The beginning of winter is the October Festival, winter is the end, and all things are collected. At the beginning of winter, the new wind rises and the water begins to freeze. Five days later, the ground began to freeze, and at dawn, the wind was mournful, causing the geese to stop flying.

At the beginning of winter, we must welcome winter, offer sacrifices to the northern suburbs, and welcome the Northern Black Emperor Zhuanxu and the water god Xuanming who assists him. Zhuanxu was one of the Five Emperors, also known as the Gaoyang clan, and was the Emperor of Water Virtue. His virtue was steadfast and upright, and he was able to remain hidden in winter. Xuanming is the Taiyin Water God who assists him. Li Bai said, 'When the wind comes, Xuanming holds the snow, and Xuanyuan is secluded.'.

The Three Pentads of Lidong

Water begins to freeze: On the day of the beginning of winter, "water begins to freeze". Ice is colder than water, so it is the combination of water and frost. When winter is cold and water forms, it is called "Fu Yin". Ice begins in winter, grows stronger in mid winter, and is abundant in seasonal winter.
The earth begins to freeze: Five days after the beginning of winter, the earth begins to freeze. The ice is strong and called "freezing", and the earth freezes into a solid state. "The gentle and wild floating sun, the shining water covers the frozen earth".

Pheasants entering large waters are called mirages: In five days, "pheasants entering large waters are called mirages", corresponding to "sparrows entering large waters are called clams". Mirages were believed by ancient people to be formed by the exhalation of air from mirages.

The "Beginning of Winter" in the lunar calendar is not the beginning of winter in meteorology. China has a vast territory, and the true winter is defined by a temperature below 10 ℃ for five consecutive days. The northernmost regions of China, including Mohe and the area north of the Greater Khingan Range, have already entered winter in early September. In late October, the capital city of Beijing also experienced a winter scene, while winter in the Yangtze River Basin does not truly begin until around the time of the "light snow" solar term.

During the beginning of winter, cold air from the north frequently blows southward, forming cold wave weather accompanied by rain and snow. Such climatic conditions can easily trigger the onset of colds and cardiovascular diseases. Experts remind that to prevent colds, it is important to keep warm, exercise actively, open windows for ventilation, bask in the sun frequently, soak feet in warm water before bedtime, and strengthen dietary nutrition; Patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should raise their awareness of prevention, drink more warm water, pay attention to keeping warm, reduce morning exercise when it is cold, and carry emergency medicine with them when going out.