Traditional culture in plain words
Start of Spring (立春)
Li Chun (立春) is the first of the twenty-four solar terms, the traditional time marks set by the sun's path. It opens the solar-term year and marks the arrival of spring.
At a glance
What the solar terms mean
Start of Spring usually falls around 4 February. In 2026, 2027 and 2028 it falls on 4 February. In old times, this day reminded people that the cold winter was nearly over and that all things were beginning to grow again.
In the Eight Characters (八字), the traditional chart drawn from the birth year, month, day and hour, and in feng shui, Li Chun is the boundary of the new year. The animal sign and the year pillar change at the exact moment of Li Chun, not at Lunar New Year. So, to find your own animal sign, count from the Li Chun moment.
Traditional customs in different places
Tradition speaks of 'biting the spring' (咬春): eating fresh vegetables or thin pancakes to welcome the season's fresh growth. In northern China, many families eat spring pancakes, thin pancakes rolled with seasonal vegetables. In southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, people also eat spring rolls and fresh lettuce. In the old farming days, people gave a clay or paper ox a light tap in the rite of 'whipping the spring ox' (鞭春牛), to mark the start of ploughing; some places still keep welcome-spring rites today. Many people also visit a temple after Li Chun to pay respect to Tai Sui (太歲), the traditional guardian spirit of the year, praying for a peaceful and smooth year ahead.
Solar terms belong to the traditional calendar and are shared for cultural reference. For weather, please follow the forecast from your local weather service.