谷雨：雨生百谷，万物逢时
谷雨，作为二十四节气中的第六个节气，通常在公历 4 月 19 – 21 日交节。此时降水明显增加，田中的秧苗初插、作物新种，最需要雨水的滋润，正所谓 “春雨贵如油”，谷雨便得名于此，它是春季的最后一个节气，标志着寒冷天气基本结束，温暖湿润的气候将有利于谷类作物茁壮成长，为即将到来的丰收季奠定了良好基础。
一、谷雨的历史渊源
谷雨的历史十分悠久，在古代农耕文化中占据着关键地位。据《月令七十二候集解》记载：“三月中，自雨水后，土膏脉动，今又雨其谷于水也。雨读作去声，如雨我公田之雨。盖谷以此时播种，自上而下也。” 这表明古人早已认识到谷雨时节与谷类作物播种生长的紧密联系。在传统农业社会，谷雨是农民们极为重视的节气，人们会依据谷雨的到来，抓紧时间进行播种、育苗等农事活动，期盼着秋季能有一个好收成。同时，谷雨也伴随着一些祭祀活动，例如祭祀仓颉，传说仓颉创造了文字，“天雨粟，鬼夜哭”，人们为了纪念他对文化传承的巨大贡献，便在谷雨这天举行祭祀仪式，体现了古人对文化与农业生产并重的理念。
二、谷雨的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
谷雨有不少特色饮食。其中，喝谷雨茶是一项重要习俗，尤其是在南方茶区。谷雨茶也就是雨前茶，是在谷雨时节采制的春茶，这时的茶叶鲜嫩清香，口感醇厚，富含多种营养成分，被认为是茶中的佳品。人们会在谷雨当天采摘新茶，制成茶饮，传说喝了谷雨茶能清火、明目、辟邪等，为身体带来诸多益处。此外，还有吃香椿的习俗，谷雨前后是香椿上市的时节，香椿芽鲜嫩可口，营养丰富，可做成香椿炒蛋、香椿拌豆腐等多种菜肴，其独特的风味深受人们喜爱，香椿在民间也被视为一种 “树上蔬菜”，吃香椿寓意着迎接春天的到来，享受大自然的馈赠。
（二）传统活动
谷雨时节有赏牡丹的传统，牡丹素有 “花中之王” 的美誉，谷雨前后正是牡丹盛开的时期，因此牡丹花也被称为 “谷雨花”。各地会举办牡丹花会，人们纷纷前往观赏牡丹的娇艳风姿，感受春天的绚丽多彩，这一活动不仅丰富了人们的文化生活，也促进了花卉文化的传承与发展。还有走谷雨的习俗，在谷雨这天，年轻妇女们会走村串亲，或者到野外散步，寓意与自然相融合，强身健体，同时也表达了对美好生活的向往与追求。另外，渔民们在谷雨这天会举行海祭，祭祀海神，祈求海神保佑出海平安、满载而归，这反映了沿海地区人们对海洋渔业生产的重视以及对海洋的敬畏之心。
三、谷雨的文化意义
谷雨蕴含着丰富的文化意义。从自然层面来看，它是雨水滋润万物生长的生动体现，反映了大自然的节律与生命的循环。谷雨的到来，让大地焕发出勃勃生机，谷类作物得以茁壮成长，这象征着生命的孕育与希望的萌发。在文化层面，谷雨相关的民俗活动反映了人们对生活的热爱与对自然的感恩。无论是品茗赏牡丹，还是进行各种传统祭祀活动，都凝聚着人们对美好生活的期待，以及对传统文化的传承与尊重。谷雨如同一条纽带，将自然、农业生产与人类文化紧密相连，展示了中华民族在长期历史发展过程中与自然和谐共生的智慧与理念，成为中华民族传统文化中不可或缺的重要组成部分。
Grain Rain: Rain Nourishes a Hundred Grains, All Things Thrive in Season
Grain Rain, the sixth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurs around April 19 – 21 in the Gregorian calendar. At this time, precipitation increases significantly. The newly transplanted seedlings and newly planted crops in the fields need the nourishment of rainwater most. As the saying goes, “Spring rain is as precious as oil.” Grain Rain gets its name from this. It is the last solar term in spring, marking the end of cold weather. The warm and humid climate will be conducive to the healthy growth of cereal crops and lays a good foundation for the upcoming harvest season.
1. Historical Origin of Grain Rain
Grain Rain has a very long history and occupies a crucial position in ancient agricultural culture. According to “The Collection and Explanation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms of the Monthly Ordinances”: “In the middle of the third lunar month, after the Rain Water solar term, the soil is vibrant. Now it rains on the grains in the water. The character ‘rain’ is pronounced in the fourth tone, like ‘rain on my public fields’. Because grains are sown at this time, from top to bottom.” This shows that the ancients had long recognized the close connection between the Grain Rain season and the sowing and growth of cereal crops. In traditional agricultural society, Grain Rain was a solar term highly valued by farmers. People would seize the time to carry out farming activities such as sowing and seedling cultivation according as Grain Rain arrived, looking forward to a good harvest in autumn. At the same time, Grain Rain was also accompanied by some sacrificial activities. For example, sacrificing to Cangjie. It is said that Cangjie created characters and “heaven rained millet and ghosts cried at night”. People held sacrificial ceremonies on Grain Rain day to commemorate his great contribution to cultural inheritance, reflecting the ancients’ concept of attaching equal importance to culture and agricultural production.
2. Folk Culture of Grain Rain
(1) Dietary Customs
There are many characteristic diets in Grain Rain. Among them, drinking Grain Rain tea is an important custom, especially in southern tea-producing areas. Grain Rain tea, also known as pre-rain tea, is the spring tea picked and made during the Grain Rain season. The tea leaves at this time are tender, fragrant, mellow in taste and rich in various nutrients and are regarded as the best among teas. People will pick new tea on Grain Rain day and make it into tea drinks. It is said that drinking Grain Rain tea can clear heat, improve eyesight, ward off evil spirits and bring many benefits to the body. In addition, there is also a custom of eating Chinese toon. Around Grain Rain, Chinese toon is in season. The buds of Chinese toon are tender and delicious and rich in nutrition. They can be made into a variety of dishes such as scrambled eggs with Chinese toon and Chinese toon mixed with tofu. Its unique flavor is deeply loved by people. Chinese toon is also regarded as a “tree vegetable” among the people. Eating Chinese toon implies welcoming the arrival of spring and enjoying the gifts of nature.
(2) Traditional Activities
There is a tradition of admiring peonies during the Grain Rain season. Peonies are known as the “king of flowers”. Around Grain Rain, peonies are in full bloom. Therefore, peonies are also called “Grain Rain flowers”. Peony flower fairs will be held in various places. People go to admire the beautiful appearance of peonies and feel the gorgeousness of spring. This activity not only enriches people’s cultural lives but also promotes the inheritance and development of flower culture. There is also a custom of “walking in Grain Rain”. On Grain Rain day, young women will visit relatives in neighboring villages or take a walk in the wild, implying integration with nature, strengthening the body and expressing the longing and pursuit for a beautiful life. In addition, fishermen will hold a sea sacrifice on Grain Rain day to sacrifice to the sea god, praying for the sea god to bless a safe voyage and a full load of fish. This reflects the importance attached to marine fishery production and the awe of the ocean by people in coastal areas.
3. Cultural Significance of Grain Rain
Grain Rain contains rich cultural significance. From a natural perspective, it is a vivid manifestation of rainwater nourishing the growth of all things, reflecting the rhythm of nature and the cycle of life. The arrival of Grain Rain makes the earth full of vitality and cereal crops grow healthily, which symbolizes the gestation of life and the germination of hope. On a cultural level, the folk activities related to Grain Rain reflect people’s love for life and gratitude to nature. Whether it is sipping tea and admiring peonies or carrying out various traditional sacrificial activities, they all embody people’s expectations for a beautiful life and the inheritance and respect for traditional culture. Grain Rain is like a bond that closely connects nature, agricultural production and human culture, showing the wisdom and concept of the Chinese nation’s harmonious coexistence with nature in the long process of historical development and becoming an indispensable and important part of traditional Chinese culture.