每年的公歷11月7 ～ 8日，我們會(huì)迎來(lái)立冬這一節(jié)氣。立冬是二十四節(jié)氣中的第19個(gè)節(jié)氣，也是冬季的第一個(gè)節(jié)氣，寓意著冬天的開(kāi)始?！墩f(shuō)文解字》中將“冬”字解釋為“四時(shí)盡也”，即把冬季看作一年四個(gè)季節(jié)的終點(diǎn)。立冬時(shí)節(jié)的到來(lái)，敲響了“萬(wàn)物收藏”的第一聲鐘響。

Every year， on November 7th to 8th of theGregorian calendar， we usher in the solar termknown as Lidong， or the Beginning of Winter. Itis the 19th of the 24 solar terms and marks thebeginning of winter. In Shuowen Jiezi （Originof Chinese Characters）， the Chinese dictionarycompiled during the Eastern Han Dynasty， thecharacter for “winter” is interpreted as “the endof the four seasons，” which positions winteras the culminating point of the year’s seasonalprogression. The arrival of Lidong signals thefirst chime for the “harvesting of all things.”

立冬，是“迎冬”的時(shí)節(jié)。據(jù)《呂氏春秋》記載，中國(guó)古代帝王為迎接冬日的降臨，會(huì)率一眾官員在北郊舉行隆重的祭祀儀式，同時(shí)犒賞將士，撫恤孤寡。立冬，也是“賀冬”的時(shí)節(jié)。自漢代以來(lái)，到了立冬時(shí)節(jié)，男男女女都會(huì)換上新衣，拜訪(fǎng)老師與長(zhǎng)輩，彼此相揖，恭賀冬天的到來(lái)。因此，“賀冬”又稱(chēng)為“拜冬”。

Lidong is a time to “welcome the winter.”According to the Lüshi Chunqiu （Master Lü’sSpring and Autumn Annals）1， ancient Chineseemperors would preside over a grand ceremonyin the northern outskirts2 to herald the arrival ofwinter， an event that included the rewarding ofsoldiers and the provision of solace to the elderlyand widowed. It is also a time for “celebrating thewinter.” Since the Han Dynasty， it has becomea tradition for people to put on new clothesduring this time of year to visit their teachersand elders， exchanging bows and greetings tohonor the advent of winter. Thus， “celebratingthe winter” is also referred to as “paying respectsto the winter.”

“卜冬”，是古代人應(yīng)用智慧根據(jù)立冬當(dāng)日的天氣來(lái)推測(cè)一整個(gè)冬天的氣候。民間流傳著這樣的說(shuō)法：“ 立冬晴，一冬凌；立冬陰，一冬溫?！薄绻⒍?dāng)日天氣晴朗，則隨后的整個(gè)冬天將會(huì)非常寒冷；如果立冬當(dāng)日陰雨連綿，則預(yù)示著將會(huì)迎來(lái)一個(gè)相對(duì)暖和的冬天。

“Divining the winter” is an ancient practice ofpredicting the climate for the entire winter based onthe weather on the day of Lidong. A popular sayinggoes： “If the Beginning of Winter is clear， the wholewinter will be harsh; if the Beginning of Winter iscloudy， the whole winter will be mild.” This meansthat if the weather is sunny on the day of Lidong，the subsequent winter is expected to be very cold; ifit is overcast and rainy， a relatively warm winter isprobably ahead.

時(shí)至今日，許多習(xí)俗漸漸湮滅在歷史的長(zhǎng)河中，但“補(bǔ)冬”的習(xí)慣依然在中國(guó)人的現(xiàn)代生活中得以保留。當(dāng)寒冷的冬季來(lái)臨，人們往往傾向于攝入食物來(lái)補(bǔ)充能量，抵御嚴(yán)寒。在中國(guó)北方，人們有吃餃子的習(xí)俗。餃子兩端尖尖翹翹，中間圓圓鼓鼓，狀似耳朵，因此也有別稱(chēng)“嬌耳”。人們認(rèn)為，吃了餃子，冬天耳朵就不會(huì)受凍。在南方，立冬時(shí)節(jié)是釀造黃酒的佳期。冬天的低溫不僅能使酒液在長(zhǎng)時(shí)間的發(fā)酵中形成良好的風(fēng)味，還能抑制雜菌，使黃酒入口更加清冽，而黃酒溫和的性質(zhì)更有助于人們驅(qū)散體內(nèi)寒氣。

Many customs have faded into the annals ofhistory， but the habit of “nourishing the winter”remains a part of modern Chinese life. As the coldseason approaches， people tend to consume morefood to replenish energy and withstand the cold.In northern China， there is a custom of eatingdumplings. With their pointed ends and plumpmiddles， dumplings resemble ears， hence thenickname “pretty ears.” The local people believe thateating dumplings will keep one’s ears from freezingin the winter. In the south， Lidong is an excellenttime for brewing rice wine. The low temperaturesof winter not only allow the wine to develop a fineflavor through prolonged fermentation， but alsoinhibit the growth of harmful bacteria， resulting ina more refreshing rice wine. The mild nature of ricewine also helps to dispel the internal coldness of thebody.

中國(guó)唐代《立冬》一詩(shī)中描寫(xiě)了這樣的景象：

A Tang Dynasty poem titled “TheBeginning of Winter” depicts such a lovelywinter scene：

凍筆新詩(shī)懶寫(xiě)，

寒爐美酒時(shí)溫。

醉看墨花月白，

恍疑雪滿(mǎn)前村。

The frozen brush is reluctant to writenew verses;

But the warm wine by the cold stovefeels just right.

Drunkenly watching the ink flowersunder the moon’s glow，

I vaguely see the village ahead coveredin snow.

立冬時(shí)節(jié)天氣寒冷，毛筆的筆頭都被凍結(jié)，這使詩(shī)人暫且擱置了寫(xiě)詩(shī)的念頭，偷閑飲酒?；馉t上時(shí)常溫著美酒，詩(shī)人在半醉半醒間注視著附著于硯石的黑色墨漬與倒映在硯石上的白色月光，恍惚間好像看到了大雪落滿(mǎn)山村。

In the chill of Lidong， the ink on thebrush freezes， prompting the poet to putaside the urge to compose verses and steala moment to indulge in wine. A fine brewwarms over the stove， and in a state betweendrunkenness and sobriety， the poet gazes atthe black ink stains clinging to the inkstoneand the white moonlight reflected upon it.In a trance， it seems as if a heavy snowfallblankets the village.

自古以來(lái)，中國(guó)人在立冬時(shí)節(jié)的習(xí)俗——無(wú)論是迎冬、賀冬，還是卜冬、補(bǔ)冬——都體現(xiàn)了對(duì)自然的敬畏之情和對(duì)生活的熱愛(ài)之心。

Since ancient times， the customs of Lidongin China — whether it be welcoming the winter，celebrating the winter， divining the winter， ornourishing the winter — have all reflected areverence for nature and a love for life.