24 Seasons The First Season - Li Chun 立春

In a year there are 24 seasons. Today 4th Feb 09, Li Chun 立春, is the first season of the 24 seasons. It also known as the beginning of Spring.

In the ancient time,Li Chun or the Spring Begin, is an important day and the peoples will have lot of celebrations on this day.

The 24 seasons are determined based on the change of the weather seasons.In the very early day, the are only 8 important seasons, they are,spring begin 立春、summer begin 立夏、autumn begin 立秋、winter begin 立冬、Spring Equinox 春分、Summer Solstice 夏至、Autumn Equinox 秋分、Winter Solstice 冬至.

The below picture is compliment of showchina dot org website:

There is this tradition of welcoming the beginning of spring.Three day before the li chun, people will start to take vegetarian foods. On the day of spring, they will gather at a specific place to welcome the spring and pray for good harvest. When they return from the prayer, the emperor will rewards the villagers. This tradition was practice for a long period of time.

Li Chun tradition was very well celebrated. In many places, there are painting to signify Li Chun, this is also known as 'Spring Ox Picture'and the village will use whip to whip the ox that is made of mud.This is to create awareness of the arrival of spring and don't forget to start farming. Li Chun day, the villages will eat 'spring biscuit or spring roll' to signify welcoming of spring. This tradition dated as far back to Tung Dynasty. Beside the Han people, there are still a large group of people in china still practice this tradition.