“Cold Dew” (Chinese: 寒hán 露lù), the ninth month of the lunar calendar, which means the weather changing from cool to cold, and the dew will soon condense into frost. The Cold Dew ushers in the arrival of late autumn. With the weather getting colder, the invigorating autumn climate begins to become bleak. As the old saying goes “after eating Cold Dew food, no thin clothes are seen.” Starting from Cold Dew, we should pay extra attention to keeping warm. Wear some thick clothes, no unlined garment! Regarding the date of Cold Dew, it varies from October 7th、8th or 9th each year depending on the movement of the sun. In 2021, Cold Dew starts from 7th of October and ends on 22nd of October.
Double Ninth Festival
The Double Ninth Festival is on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. This festival often meets the solar term-Cold Dew. The Double Ninth Festival is also called “Elderly Day” and “Day for Respecting the Aged”, because Double Ninth in Chinese (jiǔ jiǔ) and the Chinese character “forever” (jiǔ jiǔ) are homophonic, and the latter has the meaning of longevity. On the Double Ninth Festival, people often climb high, admire chrysanthemums, wear cornel, and drink chrysanthemum wine to pray for a good fortune.
Autumn Fishing
In the southern of China, people like to go fishing in ponds or rivers before and after the Cold Dew, commonly known as “Autumn Fishing”. During this period of time, the temperature drops pretty quickly, and the sun can no tonger reach deep water, which drives the fish to swim to the shallow water where the temperature is higher. Therefore, it's easier to catch fish.
Eat Sesame
During the time of Cold Dew, the weather turns from cool to chill. Therefore, it is good to intake more foods that nourish yin, prevent dehydration, sooth the lungs and benefit the stomach. On the day of Cold Dew, people will eat foods containing sesame, such as sesame crisp, sesame mung bean cake, sesame biscuits, etc.
Days Countdown to Chinese New Year
The current date is 8th October 2021
115 days until 1 February 2022 (Chinese New Year)