All 24 solar terms · 23/24
Minor Cold 小寒 · Xiǎohán
Despite the name, often the coldest stretch of the year in much of China. The Laba festival (12th month, 8th day) usually falls near this term.
- Longitude of the Sun285°
- Jie / ZhongqiJie (节), a sectional term: it begins a month of the Four Pillars
- Sekki小寒 shōkan
Minor Cold: when it begins, 2026 to 2031
| 2026 | 5 January 2026, 16:23 | 5 January, 08:23 UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 5 January 2027, 22:10 | 5 January, 14:10 UTC |
| 2028 | 6 January 2028, 03:54 | 5 January, 19:54 UTC |
| 2029 | 5 January 2029, 09:42 | 5 January, 01:42 UTC |
| 2030 | 5 January 2030, 15:30 | 5 January, 07:30 UTC |
| 2031 | 5 January 2031, 21:23 | 5 January, 13:23 UTC |
Its three kō in Japan
- 芹乃栄 seri sunawachi sakau: Water dropwort flourishes · 5 January 2027
- 水泉動 shimizu atataka o fukumu: Springs thaw · 10 January 2027
- 雉始雊 kiji hajimete naku: Pheasants start to call · 15 January 2027
Calculated from the Sun's apparent position (PyEphem), to about a minute. Names, meanings and customs after the Hong Kong Observatory, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and UNESCO.