Grain in Ear (Chinese:芒種), the 9th of the 24 solar terms begins today and ends on June 20, signifies the ripening of crops like wheat and the last chance for sowing grains such as rice.

During this period, areas around middle stream and downstream of the Yangtze River enter the rainy season, which also known as plum rains season. Sensing the wetness, the mantis comes out, the shrike starts to sing, and the mockingbird stops tweeting.

As the flowers withered away, people in old times used to hold ceremony to sacrifice for the “God of Flowers”, showing their gratitude and their eagerness to see the flowers again next year. In some areas of China, people make the flour into different shapes such as cereals, animals, vegetables and fruits, color them and pray for villagers’ safety.

The best food to eat during “Grain in Ear” period, as suggested by Chinese doctors, is mulberry. Around two thousand years ago, mulberry had already been considered as royal food and among the folk, it was called the “holy fruit”. It has abundant glucose, cane sugar, Vitamin A, B and C and many mineral substances and is very good for humans' heart, liver and kidney.

In this period, people always say, "Grain in Ear arrives, midsummer comes. The wheat in the fields becomes waves, the praying mantis grows in the grass. Dragonflies flying in the lotus pond. The tender apricots on the branches turn yellow."

(By Yang Jiming/Qi Qian)