評論
打印
24 Solar Terms: 9 things about Start of Autumn
立秋將至：關于立秋的9個小常識
The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Autumn, the 13th solar term of the year, begins this year on Aug 8 and ends on Aug 22.
中國傳統二十四節氣的第13個節氣是立秋。今年的立秋從8月8日開始，8月22日結束。
Start of Autumn reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The fruitful season is approaching.
立秋標志著夏天即將結束，秋天即將到來。秋天是果實豐碩的季節。
The following are 9 things you should know about Start of Autumn.
來看看關于立秋的9個小常識。
'Autumn Tiger'
秋老虎
Although Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather will not come to an end. The period of hot days after Start of Autumn, usually lasting for 30 days, is called "Autumn Tiger" or "Indian Summer." Because of decreasing precipitation, it is even more sweltering during this period than during Major Heat.
盡管立秋標志著秋天的開始，但是炎熱的天氣還不會結束。立秋后炎熱天氣還會持續30天，被稱為“秋老虎”。由于降水減少，秋老虎的天氣甚至比大暑期間更加悶熱。
Fleshing out in autumn
貼秋膘
On the first day of the Start of Autumn, usually people will weigh themselves and compare their weight to what it was at the Start of Summer. If one has lost weight during the summer, then at the beginning of autumn, he or she needs to flesh out by eating many different kinds of delicious food, especially meat.
立秋的第一天，人們通常會量一下體重，和立夏那天的體重做個對比。如果體重減輕了，那么在立秋這天就要吃各種美食佳肴尤其是肉來“貼膘”。
Gathering crops
收莊稼
Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops. There is a saying: "If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest is expected."
立秋對于農民而言是收莊稼的重要節氣。俗話說：“立秋有雨樣樣收。”
Eating peaches
吃桃子
In Hangzhou, people eat peaches on the Start of Autumn day. The peach stones are kept until New Year's Eve and thrown into the stove, burned into ash. People believed that in this way, plagues could be prevented for the whole year.
杭州人立秋這天要吃桃。人們會把桃核保存到除夕夜，扔進爐子燒成灰。人們相信這樣就能保佑接下來一年遠離瘟疫。
Eating longans
吃龍眼
The Start of Autumn period is harvest time for Taiwan longan. People believe that eating longan will help their descendants become senior officials.
立秋是臺灣省龍眼收獲的季節。人們相信吃了龍眼肉，后代就會成為大官。
Eating dumplings
吃餃子
In Shandong province, people make dumplings during the Start of Autumn, and they call it "Eating the Autumn". On the day of Start of Autumn, senior members of the family will stand in the middle of the hall, worshiping a bowl of cereal, and praying for the harvest in autumn. Most of the families will eat dumplings together after Start of Autumn day.
在山東，立秋的風俗是包餃子，老百姓都稱之為“咬秋”。立秋當天，年紀稍大的人會在堂屋正中供一只盛滿五谷雜糧的碗，祈求立秋過后五谷豐登。而大多數人家會在立秋時刻過后，全家人圍在一起吃餃子。
Eating red beans
吃紅豆
Starting from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279), people in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, have eaten red beans on Start of Autumn day. They take seven to 14 little beans, swallowing them with well water. When taking the beans, one must face west, it is said, so as not to get dysentery during the autumn.
從唐宋兩朝開始，浙江義烏的人們就有了在立秋吃紅豆的習俗。他們會拿出7到14顆小紅豆，用井水服用。據說在吃紅豆時，人們必須面朝西邊，以免在秋天的時候患上痢疾。
Eating gourds
吃瓜
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), people would put gourds outside for a day before the Start of Autumn, and eat them on Start of Autumn day to drive off the summer heat. Today people in Tianjin still keep this custom, believing that eating melons such as towel gourd, white gourd and bitter gourd can prevent diarrhea in autumn and the coming winter and spring.
清朝時，人們會在立秋前一天在屋子外面掛一根瓜，然后在立秋當天吃掉，從而祛除夏季的暑氣。現在天津人仍然保留著這一習俗，認為吃絲瓜、冬瓜、苦瓜等瓜類食物可以預防秋冬春季腹瀉。
'Touching Autumn'
“摸秋”
There is the custom of "Touching Autumn" in the northern part of Yancheng, Jiangsu province. On the eve of Start of Autumn, people can touch and take for free all kinds of fruits as they like in private or public gardens, and the owners will not be angry, no matter how much they lose. Many gardeners even leave some mellow fruits in the field on purpose for the guests during the night.
江蘇鹽城北部地區有一個“摸秋”的習俗。在立秋前一天晚上，人們可以在私人或集體的瓜園中摸回各種瓜果，而無論損失多少主人都不會生氣。有些瓜園主人甚至還會故意在地里為夜里來摸秋的客人留下一些成熟的瓜果。
（來源：中國日報網 編譯：丹妮）
本文轉載自中國日報網，如有侵權，請聯系我們刪除。
