24节气之立秋：有关立秋习俗你知道多少？

  The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Autumn, the 13th solar term of the year, begins this year on Aug 7 and ends on Aug 22.

  中国传统的农历将一年分为24个节气，其中立秋是一年中第13个节气，今年的立秋从8月7日开始，至8月22日结束。

  Start of Autumn reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The fruitful season is approaching.

  立秋预示着夏季的结束和秋季的开始，硕果金秋即将到来。

  In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. But solar term culture is still useful today to guide people’s lives through special foods, cultural ceremonies and even healthy living tips that correspond with each term.

  在中国，24节气是数千年前指导人们农业生产的金科玉律。然而即使在现代，节气文化也依然通过与每个节气相对应的特殊食物、文化仪式、以及健康生活指南指导着人们的生活。

  The following are 9 things you should know about Start of Autumn.

  以下就是关于立秋你可能不知道的9件事。

  "Autumn Tiger"

  一、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.

  虽然立秋预示着秋天的开始，但是炎热的天气还远没有结束。立秋过后，炎热的天气通常还会再持续30天，这段时间被称之为“秋老虎”，北美人称之为“印第安夏”。这一段时间甚至会比大暑还要热。

  Fleshing out in autumn

  二、贴秋膘

  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.

  在立秋第一天，人们通常会称自己的体重，和立夏时的体重作比较。如果在夏天体重下降了，那么秋天开始的时候，人们就会吃许多美味的食物来进补，特别是肉食。

  Gathering crops

  三、秋收

  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."

  对于农民来说，立秋是一个非常重要的节气——收庄稼的时候到了!有句谚语说得好“立秋下雨万物收”，即是说立秋如果下雨就会有好收成。

  Eating peaches

  四、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.

  在杭州，人们有在立秋当天吃桃子的习俗。吃完桃子之后，桃核会一直保存到除夕，然后扔进炉子里烧成灰。人们相信这样可以全年预防瘟疫。

  Eating longans

  五、吃桂圆

  The Start of Autumn period is harvest time for Taiwan longan. People believe that eating longan will help their descendants become senior officials.

  立秋是台湾桂圆丰收的时节。人们认为吃桂圆可以帮助子孙后代当大官。

  Eating dumplings

  六、吃饺子

  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.

  在山东，人们会在立秋包饺子吃，这被称为“咬秋”。在立秋那天，家里的老人会站在屋子中间，守着一碗麦片粥，祈求秋天丰收。立秋过后，大多数家庭都会在一起吃饺子。

  Eating red beans

  七、吃红豆

  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.

  从唐宋两朝开始，浙江义乌的人们就有了在立秋吃红豆的习俗。他们会拿出7到14颗小红豆，用井水服用。据说在吃红豆时，人们必须面朝西边，以免在秋天的时候患上痢疾。

  Eating gourds

  八、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 Tianjing 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.

  清朝时，人们会在立秋前一天在屋子外面挂一根瓜，然后在立秋当天吃掉，从而祛除夏季的酷暑。现在天津的人们仍然保留有这一习俗，认为吃丝瓜、冬瓜、苦瓜等食物可以预防秋冬春季腹泻。

  "Touching Autumn"

  九、“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.

  江苏盐城北部地区有一个“摸秋”的习俗。在立秋前一天晚上，人们可以在公共或私人果园里随意摘取各种水果，而无论损失多少主人都不会生气。有些果园主人甚至还会专门为晚上来摸秋的客人准备许多成熟的水果。

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