Solar Terms

Minor Snow Solar Term Meaning: Meaning, Customs, and Calendar Notes

2026年8月5日 · guan506237167

Minor Snow, Xiaoxue (小雪), is an early-winter solar term between Beginning of Winter and Major Snow. In 2026 it falls on November 22 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8), at a solar longitude of 240°.

Snow on harvested farmland beneath bare trees
Illustration of a northern winter field. AI-generated illustrative image; not a documentary photograph.

Calendar position and meaning

Minor Snow and Light Snow translate Xiaoxue. It is a calendar name, not a forecast or the meteorological classification of snow at a particular place.

Chinese name Xiaoxue (小雪)
Solar longitude 240°
2026 date November 22, Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)
Adjacent terms Beginning of Winter → Minor Snow → Major Snow

Seasonal context

A preservation custom should not become a recipe without separate food-safety guidance. Local temperature and humidity can differ sharply from the seasonal imagery suggested by Xiaoxue.

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.

Cabbage and radishes beside a ceramic preserving jar
Illustration of the Nanjing vegetable-preserving food example. AI-generated illustrative image; not a documentary photograph.

Regional example and limits

A China Daily report on Nanjing describes pickling vegetables around Minor Snow and curing meat around Major Snow. The contrast concerns local food-preservation customs, not the amount of snow.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Minor Snow in 2026?

November 22 in Hong Kong Time (UTC+8). The solar-term boundary is at 240° solar longitude; civil dates in other timezones can differ.

Does Minor 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.

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