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Read More →Major Snow customs include curing meat around the term in Nanjing, Jiangsu, as described in the cited local report. The tradition is cultural context, not a home-preservation recipe or a nationwide rule.
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 |
Regional customs and their evidence
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.
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.
What the calendar does not establish
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.
Regional example source: read the named account. The account supports the place and practice stated above, not medical benefits or a national rule.
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.
Is there one Major Snow custom for all of China?
No. Customs require place-specific sources and vary between communities and households. The astronomical calendar does not establish a national food or ritual rule.
