About The Start of Winter by the Ancient Chinese Calendar

The first day of winter by the ancient Chinese calendar (立冬 Rittou) is the day directly between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice of today. From November 7th or 8th onwards things would be noticeably cold and the first snows might begin in the north and mountains. Rittou 立冬 (Lidong in Chinese) is the 19th of 24 solar terms by the ancient Chinese calendar. It ends around November 22nd.

Traditional Foods

• 梨 Pear
• サンマ Pacific saury (Cololabis saira: fish)
• 柿 Persimmon
• 銀杏 イチョウ Ginkgo seeds
• リンゴ Apples
• サツマイモ Sweet potatoes
• ユズ Yuzu (Citrus junos)
• ごぼう greater burdock

Blossoming Flowers and Nature

• モミジ/ Fall foliage
• 菊 きく Chrysanthemum
• 茶の花　チャノキ Camellia
• シクラメン　Cyclamen
• サザンカ Camellia sasanqua

Events

• 七五三 ShichiGoSan

References

http://chugokugo-script.net/koyomi/rittou.html

Photo thanks to Beyond @ Boxil.jp.