Xiaoshu | 小暑: When Summer Begins to Ripen

As Xiaoshu (“Minor Heat”) arrives, the days stretch long and golden. The air hums with the sound of cicadas, and lotus flowers bloom in quiet ponds — all signs that summer has reached its lush midpoint.

Falling on 7 July in 2025, Xiaoshu marks the time when the heat begins to build, though it has not yet reached its peak. In ancient China, people took note of nature’s rhythms: warm winds stir the rice fields, fruits begin to swell on the vine, and afternoon thunderstorms bring short relief to the land.

It is a season of growth and anticipation, when life pulses just beneath the surface — not yet explosive, but preparing.

In traditional customs, Xiaoshu reminds us to slow down and stay balanced. Families may eat cooling foods like watermelon or mung bean soup, rest during the hottest part of the day, and reflect on the quiet beauty of seasonal change.