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Read More →Major Snow, Daxue (大雪), names a winter calendar marker associated with the traditional expectation of increasing cold and snow. In 2026 it falls on December 7 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8), at a solar longitude of 255°.
Calendar position and meaning
Major Snow and Great Snow are English renderings of the same term, Daxue. The name is not a meteorological category or a prediction of snowfall amounts.
| Chinese name | Daxue (大雪) |
|---|---|
| Solar longitude | 255° |
| 2026 date | December 7, Hong Kong Time (UTC+8) |
| Adjacent terms | Minor Snow → Major Snow → Winter Solstice |
Seasonal context
Food preservation is reported here as cultural context, not as a home-curing recipe. A calendar date cannot establish that temperature, hygiene or storage conditions are safe.
The seasonal word “winter” here follows the traditional Northern Hemisphere calendar. The Hong Kong Observatory relates many term names to ancient central Chinese weather and agriculture. Local weather and plant development may differ; Southern Hemisphere seasonal timing is reversed.
Regional example and limits
A 2022 China Daily report from Nanjing describes the seasonal practice of curing meat around Major Snow. It contrasts this with pickling vegetables around Minor Snow.
Regional example source: read the named account. The account supports the place and practice stated above, not medical benefits or a national rule.
Why “Great Snow” and “Major Snow” appear in English
Great Snow is another English name for Daxue, the same calendar marker called Major Snow on this site and Heavy Snow by the Hong Kong Observatory. When comparing English calendars, match the Chinese name 大雪 and 255° longitude before assuming the labels describe different events. Do not confuse it with Xiaoxue, Minor Snow, at 240°.
Calendar sources
Hong Kong Observatory: term names and solar longitudes; 2026 Gregorian–lunar conversion table; date and time notes (Hong Kong Time, UTC+8). The calendar sources establish astronomical timing and terminology; they do not verify regional customs.
Related reading
- 24 solar terms
- 24 solar terms calendar 2026
- chinese seasonal food calendar
- External cultural reference
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Major Snow in 2026?
December 7 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8). The solar-term boundary is at 255° solar longitude; civil dates in other timezones can differ.
Does Major Snow predict local weather?
No. The term is defined astronomically. Its seasonal name does not establish the temperature, rainfall or snowfall at a particular location.
