Spring Poster (Source: Sohu.com)

The Start of Spring is also called “Foretelling the coming of spring.” Today, in rural areas of China, the custom of foretelling the coming of spring still exists.

A person beats a small drum, singing words to welcome the spring, and presents a picture from door to door. On the red paper are printed images of the 24 solar terms and people holding cattle to cultivate the land. The picture is called a "Spring Poster.” Giving the poster out is to remind people that a good year is determined by its spring, so it is necessary to seize the farming season.

This custom has gained popularity since ancient times, both among nobles and common people. The bedroom wall of the old Beijing folk houses is often decorated with the “Spring Poster.”

Translated by Wen Yi