more porridge and soup in winter is good for your health. For instance, wheat porridge can nourish the heart, while radish porridge can improve digestion and reduce phlegm in throat that often arrives with the changing weather. Soups also help keep people healthy and can improve the immune system. For instance, fish soup is said to invigorate the spleen, stimulate appetite, and relieve coughs and colds.

(DAN) At spise mere grød og suppe om vinteren er godt for helbredet, eksempelvis kan hvedegrød give næring til hjertet, mens radisegrød kan forbedre fordøjelsen og reducere slim i halsen, som ofte forekommer med det skiftende vejr. Suppe hjælper også en med at holde sig rask og kan forbedre immunforsvaret. For eksempel siges det, at fiskesuppe styrker milten, stimulerer appetitten og lindrer hoste og forkølelse.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/uZYR6HmSdiw