What are the traditional cultural elements in the Beijing Winter Olympics?

The traditional cultural elements in the Beijing Winter Olympics include the twenty-four solar terms, a drop of water turning into ice, snowflake guidance signs, "welcome" masks, and tiger head hats.

1. "Twenty-four solar terms": In the ancient Chinese calendar, each month is divided into two "solar terms". Each "solar term" has its own name and characteristics. The "twenty-four solar terms" in a year "Varies. The "Twenty-Four Solar Terms" were gradually formed by ancient Chinese ancestors through long-term observation of the changing patterns of animals, plants, weather, natural environment, etc. in the process of getting along with nature. The Chinese used it to guide agricultural production and daily life. .

The Winter Olympics in Beijing is the 24th Winter Olympics in history. The opening day of the Winter Olympics coincides with the "beginning of spring" among the "24 solar terms" and is also the first of the "24 solar terms" in a year. The "twenty-four solar terms" represent the cycle of time in a year, and also represent the way people get along with nature and the world. Using them to countdown reflects the Chinese people's understanding of time. The opening of the Winter Olympics on the "beginning of spring" day also means that friends from all over the world will welcome a new spring together.

Since its birth, the solar term "Beginning of Spring" has been a festival to celebrate the coming of spring in the season of ice and snow. A freezing day is named the starting point of spring because the Chinese believe that new life often breeds in extreme cold.

2. A drop of water turns into ice. A drop of ice-blue ink fell from the sky, transformed into the water of the Yellow River, and poured down. The artistic conception of the whole picture comes from the ancient Chinese poem "The water of the Yellow River comes from the sky", which is a romantic imagination and praise of China's mother river. The rolling waves finally condensed into a crystal clear world of ice and snow, which seemed to have frozen time.

The "Chinese Door" and "Chinese Window" carved in ice and snow that the athletes walked through are all based on classic traditional door and window patterns from all over China. The "China Gate" that the athletes walked through means that the Chinese people open their doors and welcome friends from all over the world to gather for the Winter Olympics. The "Chinese Window" at the feet of the athletes shows the great rivers, mountains and natural landscapes across China, expressing the beautiful intention of "opening the window to see China".

3. Snowflake guidance card. According to the "Opening Ceremony Media Guide" and in accordance with the design concept of "a snowflake" throughout, the guide board held by the usher adopts the shape of a luminous snowflake. The design is inspired by the "Chinese Knot" pattern. Chinese knot is an ancient Chinese hand-knitting craft. A knot is woven with one thread from beginning to end, implying unity and good luck.

4. "Welcome" masks. According to the "Opening Ceremony Media Guide", the costumes of the pacesetters at the entrance ceremony adopted folk paper-cut patterns from Yu County, Hebei Province, highlighting the joy and auspiciousness of the Chinese New Year. The words "Welcome" are printed in Chinese and English on the masks worn by the pacesetters.

5. Tiger head hat. According to the "Opening Ceremony Media Guide", the costume design of the ushers adopts the style of ice and snow patterns and Chinese traditional painting. It is worth mentioning that the hats worn by all the guides adopt the traditional tiger head pattern from Hebei folk. 2022 is the "Year of the Tiger" in the Chinese lunar calendar. Traditionally, people are accustomed to wearing tiger head hats for their children in the Year of the Tiger.