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Daeseol means heavy snow, the term once thought to bring the most snowfall of the year. Winter deepens.
Daeseol, around December 7, is when snow piles up—though actual snowfall varies by region.
Deep-winter cold continues and farm work ends, giving way to a season of rest. Snow piling on the barley fields was seen as a sign of a good harvest.
Indoors, people twisted straw rope and mended tools to prepare for the next year. They fermented meju and enjoyed winter delicacies.
Daeseol (Greater Snow) begins when the Sun reaches 255° of ecliptic longitude, fifteen degrees before the winter solstice point. · First pentad, 鶡鴠不鳴 — the heduan bird stops calling. · Second pentad, 虎始交 — tigers begin to mate. · Third pentad, 荔挺出 — the li (荔) plant pushes up its shoots. The heduan was said to call through the night waiting for dawn, and when the cold reached its extreme even that cry stopped. The second and third pentads say that preparations for new life are already under way in the dead of winter. Traditional commentary explained that as yin approaches its peak, yang begins to stir; the tiger senses it and seeks a mate, and the plant begins to sprout. The 荔 of the third pentad is not the lychee (荔枝) but is glossed as malin (馬藺), a plant of the iris family. In Korea, despite the name 'Greater Snow', many years see no heavy snowfall at this point, so reading Daeseol's pentads as a movement from stillness to preparation suits the Korean winter better.
Daeseol is when maesaengi, a fine seaweed from the south coast, begins to come in. It is usually cooked with oysters as maesaengi-gulguk; the soup gives off little visible steam, so it is easy to burn your mouth without realising how hot it is. Winter spinach grown in open fields, sweet with red-tinged roots, starts to taste its best from now, and on the east coast the snow-crab (daege) season reopens. Many local governments have ordinances making building occupants responsible for clearing snow from the pavement in front of homes and shops, so have a snow shovel and de-icing salt ready by Daeseol. For the car, check the antifreeze concentration and the battery, and if you often drive on snowy roads, fit winter tyres or keep chains on hand by around now.
| Year | Begins at |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Dec 7, 00:17 |
| 2025 | Dec 7, 06:05 |
| 2026 this year | Dec 7, 11:53 |
| 2027 | Dec 7, 17:38 |
| 2028 | Dec 6, 23:25 |
Greater Snow is one of the twelve jeol (節) that switch the month pillar in Korean Four Pillars astrology. In 2026 the 子 month begins at Dec 7, 11:53. Anyone born before that moment carries the previous branch; anyone born after carries 子.
If your birthday falls near a solar term, the date alone does not settle your month pillar — you need the time of birth as well.
Taking Greater Snow alone: it fell at Dec 7, 06:05 in 2025 and at Dec 7, 11:53 in 2026 — roughly 5.8 hours later. The date jumps back a day in 2028 because that is a leap year, so February 29 falls before the term begins.
By longitude, Greater Snow sits at 255° and the next term Winter Solstice at 270° — about 15 days apart.
Prepare for heavy snow and icy roads
A season for indoor activity and rest
Enjoy warm, hearty broths
Begin wrapping up the year
Adjacent terms:
Explore related fortunes
Greater Snow is the 21st of the 24 solar terms, falling around December 7. Heavy snow falls. Winter deepens as the year winds down.
Daeseol means heavy snow, the term once thought to bring the most snowfall of the year. Winter deepens.
Prepare for heavy snow and icy roads A season for indoor activity and rest Enjoy warm, hearty broths Begin wrapping up the year