12月21日

“冬至知多少”：How Much Do You Know About Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice, one of the important solar terms in traditional Chinese festivals, usually falls between December 21 and 23 of the Gregorian calendar. It marks the beginning of a cold winter with the shortest days and the longest nights in the northern hemisphere.

冬至節(jié)，是中國傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日中的重要節(jié)氣之一，通常在公歷12月21日至23日之間。它標志著陽光直射南回，北半球白晝最短、黑夜最長，是寒冬的開始。

After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese,"Shu Jiu". In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each.

從冬至以后，中國的絕大部分地區(qū)都會經(jīng)歷最寒冷的時期，中國人叫它“數(shù)九”。這一共有九個時期，每個時期分別有九天。

這一天標志著氣候的顯著變化，古人對此非常重視，民間流傳“冬至大于年”的說法。

在古代農(nóng)耕社會中，人們在冬至這一天往往會舉行祭祀儀式，祈求來年農(nóng)作物的豐收和家族的安康。漢朝時，冬至成為冬天的節(jié)日，朝廷會舉行正式的慶?；顒?。這一天，百官和庶民都會停工歇息。

Today,Winter Solstice celebrations are reflected in various culinary customs across northern and southern China. This tradition has led to the common practice of eating dumplings or wontons on the Winter Solstice in northern China. In contrast, southern Chinese communities prefer sweet dumplings, rice balls, and long noodles to express their good wishes for the coming year.

如今，冬至的慶?；顒又饕w現(xiàn)在中國南北方地區(qū)各不相同的飲食習俗上。在冬至這一天，北方地區(qū)的人們在冬至時普遍吃餃子或餛飩。而南方人則更喜歡吃甜湯圓、米團和長線面，以表達對來年的美好祝愿。

“冬至習俗要知曉”：Get to Know the Customs of Winter Solstice

1.Eating dumplings and rice balls(tangyuan）吃餃子和湯圓

During Winter Solstice in North China, eating dumplings is essentia to the festival.In South China, people eat rice balls (tangyuan), a kind of stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous rice flour, to celebrate Winter Solstice.

冬至日，在中國北方，吃餃子是必不可少的。在中國南方，人們一般習慣吃湯圓，一種用糯米粉做成的有餡的小湯圓，以慶祝冬至。

2.Eating rice cakes 吃年糕

During the Winter Solstice,Hangzhou residents traditionally eatrice cakes.In the past, before the approach of the winter solstice, every household would make the cakes to worship their ancestors or use as gifts for relatives and friends.

冬至期間，杭州人傳統(tǒng)上會吃年糕。在過去，冬至前，家家戶戶都會制作年糕來祭祖或作為禮物送給親友。

3.Drinking mutton soup 喝羊肉湯

The custom of drinking mutton soup originated in Sichuan province.On this day, people would worship ancestors and younger members of the family would greet elders with wishes. Mutton is part of the offerings and gifts, to celebrate this solar term.

冬至喝羊肉湯的習俗最早源于四川。在這天，四川地區(qū)都習慣祭祖，而祭祖的食物中就有羊肉。此外這一天小輩也要給長輩送祝福，準備的禮物中也有羊肉，以此慶祝冬至的到來。