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Read More →A documented Minor Cold food custom is vegetable rice in Nanjing, Jiangsu. Lunar New Year preparations may occur in the same season, but they must be dated separately from the astronomical solar term.
Minor Cold, Xiaohan (小寒), is a winter solar term between Winter Solstice and Major Cold. In 2026 it falls on January 5 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8), at a solar longitude of 285°.
Calendar position and meaning
Lesser Cold and Minor Cold name the same term, Xiaohan; the Hong Kong Observatory uses Moderate Cold. Minor Snow is Xiaoxue, a separate term in November.
| Chinese name | Xiaohan (小寒) |
|---|---|
| Solar longitude | 285° |
| 2026 date | January 5, Hong Kong Time (UTC+8) |
| Adjacent terms | Winter Solstice → Minor Cold → Major Cold |
Regional customs and their evidence
The China Daily account republished by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences identifies vegetable rice in Nanjing, Jiangsu, made with local greens and ingredients such as sausage and salted duck. This is a regional food example, not a nationwide menu.
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
Preparations for Lunar New Year may occur in this season, but Lunar New Year and Laba follow lunar dates. They are not fixed to the date of Xiaohan.
Regional example source: read the named account; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences republication. The account supports the place and practice stated above, not medical benefits or a national rule.
Solar customs and lunar preparations
Minor Cold may fall within the season of preparations for Lunar New Year. Date a household preparation separately from Xiaohan: a lunar festival changes its Gregorian date, while the solar term is determined by longitude. A decoration or festive meal photographed nearby is not automatically a Minor Cold ritual.
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 Minor Cold in 2026?
January 5 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8). The solar-term boundary is at 285° solar longitude; civil dates in other timezones can differ.
Is there one Minor Cold 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.
