June 21 is the Summer Solstice, the tenth of the twenty-four solar terms. The hottest season of the year begins to make itself felt as lotus leaves stretching away to the distant horizon turn dark green and lotus flowers turn bright red in the sun.

Customs at the Summer Solstice

SUMMER TIME

Offering Sacrifices to Gods and Ancestors.

Ancients offered sacrifices to gods and ancestors at the Summer Solstice in the hope that they would be made disaster-free and well-off. The Summer Solstice is the time of wheat harvest. The ancients developed the custom of celebrating the harvest and offering sacrifices to ancestors at this time of the year so that they would be protected from disaster and hunger.

Eating Ice.

In the Tang Dynasty over 1,000 years ago, beating the heat was already listed as a "state affair", though it was a mere trifle.

Enjoying the Cool.
As the saying goes, "One doesn't feel the heat so long as they keep calm". Summer is ideal for seeking internal tranquility and balance between the body and the mind. The ancients were experts in mental rehabilitation. Forget about trifles, and you will enjoy peace of mind in the scorching sun.