大寒

Cold current 寒流来袭

 

During Major Cold, as the cold current moves southward, the weather is very cold. Although modern meteorological observation shows that in some regions of China the weather during Major Cold is not colder than Minor¹ Cold, the lowest temperatures of the whole year still occur in the Major Cold period in some coastal² areas.

在大寒期间，随着寒流一路向南，天气会变得非常寒冷。尽管现代气象观测显示，在中国的某些地区，大寒期间的天气并不比小寒更冷，但是在一些沿海地区，全年最低气温仍然出现在大寒期间。

 

Eating "dispelling³ cold cake" 吃“消寒糕”

 

During Major Cold, People in Beijing have a habit of eating "dispelling cold cake", a kind of rice cake. In Chinese the word "rice cake" has the same pronunciation with the word "higher in a new year", which symbolizes⁴ good luck and continual promotion⁵.

在大寒节气，北京人有吃“消寒糕”的习俗。汉语中的“年糕”与“年高”发音相同，因此象征着好运气和不断高升。

 

Buying sesame straw 买芝麻杆

 

Major Cold always coincides with the end of the year in the lunar calendar. In some areas of China, people always fall over each other in eagerness to buy sesame straw during this period because of the old saying, "Rise joint⁶ by joint like sesame flowers on the stem." This saying is used to describe either ever-rising living standards or making steady progress in thought, studies or skills.

大寒节气恰逢农历岁末。在中国的部分地区，这个时候人们会争相购买芝麻杆，因为老话有云：“芝麻开花节节高。”这句俗语寓意生活水平不断提高或思想、学业、技能稳步前进。

 

Eating fried spring rolls 吃炸春卷

 

In Anqing of Anhui province, people traditionally eat fried spring rolls during Major Cold. The stuffing inside the spring roll contains meat or vegetables and the flavor can be salty or sweet.

在安徽安庆，大寒节气有吃炸春卷的传统。春卷里包着菜肉等馅料，口味可咸可甜。

 

Drinking stewed⁸ soup 喝汤

 

Residents in Nanjing of Jiangsu province like to drink stewed soup during Major Cold. They always stew⁷ the aged⁹ hen soup with ginseng, matrimony vine and black fungus¹⁰.

江苏南京人喜欢在大寒时节喝汤。他们通常炖老母鸡汤，加入人参、枸杞和黑木耳。

 

Doing winter sports 开展冬季运动

 

In various regions of China, Major Cold is the perfect time for winter sports such as skiing, ice skating and sledding.

在中国各地，大寒是开展滑雪、滑冰、滑雪橇等冬季运动的最佳时节。

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