Describing the way of life among Chinese farmers 3,000 years ago, the Pinfeng chapter of the Book of Odes relates: "In July, the gourds are in abundant supply, but by August, the season is over."
詩經豳風篇「七月」一文，描述約三千年前中國農民生活的情形，其中提到「七月食瓜、八月斷壺」。