The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Rain Water this year starts on Feb 19 and ends on Mar 4.

中国传统二十四节气中的雨水节气，今年从2月19日开始，3月4日结束。

Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the frozen river water melts, wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again.

雨水节气意味着雨水增多，气温上升。随着雨水节气到来，生机勃勃的春日景象开始呈现：河水解冻，大雁向北迁徙，树和草又变得绿意盎然。

Here are six things you may not know about Rain Water.

一起来了解一下关于雨水节气的6个小常识。

Spring bamboo shoots吃春笋

Rain Water is the best time of the year to consume fresh bamboo shoots. It is said one can only know the taste of spring after enjoying the bamboo shoots. The cooking of bamboo shoots in China dates back to over 2,000 years ago, according to the Book of Songs.

雨水是一年中吃鲜笋的最好时节。民间有云：“食过春笋，方知春之味。”据《诗经》记载，中国人早在两千多年前就开始烹饪竹笋。

Water as precious as oil春雨贵如油

According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil. In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall.

中国有句老话，春雨贵如油。北方春季干旱多发，春季降雨只占年均降雨量的10%到15%。

Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period for irrigation when the day gets warmer and rainfall increases.

因此，伴随着天气变暖、降雨增加，雨水节气被认为是灌溉农田的关键时期。

Return of cold spell倒春寒

Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in the late spring that often happen during Rain Water period. The fast increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather. It is strongly advised not to take off the thick coats too early and to keep warm, especially elderly and children.

春末的“倒春寒”经常在雨水节气期间发生，这种天气需要格外注意。降雨导致空气湿度迅速上升，从而带来降温和湿冷天气。这时候强烈建议人们做好保暖，不要过早换下厚外套，尤其是老人和小孩。

Visit to in-laws女婿见岳父岳母

One of the main customs during Rain Water is husbands visiting their in-laws and giving gifts. According to the tradition, gifts are usually two cane chairs winded with four meters of red belt, which symbolizes good health and longevity. Another typical gift is a pot of cooked dish that contains pig's knuckles stewed with soya and kelp, by which the son-in-law expresses his respect and gratitude.

雨水节气的一个主要风俗就是女婿拜望岳父岳母并送礼。传统上，礼品通常是两把藤椅，上面缠着一丈二尺长（约四米）的红带，象征健康长寿。还有一个典型礼品是“罐罐肉”，用猪蹄和大豆、海带一起炖，以表达女婿的尊敬和感激。

Finding godfather认干亲

Another old custom is to find a godfather for little kids. Rainfall brings vitality to the earth; therefore people in the past believed that this practice would give their kids healthy and safe growth.

雨水节气的另一项旧俗是给小孩认干亲。雨水给大地带来了生机，因此过去的人们认为认干亲能让孩子健康成长。

The custom can be traced back to the health services of the past when many children's diseases could not be cured at all. Therefore, parents wanted a godfather to shower their blessings and good luck on their children. This old practice was popular in Sichuan area.

这一习俗要追溯到以前落后的医疗服务水平，那时候很多孩子得了病都无药可医。因此，父母们希望干爹干妈的福泽可以保佑自己的孩子。这一旧俗在四川地区很流行。

Nutritious porridge喝养生粥

The wet and damp weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people's spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.

中医认为，雨水节气期间的湿冷天气对人的脾胃有害。因此，一碗养生粥是滋养身体的最佳选择。

People in Beijing often eat porridge cooked with rehmannia glutinosa libosch, a kind of Chinese herb medicine, to resist cold and wet weather and eliminate heat from the blood. It is also good for people with constipation, arthritis and headaches.

老北京人经常在雨水节气喝地黄粥来抵御湿寒天气，清热凉血。地黄粥对于便秘、关节炎和头痛患者也很有好处。