信息来源： 发布日期: 2023-11-08 浏览次数:

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Start of Winter, or Lidong in Chinese, is the 19th of China's 24 solar terms and the first for the winter.

立冬，中国二十四节气中第十九个节气，也是冬季的第一个节气。

立冬为什么叫“Start of Winter”，而不是“Beginning of Winter”。

有一种解释是这样的，start和beginning是近义词，但start “has the sense of being a fixed point in time(指时间上某个固定的点)”，而beginning “could possibly refer to any time between the start and the halfway point(可以指从起点到中点之间的任何时间)”。

立冬、立春、立夏、立秋，都是节气中固定的时间点，所以用start更合适。

It usually occurs on November 7-8 when the sun’s elliptical longitude reaches 225 degrees leading to decreasing solar radiation in the northern hemisphere. The surface temperature stays warm on sunny days, yet cold spells regularly hit the country with winds from the north that are often accompanied by rain and snows.

立冬的日期通常在每年11月7日至8日，此时太阳黄经达到225度，导致北半球的日照减少。在晴天，地表温度能保持温暖，然而寒冷气候常伴随着来自北方的风，裹挟着雨雪袭击我国。

Just as its name indicates, Start of Winter declares the beginning of winter in Chinese culture, yet not necessarily the meteorological winter.

正如其名称所示，在中国文化中，立冬宣告冬天的开始，但不一定是气象意义中的冬天。

A Chinese proverb describes the days after Start of Winter as the “three periods of waiting” — waiting for the water to turn ice, waiting for the earth to freeze, and waiting for the pheasants to disappear and big clam of similar colors to show up at the seaside.

中国谚语将立冬后的物候变化描述为“三候”—— 一候，水始冰；二候，地始冻；三候，雉入大水为蜃。

Worshiping ancestors

祭祀

Start of Winter used to be a big day in China. The emperor would fast for three days before its arrival and then lead a procession of officials in black dresses, black accessories, horses and flags to the suburban regions. They would perform big rituals to welcome the arrival of Winter God.

立冬在中国曾经是一个重要的日子。皇帝会在立冬到来前斋戒三天，然后带领一队身着黑色衣冠、骑着黑色骏马、擎着黑色旗帜的官员前往远郊，举行大型祭祀仪式迎接冬神的到来。

The emperor would also honor heroes who sacrificed themselves for the nation, comfort and compensate their families, pray for protection for their spirit and encourage the people to always defend the nation.

皇帝还会缅怀为国牺牲的英雄，安抚补偿烈士家属，祈求上苍保佑烈士们的魂灵，激励人民永远为国而战。

In Liaoning Province where there is a big number of Manchu residents, ancestor-worshiping rituals are held annually.

在满族人口众多的辽宁省，每年立冬这天，都会举行祭祖仪式。

Dancers dressed up as Tiger God perform in and outside the house, on the roofs, ladders and house beams.

舞者装扮成虎神，在房子内外、屋顶、梯子和房梁上表演。

Rich Manchu families with high social status cook three pigs to worship heaven, ancestors and one particular goddess; middle-class families cook 21 chickens, while ordinary households cook seven chickens.

富裕的满族贵族家庭会宰杀三口猪，分别用来祭天、祭祖、祭“歪梨娘娘”。中产阶级家庭会宰杀21只鸡，而普通家庭则会宰杀7只鸡。

Eating rich food for winter

补冬

To keep the body warm and strong in the winter cold, many people would eat foods with rich proteins, chicken, duck, fish and meat are especially popular.

为了在寒冷的冬天里让身体保持温暖、强壮，人们会多吃富含蛋白质的食物，鸡、鸭、鱼、肉尤其受欢迎。

The rich food would often be cooked along with herbs like angelica, ligusticum, peony and radix rehmanniae.

这些营养丰富的食物通常与当归、川芎、牡丹皮和生地黄等草药一起烹饪。

Mutton pot is in huge demand in many regions in China around Start of Winter. People in north China have a tradition of eating dumplings.

立冬前后，羊肉火锅在中国许多地区的需求量都很大。中国北方人有立冬吃饺子的传统。

In Yangtze River Delta region, people stuff themselves with sticky rice ball filled with sweet bean paste, turnip, lard oil and soy sauce.

在长三角地区，人们会吃包着豆沙、萝卜、猪油和酱油的糯米团子。

In Chaoshan, Guangdong Province, people believe that eating sugarcane on Start of Winter can protect teeth and reinforce body.

在广东潮汕，人们认为立冬吃甘蔗可以保护牙齿，使身体强壮。

Making winter wine

酿冬酒

Start of Winter is a good day to start making yellow wine in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, as the water is usually clearer around this time while the low temperature restricts the growth of germs — perfect for the flavor during the fermenting process.

立冬是浙江绍兴人开始酿造黄酒的好日子，因为此时水更清澈，同时低温限制了细菌的生长——是酿造美味的绝佳时机。