Jingzhe, or the Awakening of Insects, the third solar term of the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on March 5 this year. In traditional Chinese folklore, during Jingzhe, the spring thunderstorms will startle the hibernating insects and the earth begins to come back to life.
People usually eat pears during the Awakening of Insects. As the weather gets warmer and the air becomes dry, people tend to feel their mouths are parched and tongues dry, which can cause colds or coughs. A pear is sweet, juicy and cold, moistening the lungs to arrest a cough. Therefore, pears are highly recommended during the Awakening of Insect.
By Sun Xiaofang
