The summer solstice, also known as midsummer, arrived today as promised.

The summer solstice is one of the earliest solar terms to be defined in the 24 solar terms. As early as the 7th century B.C., the ancients determined the date of the summer solstice when they measured the sun's shadow.

After the summer solstice, most parts of China will enter midsummer. At this time, everything is flourishing, and the shade is thickening, bringing a bit of coolness to this hot season.

Since prehistory, the summer solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rituals. Wang Laihua, the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences professor, said that the summer solstice in ancient times was called "summer festival" or "summer solstice festival" in China. One theory holds that the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese festival, originated from the summer solstice.

Since ancient times, it has been a custom to celebrate the harvest and offer sacrifices to ancestors to pray for good weather. Therefore, the Summer Solstice, as a festival, was also included in the ancient sacrificial rituals, Wang said.

After the summer solstice, the average daily temperature across China generally rises 22 degrees. During this time, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are in the "meiyu" period in the year, which creates a very favorable growing environment for crops.

Therefore, the summer solstice flowers and plants species are also very rich, and in some places, it is customary for women to wear seasonal flowers on their heads for luck and health. In the floral work in the video, the florist uses a pomegranate blossom and an herbaceous peony. The pomegranate blossom is a common flower during the summer solstice. Its flowering period is from May to July. The pomegranate flower is in its most exuberant bloom every summer solstice. Pomegranate blossoms cannot bloom without sufficient light. The more abundant light, the flowers will bloom more brilliant.

Herbaceous peony, another flower chosen by florists, is also one of China's national flowers. According to legend, herbaceous peonies and tree peonies are not ordinary flowers, but can be used for medicinal purposes and were brought by the Chinese flower god to save the ordinary people from the plague. And, "Shennong Ben Cao Jing," also known as "The Classic of Herbal Medicine," called peonies as the "Chinese herbal medicine."

Besides, eating different foods according to different solar terms has become a folk custom for the Chinese people. On the day of the summer solstice, there is a folk saying "eat dumplings on the winter solstice and eat noodles on the summer solstice." Eating noodles on the summer solstice in China is already an important custom in many regions.

Cover image designer: Yu Peng

Video editor: Zeng Hongen

Videographer: Danzeng Jiancuo