Lesser Snow 小雪 · Xiǎo Xuě · ~Nov 22
AT A GLANCE
First snows; skies darken early, and moods follow. Black foods are the tradition’s answer.
How the food tradition reads it
Black-for-winter: black sesame, black beans, wood ear — plus the sunshine habit.
Tonight’s bowl
Walnut, jujube & wood-ear congee — walnuts 30 g, jujube 15 g, wood ear a handful, rice 80 g. —《百病食疗大全》，页62
The practice of the term
Catch the midday sun for 20 minutes — the term’s mood prescription.
What to watch for this term
- The light thins and moods follow — winter’s quiet drag
- Raw radish, cooked pear — the folk rule holds
Who feels this term most
Qi Stagnation — Short days sit on you — 20 minutes of noon sun, daily
Yang Deficiency — Early nights are medicine now — not discipline, treatment
Watching a pattern is not a diagnosis — flare-ups and chronic conditions belong with a professional.
The season’s anchor
“The three months of winter are called the storing… sleep early, rise late, wait for the sun.” — Suwen, On Nurturing Life by the Four Seasons
The cycle continues
← Start of Winter · Greater Snow →
