“Biting” the autumn

The day before the commencement of autumn, people in Qinhuai area would eat water melons, which is called “Biting” the autumn. It is improper to eat water melons after the commencement of autumn since eating them after this day would be harmful to health, as it is said. “Biting” the autumn stands for saying good-bye to water melons and welcoming autumn. After autumn starts, it is no good to sleep in the open air. The custom of “Biting” the autumn is still kept nowadays. Thanks to developed transportation, water melons in Hainan province can even be transported to Nanjing in winter, making water melons available all the year round.