Frost’s Descent Customs

The Zhuang Frost’s Descent Festival is a traditional folk celebration in which Zhuang communities give thanks to nature and celebrate the harvest. The festival is divided into three stages — the first descent, middle descent, and final descent — and lasts for three days and three nights. On the first day, Zhuang households wash and decorate their draft cattle, feed them rice wine and glutinous rice, and forbid both labor and whipping; women use freshly harvested glutinous rice to make foods such as “cina” and “Yingshuang zongzi.” The middle descent, or main festival day, forms the climax: villagers carry offerings to temples to burn incense and worship, dragon and lion dances lead the way, sacred images parade through the streets and lanes, gongs and drums resound, and firecrackers continue without pause. By the final descent, people can be seen gathering fallen ears of grain from field ridges, reflecting the Zhuang tradition of cherishing every gift of nature.

Festival activities are rich and varied:

* Blessing rites and sacrifices: Thanksgiving ceremonies are held on old stages, with offerings such as glutinous-rice cakes and zongzi. Gongs, drums, lion dances, and dragon dances express gratitude to Heaven and Earth for abundant grain and favorable weather.
* Antiphonal folk-song singing: Zhuang-language singing contests are a major highlight. The Jingxi and Debao styles rise and answer one another, while streets and lanes fill with performers and listeners.
* Lang-beating dance: Dancers hold wooden pestles in both hands and strike the walls, base, and rim of the lang, producing lively, forceful movements and drum-like sounds. The dance has a history of nearly 1,400 years and originated in the labor scenes of Zhuang ancestors threshing rice and pounding glutinous-rice cakes.
* Hundred-family banquet: Every household prepares wine, meat, and other foods, wraps zongzi, pounds glutinous-rice cakes, and steams glutinous rice to entertain relatives, friends, and guests from afar.
* Trade activities: The Frost’s Descent market fair is one of the liveliest expressions of the festival. Debao rattan chairs, Jingxi Zhuang brocade, Tiandeng bamboo ware, and other local specialties gather in one place, even attracting merchants from Vietnam. Basketball, tug-of-war, wooden-shoe races, and other sporting events are also held.

The Zhuang Frost’s Descent Festival is rooted in Zhuang rice-farming culture. By the Song dynasty, late rice was stored in granaries around Frost’s Descent, and people used freshly harvested glutinous rice to prepare foods, visit relatives and friends, sing in antiphony, and watch performances as a simple way of thanking nature for its gifts. During the Jiajing reign of the Ming dynasty, the festival also incorporated commemoration of Madam Wa, the Zhuang heroine who fought against Japanese pirates, using the celebration to transmit ethnic history and promote the spirit of defending one’s homeland. It reached a peak during the Qing dynasty, when local officials in formal dress led the people in worship and trade became increasingly prosperous. In 2014, the Zhuang Frost’s Descent Festival was included in the fourth batch of representative national intangible cultural heritage items; in 2016, as an extension project of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, it was included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Within the nine days after Frost’s Descent on the lunar calendar, visitors can travel to Xiangdu Town in Tiandeng County, Guangxi, and other locations to take part in the celebrations. The opening ceremony may feature the striking spectacle of a thousand-person Lang-beating dance; Zhuang folk songs and traditional performances are staged on the old theater platforms; visitors can taste glutinous-rice cakes, Yingshuang zongzi, stuffed sausage, roast pork, and other Zhuang foods; and traditional activities such as wooden-shoe racing and embroidered-ball throwing can also be experienced. Harvest exhibitions and sales, as well as displays of intangible-cultural-heritage creative products, are also held during the festival.

As temperatures drop sharply around Frost’s Descent, folk tradition says, “Winter nourishment is not as important as nourishment at Frost’s Descent.” People believe that autumn nourishment matters even more than winter nourishment and that taking nourishment on the day of Frost’s Descent can achieve twice the result with half the effort. It is also said that one should first “nourish at the Double Ninth” and then “nourish at Frost’s Descent,” with autumn nourishment considered more important than winter nourishment. For this reason, seasonal foods include mutton soup, mutton head, Yingshuang rabbit meat, and duck.

Methods of nourishment vary from region to region. In parts of northern China, people simmer mutton soup to strengthen the body, while in Beijing hotpot beef and mutton are eaten to “put on autumn fat.” In some areas of Guangxi, beef is eaten on the day of Frost’s Descent, usually in dishes such as beef fried rice noodles or stir-fried beef with radish, as a way of praying for good health. People in Fuzhou, Fujian, may enjoy the traditional local dish “hongzao lamb,” as mutton has the effects of warming and supplementing qi and blood, stimulating the appetite, and strengthening the spleen. Southern Fujian and Taiwan preserve the custom of eating duck, because duck meat is sweet in flavor and non-toxic and has the effects of supplementing internal deficiency, clearing toxic heat, and promoting urination. A southern Fujian proverb says, “A whole year of nourishment is not as good as nourishing yourself at Frost’s Descent,” fully expressing how seriously people in Fujian and Taiwan regard the solar term. Folk tradition also holds that rabbit meat around Frost’s Descent is especially delicious and suitable for autumn and winter nourishment, hence the name “Yingshuang rabbit meat.” In Beijing, people traditionally buy rabbit meat to eat around Frost’s Descent.

The custom of seasonal nourishment at Frost’s Descent originates in the traditional Chinese medical principle of “nourishing yin in autumn and winter.” The ancients believed that after Frost’s Descent, colder weather meant the body needed more energy to resist the cold. Mutton is warming in nature and can drive away cold and warm the body; beef is sweet and warm and can calm the center, benefit qi, and nourish the spleen and stomach; duck is sweet and cool and is suitable for people prone to internal heat. The saying “Winter nourishment is not as important as nourishment at Frost’s Descent” condenses this seasonal wisdom: taking nourishment at the transition from autumn to winter prepares the body for the cold season ahead. The custom closely joins seasonal change with dietary care and reflects the traditional idea that medicine and food share a common origin.

During Frost’s Descent, seasonal nourishing dishes can be sampled in restaurants across China. In the north, mutton soup and hotpot beef and mutton are common; in southern Fujian and Taiwan, ginger duck and other duck dishes are popular; in Guangxi, beef fried rice noodles can be tried; while in Fuzhou, hongzao lamb is a local specialty. Mutton, duck, and other warming ingredients can also be prepared at home.

Frost’s Descent coincides with the full bloom of autumn chrysanthemums. In many parts of China, chrysanthemum gatherings are held at this time, where people admire the flowers and drink wine as a sign of respect and affection for chrysanthemums. In meteorology, the first frost of autumn is generally called “early frost” or “chrysanthemum frost,” because this is precisely when chrysanthemums are blooming, making it an ideal period for viewing them. The old saying “霜打菊花开” — frost strikes and chrysanthemums bloom — is why climbing mountains and admiring chrysanthemums became refined seasonal pleasures of Frost’s Descent.

The *Xu Qi Xie Ji* by Wu Jun of the Liang dynasty already contains references related to chrysanthemum drinking at the Double Ninth Festival. The ancients believed that chrysanthemums possessed the character of proudly resisting frost and cold, and said, “At Frost’s Descent, only this plant flourishes.” Chrysanthemums were therefore regarded as “plants that respond to the season” and became symbols of vitality. The custom of admiring chrysanthemums and drinking wine has thus existed since ancient times, and people believed that chrysanthemums touched by frost appeared even more vigorous. Frost’s Descent is also precisely the season when autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom, so many places hold chrysanthemum gatherings where flowers are admired and wine is drunk in their honor. Drinking wine at this time was also considered beneficial to health. When Frost’s Descent first arrives, the weather is not yet severely cold, so climbing to high places, looking into the distance, drinking wine, and appreciating chrysanthemums remain popular refined pursuits.

The tradition of admiring chrysanthemums has deep roots. The chrysanthemum is one of China’s classic flowers, and as early as the *Book of Rites · Monthly Ordinances* there is the line “季秋之月，鞠有黄华” — in the final month of autumn, chrysanthemums bear yellow flowers. During the Wei and Jin periods, Tao Yuanming became famous for his love of chrysanthemums, and his celebrated line “采菊东篱下，悠然见南山” helped turn chrysanthemum appreciation into a fashion among scholars and cultivated people. Wu Jun’s *Xu Qi Xie Ji* of the Liang dynasty already contains references to drinking with chrysanthemums at the Double Ninth Festival. From the Tang and Song onward, the custom became even more widespread, and chrysanthemums appear abundantly in painting and calligraphy. Folk tradition also calls the ninth lunar month the “Month of Chrysanthemums.” Around Frost’s Descent, the flowers bloom proudly against the cold and are seen as symbols of resilience, bringing seasonal phenology and aesthetic appreciation together and expressing the Chinese art of admiring each thing at its proper time.

During Frost’s Descent, major city parks often hold chrysanthemum exhibitions. Displays in Beijing, Kaifeng, Hangzhou, and other cities are particularly famous. Chrysanthemums can also be grown on a balcony at home to enjoy the refined pleasures of the “Month of Chrysanthemums.”

Eating persimmons at Frost’s Descent is a widespread folk custom. In some parts of China, people eat red persimmons at this time, believing that doing so not only helps resist the cold and keep the body warm, but also strengthens the sinews and bones. In some places, the custom is explained by saying that persimmons must be eaten on Frost’s Descent, otherwise one’s lips will remain cracked throughout the winter.

By this point, persimmons hanging on the branches have already turned fully red, like little lanterns suspended from bare twigs. Once touched by frost, their astringency disappears, leaving only dense sweetness. Folk tradition includes the saying, “Eat lantern persimmons at Frost’s Descent and you will not have a runny nose.” In Quanzhou and other parts of Fujian, an old saying also goes, “Eat Ding persimmons at Frost’s Descent and you will not have a runny nose.” Persimmons originated in China and have been cultivated for more than three thousand years. Around Frost’s Descent, they are in season, thin-skinned and sweet, which is why many regions preserve the custom of eating red persimmons at this time. The phrase “good persimmons come with frost” has also become an auspicious expression associated with the season.

A folk story about the custom of eating persimmons at Frost’s Descent is associated with Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. According to legend, Zhu grew up in poverty. One year around Frost’s Descent, after going hungry for two days, he entered a small village and found a persimmon tree covered in bright red fruit. Eating the persimmons saved his life. Years later, while leading troops through the area, he discovered that the same tree was still standing. He took off his red military robe, draped it over the tree, and bestowed upon it the title “Marquis Who Defies the Frost.” The story became widely circulated and further reinforced the custom of eating persimmons at Frost’s Descent. Persimmons are therefore not only a seasonal delicacy, but also carry auspicious meanings such as “may everything go according to one’s wishes” and “good persimmons come with frost.”

On the day of Frost’s Descent, persimmons can simply be purchased from a fruit shop, making this one of the easiest customs to experience. Persimmons are especially sweet around this time and may be eaten fresh or dried into persimmon cakes for storage.

Frost’s Descent is associated with the custom of climbing to high places and looking into the distance. In autumn, mountain forests and highlands have fresh air and fewer airborne dust particles and pollutants. Climbing during Frost’s Descent is believed to help the lungs function more freely; once at a high vantage point, looking far into the distance can also refresh the mind and ease one’s mood. In other words, climbing and enjoying the landscape can both open the lungs and disperse turbid qi while bringing emotional relief. Because temperatures have already fallen, however, proper warm clothing is essential before setting out.

In northern China, people enjoy rising early to observe the frost, especially the “first frost” covering field ridges, grasses, and trees, regarding it as a visible sign of the season. In Jiangnan, climbing high to enjoy autumn scenery is more common, with visitors looking over forests covered in layered colors, combining physical exercise with emotional pleasure. The custom is closely related to the Double Ninth Festival and, because that festival falls near Frost’s Descent, climbing and looking into the distance gradually became integrated into the customs of the solar term.

The custom of climbing has a long history in China, with records from the Han dynasty of ascending heights on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The ancients believed that climbing could help avoid calamity and invite blessings; later, it gradually evolved into an autumn activity for appreciating scenery. During Frost’s Descent, the sky is high, the clouds are light, and the forests are fully colored, making it an ideal time for climbing. To the ancients, climbing was not merely physical exercise, but also a cleansing of the spirit: from the summit of an autumn mountain, looking down over the land allowed one to experience the vastness of Heaven and Earth and the changing of the seasons.

Around Frost’s Descent, visitors can climb mountains and scenic areas throughout China. Fragrant Hills and Badachu in Beijing, as well as Qixia Mountain in Nanjing, are popular choices. Because autumn weather is pleasant and visitor numbers rise around the solar term, planning ahead and dressing warmly are recommended.

In the Gaoming area of Guangdong, there is a custom before Frost’s Descent known as “sending away the Taro Ghost.” Around this time, people stack roof tiles into a tower known locally as a Henei Tower, place dry firewood inside, and set it alight. The stronger the fire, the better, until the tiles are heated red. The tower is then pushed down, and the red-hot tiles are used to heat and roast taro, a process locally called “beating the taro pot.”

Finally, the tiles are thrown outside the village, and this is known as “sending away the Taro Ghost.” Through this ritual, people drive away misfortune and welcome auspiciousness. The custom combines the physical process of heating roof tiles red with the symbolic act of sending away a ghost: casting the hot tiles beyond the village boundary represents expelling inauspicious forces from the community and praying for peace and good fortune in the coming year. The fiercer the fire, the stronger the symbolic power to drive away evil.

The custom of sending away the Taro Ghost comes from folk beliefs surrounding the expulsion of harmful and inauspicious forces. As the weather turns cold around Frost’s Descent, the ancients believed that harmful qi could more easily intrude, and rituals involving burning tiles and sending away the “Taro Ghost” were used to drive out misfortune and pray for peace. The practice combines the seasonal calendar with folk ritual beliefs and reflects a simple form of wisdom for confronting unknown risks. The processes of heating the taro and sending away the ghost also function as communal activities and expressions of hope for a better life.

Before Frost’s Descent, visitors can travel to Gaoming in Guangdong to observe the custom. Villagers build tile towers and light large fires, creating a lively scene that can be watched from designated safe areas. It is advisable to check specific arrangements in advance through local cultural and tourism authorities.

In ancient times, Frost’s Descent was associated with grave sweeping and ancestor worship. According to the *Qing Tongli*: “岁寒食及霜降节，拜扫扩荃，届期素服诣墓，具酒撰及菱剪草木之器；周服封树，剪除荆草，故称扫墓。” Each year at Frost’s Descent, people dressed in plain clothing and went to ancestral graves carrying wine, sacrificial offerings, and tools for cutting vegetation. They first tended the trees and ground around the burial site and removed thorns and weeds.

The Chinese people have long upheld ritual values of respecting ancestors and “carefully attending to the end and remembering those long gone.” Sweeping graves and worshipping ancestors at Frost’s Descent expresses filial devotion and the refusal to forget one’s roots. During the annual Cold Clothes Festival and Frost’s Descent, people visited ancestral burial sites and cleared away surrounding weeds, hence the expression “sweeping the graves.”

The custom of grave sweeping and ancestor worship has a long history. According to the *Qing Tongli*, both the Cold Food Festival and Frost’s Descent were days for grave sweeping. The ancients regarded Frost’s Descent as the final solar term of autumn, when all things had completed their growth and yang qi descended into the earth. Visiting ancestral graves at this time both consoled the ancestors and expressed the ethical principle of “carefully attending to the end and remembering those long gone.” Today, although the custom of grave sweeping specifically on Frost’s Descent has faded, the Cold Clothes Festival on the first day of the tenth lunar month has continued to the present.

During Frost’s Descent, ancestor-worship ceremonies can be observed at cemeteries and ancestral halls in different parts of China. Some traditional villages hold collective rites, which visitors may watch from appropriate areas. The solemnity of the ceremony should be respected and quiet maintained.