We returned to our daily life again this year while the New Year mood remained.  Even on the calendar, tomorrow (1/6) will be Sho-kan(the first half of the coldest season,January 6–19).  The lunar calendar divides the year into 24 parts, starting with Risshun(the first day of spring) and ending with Dai-kan(the coldest weather).  Sho-kan is the 23rd of the 24 solar terms and falls on the fifteenth day from Toji(the winter solstice).  The period from this day to Setsubun (the day before Risshun) is called “Kan (also known as Kanchu or Kannouchi),” and this day is also called “Kannoiri.”  According to the calendar, Sho-kan is the coldest time of the year, and from this day onwards, we start sending out winter greetings.  After Dai-kanthe reaches its peak, this year’s spring will begin in earnest.  I want to get over this cold, overcome corona misfortune, and flu, and welcome a new spring.

正月気分が残る中、また今年も日常生活に戻りました。暦の上でも明日(1/6)は小寒です。１年を24区分して、立春に始まり大寒に終わるのが太陰暦です。小寒は24節気の23番目で、冬至から十五日目の日に当たります。この日から節分(立春の前日)までを「寒(寒中・寒の内とも）」と言い、この日を「寒の入り」とも言います。暦の上では冬の寒さが一番厳しい時期となり、この日から寒中見舞いを出し始めます。寒さのピークを迎える大寒を過ぎれば、今年の春の本格的な幕開けです。この寒さを凌ぎ、コロナ禍、インフルエンザを克服して、新しい春を迎えたいものです。