Today is the beginning of winter.

Today is the beginning of winter. It's our youngest child's sports day.

Haha, the date that was canceled back then and rescheduled is today.

Will the first graders do well in the sports day despite this cold weather?

Mom should also run along and watch together, haha.

 

☃️Ipdong⛄️ (Lidong) is the 19th of the 24 solar terms, marking the beginning of winter. Ipdong corresponds to the 10th lunar month and usually occurs around November 7th or 8th in the Gregorian calendar. The meaning of "Ipdong" is "winter begins," and from this point onward, temperatures are believed to drop sharply, signaling the start of the full-fledged winter weather.

 

The meaning of Ipdong

Ipdong is a very important seasonal marker from a climatic and agricultural perspective. Traditionally, preparations for winter begin around Ipdong, with farmers strengthening the care of grains and livestock needed for the winter, and people starting to wear thicker clothes to prepare for the cold season.

 

After Ipdong passes, the weather gradually becomes colder, nights grow longer, and the temperature difference between day and night begins to widen. In particular, as Ipdong passes, the cold winter weather continues until the last seasonal period of the year, **Daehan** (Great Cold).

 

Customs related to the Beginning of Winter

Ipdong has been traditionally associated with various customs since ancient times. Some of Korea's traditional customs involve preparing for winter or performing rituals to brace against the cold of winter in celebration of Ipdong.

 

1. **Dongji Tteok**: After the beginning of winter (Ipdong), Dongji (winter solstice) approaches, and there is a custom of preparing rice cakes related to Dongji. This tradition symbolizes preparing for winter, and usually, red bean rice cakes are made.

  

2. **Winter Crop Preparation**: In farming, after the arrival of winter, special efforts were made to manage crops that could be planted during the winter and livestock. This was mainly an activity to prepare for the cold of winter.

 

3. **Heating Preparation**: As winter approached, people began preparing their homes for heating. In particular, they used stoves or fireplaces to strengthen heating in preparation for the coldest part of winter.

 

4. **Beginning of Winter and Food**: Around the beginning of winter, there is a tradition of preparing foods for the cold season. It was common to prepare high-protein foods or warming foods in advance to cope with the cold weather.

 

The Beginning of Winter and Climate

As the beginning of winter passes, temperatures gradually decrease, especially with the wind becoming cold and dry. From this time, rain and snow start to fall, and preparations for winter precipitation and snow are also necessary.

 

The beginning of winter, known as Ipdong, is an important milestone that signals the start of the winter season. Even today, many people adjust their daily lives in response to the weather changes that occur after Ipdong. Although the importance of agriculture has decreased compared to the past, the weather changes on Ipdong still have a significant impact on people's lives.