二十四节气之立冬和小雪
The 24 Solar Terms: Lidong and Xiaoxue
（本文转载自《孔子学院》中英双语版（甘肃刊）2024年第4期/总第86期）
Lidong
立冬
每年的公历11月7～8日，我们会迎来立冬这一节气。立冬是二十四节气中的第19个节气，也是冬季的第一个节气，寓意着冬天的开始。
Every year, on November 7th to 8th of the Gregorian calendar, we usher in the solar term known as Lidong, or the Beginning of Winter. It is the 19th of the 24 solar terms and marks the beginning of winter.
《说文解字》中将“冬”字解释为“四时尽也”，即把冬季看作一年四个季节的终点。立冬时节的到来，敲响了“万物收藏”的第一声钟响。
In Shuowen Jiezi (Origin of Chinese Characters), the Chinese dictionary compiled during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the character for “winter” is interpreted as “the end of the four seasons,” which positions winter as the culminating point of the year’s seasonal progression. The arrival of Lidong signals the first chime for the “harvesting of all things.”
立冬，是“迎冬”的时节。据《吕氏春秋》记载，中国古代帝王为迎接冬日的降临，会率一众官员在北郊举行隆重的祭祀仪式，同时犒赏将士，抚恤孤寡。
Lidong is a time to “welcome the winter.” According to the Lüshi Chunqiu (Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals)1, ancient Chinese emperors would preside over a grand ceremony in the northern outskirts2 to herald the arrival of winter, an event that included the rewarding of soldiers and the provision of solace to the elderly and widowed.
立冬，也是“贺冬”的时节。自汉代以来，到了立冬时节，男男女女都会换上新衣，拜访老师与长辈，彼此相揖，恭贺冬天的到来。因此，“贺冬”又称为“拜冬”。
It is also a time for “celebrating the winter.” Since the Han Dynasty, it has become a tradition for people to put on new clothes during this time of year to visit their teachers and elders, exchanging bows and greetings to honor the advent of winter. Thus, “celebrating the winter” is also referred to as “paying respects to the winter.”
1.An encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BC under the patronage of late Qin state Chancellor Lü Buwei.
2 One of ancient emperors’ places for sacriffces.
“卜冬”，是古代人应用智慧根据立冬当日的天气来推测一整个冬天的气候。民间流传着这样的说法：“立冬晴，一冬凌；立冬阴，一冬温。”——如果立冬当日天气晴朗，则随后的整个冬天将会非常寒冷；如果立冬当日阴雨连绵，则预示着将会迎来一个相对暖和的冬天。
“Divining the winter” is an ancient practice of predicting the climate for the entire winter based on the weather on the day of Lidong. A popular saying goes: “If the Beginning of Winter is clear, the whole winter will be harsh; if the Beginning of Winter is cloudy, the whole winter will be mild.” This means that if the weather is sunny on the day of Lidong, the subsequent winter is expected to be very cold; if it is overcast and rainy, a relatively warm winter is probably ahead.
时至今日，许多习俗渐渐湮灭在历史的长河中，但 “补冬”的习惯依然在中国人的现代生活中得以保留。当寒冷的冬季来临，人们往往倾向于摄入食物来补充能量，抵御严寒。
Many customs have faded into the annals of history, but the habit of “nourishing the winter” remains a part of modern Chinese life. As the cold season approaches, people tend to consume more food to replenish energy and withstand the cold.
在中国北方，人们有吃饺子的习俗。饺子两端尖尖翘翘，中间圆圆鼓鼓，状似耳朵，因此也有别称 “娇耳”。人们认为，吃了饺子，冬天耳朵就不会受冻。
In northern China, there is a custom of eating dumplings. With their pointed ends and plump middles, dumplings resemble ears, hence the nickname “pretty ears.” The local people believe that eating dumplings will keep one’s ears from freezing in the winter.
在南方，立冬时节是酿造黄酒的佳期。冬天的低温不仅能使酒液在长时间的发酵中形成良好的风味，还能抑制杂菌，使黄酒入口更加清冽，而黄酒温和的性质更有助于人们驱散体内寒气。
In the south, Lidong is an excellent time for brewing rice wine. The low temperatures of winter not only allow the wine to develop a fine flavor through prolonged fermentation, but also inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, resulting in a more refreshing rice wine. The mild nature of rice wine also helps to dispel the internal coldness of the body.
中国唐代《立冬》一诗中描写了这样的景象：
A Tang Dynasty poem titled “The Beginning of Winter” depicts such a lovely winter scene:
冻笔新诗懒写，
寒炉美酒时温。
醉看墨花月白，
恍疑雪满前村。
The frozen brush is reluctant to write new verses;
But the warm wine by the cold stove feels just right.
Drunkenly watching the ink flowers under the moon’s glow,
I vaguely see the village ahead covered in snow.
立冬时节天气寒冷，毛笔的笔头都被冻结，这使诗人暂且搁置了写诗的念头，偷闲饮酒。火炉上时常温着美酒，诗人在半醉半醒间注视着附着于砚石的黑色墨渍与倒映在砚石上的白色月光，恍惚间好像看到了大雪落满山村。
In the chill of Lidong, the ink on the brush freezes, prompting the poet to put aside the urge to compose verses and steal a moment to indulge in wine. A fine brew warms over the stove, and in a state between drunkenness and sobriety, the poet gazes at the black ink stains clinging to the inkstone and the white moonlight reflected upon it. In a trance, it seems as if a heavy snowfall blankets the village.
自古以来，中国人在立冬时节的习俗—— 无论是迎冬、贺冬，还是卜冬、补冬——都体现了对自然的敬畏之情和对生活的热爱之心。
Since ancient times, the customs of Lidong in China — whether it be welcoming the winter, celebrating the winter,divining the winter, or nourishing the winter — have all reflected a reverence for nature and a love for life.
小
雪
Xiaoxue
每年的公历11月22或23日，我们会迎来小雪这一节气，这是一年中的第20个节气。尽管名为“小雪”，但并非意味着此时一定会下雪，因为天气还未变得特别寒冷，降水量也相对不大，所以这个名称更多的是象征性的描述。小雪时节后，天气便愈发寒冷，降水也开始增多。
Every year, on November 22nd or 23rd, we welcome Xiaoxue, or Minor Snow, the 20th of the 24 solar terms. Despite its name, snow does not necessarily fall on this day, as the weather is not yet particularly cold, and the amount of precipitation is still relatively small. Thus, the name is more of a symbolic description. It is after Xiaoxue that the temperature starts to fall, and precipitation begins to increase.
雪给大自然涂上了一抹白。雪花无声飘落，古人或临江垂钓，“孤舟蓑笠翁，独钓寒江雪”；或赏雪评梅，“梅雪争春未肯降，骚人阁笔费评章”；或以雪烹茶，“闲来松间坐，看煮松上雪”；或邀友品酒，“晚来天欲雪，能饮一杯无”；或对雪吹笛，“雪照山城玉指寒，一声羌管怨楼间”。
During this time of year, snow paints nature with a touch of white. As snowflakes fall silently, people in ancient times might go fishing, as described by the Tang Dynasty poet Liu Zongyuan: A little boat, a bamboo cloak, An old man fishing in the cold riversnow1.
They might admire the snow and plum blossoms, as depicted in the lines of the Song Dynasty poet Lu Meipo: The mume blossoms and snow vie in announcing spring; A poet knows not in whose praises he should sing.2
They might make tea with boiled snow, as sketched by the Tang Dynasty poet Lu Guimeng: Sitting idly among the pines, I watch the snow on the pine being boiled.
They might invite friends over to drink wine, as portrayed in the words of the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi: At dusk it threatens snow. Won’t you come for a cup?3
Or they might play the flute to the snow, as vividly captured by the Song Dynasty poet Liu Zhu: Snow bathes the mountain city, chilling the jade-like fingers, A flute’s lament echoes through the storied towers.
1.Translated by American poet and translator Harold Witter Bynner.
2.Translated by Xu Yuanchong.
3.Translated by Xu Yuanchong.
雪也给人们的生活饮食带来了变化。小雪时节还未开始大量降水，干燥的天气让人们能够趁此机会腌制蔬菜和腊味。过去没有先进的蔬菜培育技术，人们便用腌制的方式来保存蔬菜。将蔬菜腌制后曝晒几日，食盐的咸味与日光的温暖形成了独特的风味。同样，肉类也能够通过腌制的方法保存。待到春节来临时，就有了肥而不腻的腊肠、腊肉与鱼干——过年餐桌上最受欢迎的美食之一。
Snow also brings changes to people’s diet and lifestyle. During Minor Snow, before the onset of heavy precipitation, the dry weather allows people to pickle vegetables and cure meats. In the past, without advanced vegetable cultivation techniques, people preserved vegetables through pickling. After pickling and a few days of sun exposure, the saltiness of the vegetables combined with the warmth of the sun would create a unique flavor. Similarly, meat can also be preserved by pickling, and become rich but not greasy sausages, cured meats, and dried fish, the most beloved dishes on the table of the Spring Festival.
俗话说：“ 小雪不见雪，来年长工歇。小雪雪满天，来年必丰年。”农民期盼着雪来，因为瑞雪兆丰年，雪寓意着来年的丰收。
As the saying goes: “If Minor Snow brings no snow, the laborers will rest the following year; if Minor Snow fills the sky with snow, the following year will surely see a bumper harvest.” Farmers look forward to snow because a good snowfall is a harbinger of a bountiful year.
在这冰天雪地的国度中，唯有腊梅勘破这季节交替的奥秘，感受到了早春脚步的到 来。这一切都源于小雪时节为大地带来的盎然生机。
During this season of ice and snow, it seems that only the wintersweet knows the secret of the changing seasons. It stands as the herald, ever the first to unfurl its blossoms and proclaim the imminent arrival of the spring. All of this stems from the vibrant vitality that Lidong brings to the earth.
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