20th of the 24 solar terms [Shōsetsu]
It's the 15th day since the beginning of winter. It's the time when news of snow arrives from the northern regions.
Although it was snow, it wasn't that much, so it was called light snow.
As the sunlight weakens, the autumn leaves begin to fall, and ginkgo and citrus fruits turn yellow. As the weather gets colder and colder, it's time to start preparing for winter.
However, the weather in November is calm and warm, and is likened to spring, and is called "Indian summer." Autumn scenery in Japan.
It is also the time to start preparing year-end gifts to those who have helped us throughout the year.
Year-end gifts are
This is a gift given to someone who has helped you this year, with the message "Thank you for this year. I look forward to working with you again next year."
Why is there so much food in year-end gifts?
Oseibo were originally given as offerings for the "Goryo Festival" held on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to welcome the spirits of ancestors, and were sent by branch families to the main family, by daughters-in-law to their parents' home, and by servants to their employers.
Since these are offerings to the New Year's deity, long-lasting foods such as freshly rolled salmon, yellowtail, kelp, sake, and rice cakes were chosen as celebratory snacks, and it is said that this is what led to the food-centered year-end gifts of today.
In the 72 seasonal divisions of the year, [Light Snow] is expressed as follows:
● First Season: "The Rainbow is Hidden and Not Visible"
When the sunlight gets weaker and the rainbow disappears.
It is the counterpart to the last sign of the 24 spring solar terms, Seimei, which means "The rainbow first appears."
● Next Season: <The new wind sweeps away the leaves>
The cold north wind makes the leaves fall from the trees.
You can feel the transition to winter scenery.
●Last season ＜Tachibana Hajimetekibamu＞
Around the time when tangerine fruits start to turn yellow.