用英语讲好中国故事｜二十四节气-小雪Minor Snow_Light_the

November 22nd or 23rd ushers in Xiaoxue or Light Snow in English the twentieth solar term when it begins to snow lightly. In the north, there is a saying “If it snows during Light Snow, there will be a good harvest next year.” Light snow now is welcomed in an agricultural country like China. Falling snow can trap and kill pests, while melted snow can provide moisture to soil making sure of a rich harvest nest year.

每年11月22或23日是第二十个节气——小雪，此时雪量不大，故称小雪。北方谚语有云：“小雪雪满天，来年必丰年。”小雪飘雪花在农业生产大国的中国是农民们最为期盼的。冰雪冻死害虫，雪水滋养土壤，确保来年丰收。

For hundreds of years, Light Snow has lent itself to beautiful poetry and soulful songs. It has become entrenched in daily life too. China is a vast country with a vast territory and abundant resources. Chinese people like to eat with gusto. The arrival of Light Snow heralds another set of festivities where people follow eating customs to welcome the cold. When Light Snow comes knocking at your door, pour out good liquor. The Chinese have made liquor as early as in the Xia Dynasty. Light Snow Liquor is a special term for that brewed during Light Snow. At this time, spring water is the clearest so the liquor brewed is clear and tasty. A pot of hot liquor in cold winter your stomach will be warmed.

千百年来，小雪不仅飘进了文人墨客的诗词歌赋里，也浸润着人们的日常生活。中国幅员辽阔，地大物博。中国人爱吃、会吃。每逢小雪飘落，人们会用各种习俗来迎“寒”。小雪到，美酒酿。早在夏朝，中国人就开始酿酒。小雪时节的酒被称为“小雪酒”。此时，泉水清澈，酿出的酒色清味醇。天寒地冻，一壶热酒，暖身暖胃。

When Light Snow is coming, lay bacon on the table. After the snow, the temperature drops sharply and the weather becomes dry which is a good time for processing bacon. During Light Snow, farmers are to prepare sausages and bacon. After a wait of two months, they can enjoy the delicious food during Spring Festival. Snow sprinkling outside and the fragrant aroma of bacon floating around families gather in warm home enjoying their happy reunion. When Light Snow is approaching, prepare rice cakes. In South China, Hakka people follow the tradition of eating sticky rice cakes. In ancient times, farmers offered sticky rice to the God of Cattle to pray for a good harvest next year. Light Snow reminds you it’s time to dry fish. Fishermen living by the sea begin to dry their fish for the winter. In the winter sunshine, the neat arrangement of dried, salted fish is a vivid portrayal of the early winter by the sea. Light Snow reminds you it’s time for a pork feast. Before and after Light Snow, Tujia community caries out the annual tradition of slaying pigs and welcoming New Year. Farmers use their best fresh pork to cook up a pork feast. Neighbors are invited and gathered together to have a good time.

小雪到，腊肉腌。霁雪初晴，气温骤降，气候干燥，正是加工腊肉的最佳时节。小雪后，农家开始制作香肠、腊肉。两个月后，春节到来，就能享受美食了。窗外飞雪漫天，屋内腊肉飘香，家人团圆、共享天伦。小雪到，糍粑烧。中国南方客家人有小雪吃糍粑的习俗。古代，糍粑是祭祀牛神的供品，祈祷风调雨顺、粮食丰收。小雪到，干鱼晒。此时，海边的渔民开始晒制雨，储备过冬。温暖的阳光下，整体排列的咸鱼是海边初冬的一副生的景象。小雪到，食刨汤。小雪前后，土家族“杀年猪，迎新年”大戏上演。上等的新鲜猪肉、精心烹饪的刨汤，邻里乡亲，齐聚共享，其乐融融。

Food for the Chinese is as therapeutic for the soul as it is for their palate. During Light Snow, people prefer to eat beef and mutton to keep their bodies and souls warm. A gloomy and bleak winter may lead to depression. So the Chinese prefer to eat spinach, soybean, greens, kiwifruit and other foods rich in folic acid to relieve symptoms of depression. Eating these so-called “warming food” helps people enjoy winter.

中国人的美食不仅要色香味俱全，还要有益健康。小雪时节，食用牛羊肉等，不但能暖身，还能暖心。阴雨萧瑟的冬天很容易让人心情低落，这时，食用菠菜、黄豆、青菜、猕猴桃等富含叶酸的食物可以调节心情、缓解抑郁。正所谓，食暖不畏冬寒。

一

节气介绍

Introduction

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Snow, is the 20th solar term of the year.

中国传统农历将一年分为了二十四节气。小雪，是第二十个节气。

Minor Snow refers to the time when it starts to snow, mostly in China’s northern areas, and the temperature continues to drop.

小雪是指雪季即将到来，这主要会出现在中国北方地区，气温也会持续下降。

二

节气特征

Features

The temperature in most areas in the north drops to zero degrees and below. Meanwhile, in the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River, the average time of the first snow falls during the Minor Snow. The snow is light and frozen at night, but melts quickly during the day.

小雪时节，北方大部分地区气温降至零度或零度以下。与此同时，黄河中下游地区的平均初雪时间也是在这个时候。小雪节气的雪量不大，夜间会凝结起来，但到了白天则会很快消融。

三

传统习俗

Traditions

On this day of Minor Snow, we have many traditional Chinese customs, now let me introduce it for you.

在小雪的这一天，我们有很多中国传统习俗，现在让我为大家介绍一下。

The first one is drinking soup. The second one is eating glutinous rice cake, the last one is making preserved pork.

第一个是喝汤。第二个是吃糍粑，最后是做腊肉。

四

节气养生

Regimen

Avoiding spicy food

On cold days, people may want to eat some hot and spicy food to keep warm. Experts say it’s wise not to eat overly spicy food, since that will increase your inner heat.

在冷天，人们有时想吃一些又热又辣的食物来保暖。但是专家提醒，冬季不应该吃过于辛辣的食物，可能会加重人体的内火。