【育儿指南】小雪 The Minor Snow
| 11月22日 小雪 |
天地初寒小雪至 冬韵未满万物藏
The Traditional Chinese 24 Solar Terms
– Minor Snow –
“Minor Snow” is the second of the six winter solar terms. Around the time of Minor Snow the weather becomes cold and it begins to snow lightly . However, because the ground is not very cold yet, the snow will not stick to the ground.
The term “Light Snow” refers to a cold snap and increasing precipitation during this solar term. Like spring rain, valley rain and other solar terms, light snow is a solar term related to precipitation.
“小雪”是二十四节气中的第二十个。明代学人王象晋的名著《群芳谱》中有言:“小雪气寒而将雪矣,地寒未甚而雪未大也。”也就是说,小雪这个节气前后,由于天气变得寒冷,降雪也就开始了。但由于“地寒未甚”,所以这时的降雪还不会很大,故称“小雪”。
“小雪”的到来标志着:冷空气增强,气温迅速下降,降水出现雪花。
Three Periods of Minor Snow
小雪节气三候
In ancient times people divided each of the 24 solar terms into three periods lasting five days each. These periods were used to describe the climate changes characteristic of each solar term.
古人将二十四节气中的每个节气都等分为三,每五日为一候,从而以三候来描述每个节气的气候变化特点。
Period One: The temperature drops below freezing, the rain stops and it begins snowing lightly.
一候:虹藏不见
Period Two: The yang qi in the sky rises upwards, while the underground yin qi descends downward, which will cause them to be blocked and everything becoming silent.
二候:天腾地降
Period Three: Everything in heaven and earth enters a dormant state. Small animals do not come out much. Signs of winter are more discernable and the temperature is getting colder.
三候:闭塞而成冬
The customs of “Light Snow” Solar Term
小雪节气传统习俗
The Local Specialties
饮食习俗
Most of the traditional folk activities of “Light Snow” are related to winter.
In ancient times food was not as abundant during the winter as it is now. It was difficult to store food. In order to have enough meat and vegetables to get through the long winter, people devised methods of pickling and air drying both meats and vegetables – mainly cabbage and radishes. This enabled them to store food longer for consumption during the winter. Today this pickling method still exists and has become a local specialty.
小雪前后的民俗活动,大多和过冬有关。
在古代的冬季,食物种类没有现在丰富,也没有良好的食物存储条件。为了在漫长的冬季中有足够的菜和肉,人们发明了腌制食物的方法——将各类蔬菜(主要是白菜、萝卜)或者肉食腌制或者风干,尽可能地延长它们的存储时间,以备过冬时食用。如今,这种腌制的习俗还是保存了下来,并成为一些地方的特色美食。
Making Cured Bacon | 腌腊肉
民间有“冬腊风腌,蓄以御冬”的习俗。小雪后气温急剧下降,天气变得干燥,是加工腊肉的好时候。
Making Pickled Vegetables | 腌寒菜
东南沿海的浙江一带,有在小雪节气中腌菜的习俗,当地人称之为“腌寒菜”。
Eating Glutinous Rice Cake | 吃糍粑
在南方某些地方,还有农历十月吃糍粑的习俗。是中国南方一些地区流行的美食。
Dried Fish | 晒鱼干
小雪时,台湾中南部海边的渔民们会开始晒鱼干、储存干粮。到了农历十月可以捕到“豆仔鱼”。
Eating Pork Soup | 吃“刨汤”
刨汤宴:土家族在小雪前后,就有“杀年猪,迎新年”的习俗,有些类似狂欢节的性质。把刚刚宰杀的新鲜猪肉,按照土家族传统的烹饪方式做成“刨汤”,用来款待亲朋好友,非常的热闹。
Wine-making Customs
酿酒习俗
When the autumn harvest was over there was an abundance of food on hand. During the cold winter, drinking alcohol can help warm the body. Therefore, at the beginning of winter people would make sake to drink with family and friends.
秋收刚刚结束,人们手头粮食相对富裕。在寒冷的冬天,适当饮酒可暖和身子。因此,在刚入冬的时候,先人们会酿酒,并邀约亲朋好友共饮。
Preparing to Heat the Home
准备过冬的取暖设备
In ancient times people would begin to prepare their homes for winter around the time of the “Light Snow” solar term.
古时候为了冬日的取暖,人们会在小雪节气前后准备过冬的取暖设备。如铜香囊、铜手炉、铜制汤婆子。
Health Recommendations
小雪时节养生小妙招
Diet Tips
健康饮食
左滑查看英文 | Swipe left for English
Daily Care
日常护理
左滑查看英文 | Swipe left for English
Disease Prevention
疾病预防