Traditional culture in plain words
Grain Buds (小滿)
Grain Buds is the second solar term of summer. The name pictures the young ears of wheat filling out — almost full, but not quite.
At a glance
What the solar terms mean
Grain Buds usually falls on 20 or 21 May in the Western calendar. Examples are 21 May 2026, 21 May 2027 and 20 May 2028. In the north of China, the wheat slowly ripens. In southern China and other southern regions, the rains grow heavier.
A folk saying goes, 'At Grain Buds, the rivers run full' (小滿江河滿). It describes the rising river waters of the south at this time of year.
Traditional customs in different places
This is the season when silkworms spin their cocoons and the wheat draws near to harvest. Traditional farming households gave close care to their silkworms, raised for silk, and to their field crops. In many parts of China, families also tasted bitter herbs (苦菜), a wild green of the season, as a simple way to welcome the new growth.
Solar terms belong to the traditional calendar and are shared for cultural reference. For weather, please follow the forecast from your local weather service.