China Welcomes the Frostfall Season

Shuangjiang (霜降), also known as Frostfall, is the last of the autumn seasons in the traditional Chinese calendar.

This season marks the time to begin preparing the body for the approaching winter. It is customary to eat persimmons during this time.

It is believed that persimmons help protect the skin from chapping, prevent colds, and strengthen bones. To accumulate more warmth, it is recommended to include soups in your diet.

Frostfall is the third most important period of ancestor veneration, alongside the Spring Festival of Remembrance (Qingming Festival) and the Summer Festival of the Hungry Ghosts (Zhongyuan Festival).

It is believed that with the onset of cold weather, the souls in the afterlife begin to feel cold. Therefore, through rituals, new clothes and dumplings are “sent” to them, as dumplings are considered the most warming food.