Things I didn't do early on: follow the solar terms

The 24 solar terms are a traditional East Asian system that divides the year into finely tuned seasonal markers based on the sun’s position along the ecliptic. Rather than relying on temperature or weather, each term reflects an astronomical moment that signals shifts in nature—when winds change, when insects stir, when planting should begin, or when harvest approaches.

Originating in ancient China and later woven deeply into Japanese culture, the system acts as a seasonal calendar of lived experience, capturing subtle transitions like the first spring thaw, the peak of summer heat, or the crisp clarity of early autumn. Even today, these terms shape festivals, farming rhythms, and the poetic language used to describe the changing year.

I did not follow the solar terms in my early years in Japan. In truth, I did not know about them. Ironically, I had heard of the 72 micro seasons, of which the 24 solar terms are the main framework. I've got the 24 solar terms down at this stage, but I still don't know all the 72 micro seasons. That is one of the goals I have set myself for 2026 - learn more about the micro seasons.

Do you follow the solar terms and / or micro seasons?