【成长旅程】与世界，共节气——冬至

12月21日

“冬至知多少”：How Much Do You Know About Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice, one of the important solar terms in traditional Chinese festivals, usually falls between December 21 and 23 of the Gregorian calendar. It marks the beginning of a cold winter with the shortest days and the longest nights in the northern hemisphere.

冬至节，是中国传统节日中的重要节气之一，通常在公历12月21日至23日之间。它标志着阳光直射南回，北半球白昼最短、黑夜最长，是寒冬的开始。

After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese,"Shu Jiu". In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each.

从冬至以后，中国的绝大部分地区都会经历最寒冷的时期，中国人叫它“数九”。这一共有九个时期，每个时期分别有九天。

这一天标志着气候的显著变化，古人对此非常重视，民间流传“冬至大于年”的说法。

在古代农耕社会中，人们在冬至这一天往往会举行祭祀仪式，祈求来年农作物的丰收和家族的安康。汉朝时，冬至成为冬天的节日，朝廷会举行正式的庆祝活动。这一天，百官和庶民都会停工歇息。

Today,Winter Solstice celebrations are reflected in various culinary customs across northern and southern China. This tradition has led to the common practice of eating dumplings or wontons on the Winter Solstice in northern China. In contrast, southern Chinese communities prefer sweet dumplings, rice balls, and long noodles to express their good wishes for the coming year.

如今，冬至的庆祝活动主要体现在中国南北方地区各不相同的饮食习俗上。在冬至这一天，北方地区的人们在冬至时普遍吃饺子或馄饨。而南方人则更喜欢吃甜汤圆、米团和长线面，以表达对来年的美好祝愿。

“冬至习俗要知晓”：Get to Know the Customs of Winter Solstice

1.Eating dumplings and rice balls(tangyuan）吃饺子和汤圆

During Winter Solstice in North China, eating dumplings is essentia to the festival.In South China, people eat rice balls (tangyuan), a kind of stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous rice flour, to celebrate Winter Solstice.

冬至日，在中国北方，吃饺子是必不可少的。在中国南方，人们一般习惯吃汤圆，一种用糯米粉做成的有馅的小汤圆，以庆祝冬至。

2.Eating rice cakes 吃年糕

During the Winter Solstice,Hangzhou residents traditionally eatrice cakes.In the past, before the approach of the winter solstice, every household would make the cakes to worship their ancestors or use as gifts for relatives and friends.

冬至期间，杭州人传统上会吃年糕。在过去，冬至前，家家户户都会制作年糕来祭祖或作为礼物送给亲友。

3.Drinking mutton soup 喝羊肉汤

The custom of drinking mutton soup originated in Sichuan province.On this day, people would worship ancestors and younger members of the family would greet elders with wishes. Mutton is part of the offerings and gifts, to celebrate this solar term.

冬至喝羊肉汤的习俗最早源于四川。在这天，四川地区都习惯祭祖，而祭祖的食物中就有羊肉。此外这一天小辈也要给长辈送祝福，准备的礼物中也有羊肉，以此庆祝冬至的到来。