霜降Frost's Descent的传统霜降

传统的中国阴历把一年分成24个节气，霜降是全年中的第18个节气，也是秋天的最后一个节气，今年开始于10月23日，11月7日结束，霜降来临之时，天气将变得比以前更冷，北方多地开始挂霜，秋之残韵，要加紧欣赏。再之后就要立冬了，漫长冬季开始。霜降气温下降快，易咳嗽，慢性支气管炎容易复发或加重。大家需添衣保暖，防咳护胃，如冷了，就摩擦，摩擦，在这光滑的地上。今天我们来了解一下霜降的传统！
 

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Frost's Descent, the 18th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 23 and ends on Nov 7.

Frost's Descent is the last solar term of autumn, during which time the weather becomes much colder than before and frost begins to appear.

Here are eight things you should know about Frost's Descent.
 

Frosty autumn 寒冷深秋来了

Frost consists of white ice crystals of frozen water vapor near the ground. During Frost's Descent, frost begins to appear. But in the lower reaches of the Yellow River region, frost first appears in late October or early November. As Frost's Descent comes, the world is filled with the atmosphere of late autumn.
 

Eating persimmons 吃柿子

Eating persimmons during Frost's Descent can help people resist the cold and protect their bones. In the countryside, people believe that their lips will crack if they don't eat persimmons during this period.
 

Eating apples 吃苹果

The apple is one kind of recommended fruit during Frost's Descent. There are many sayings about apples' benefits in China, such as “Eat an apple after meals, even old men can be as strong as young men,” just as the Western proverb goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples can moisten the lungs, quench one's thirst and help one's digestion.
 

Eating pears 吃梨

The pear is another recommended fruit during Frost's Descent, which can promote the secretion of body liquids, clear away heat and reduce sputum.
 

Eating duck 吃鸭子

It's a custom to eat duck on the first day of Frost's Descent in south Fujian province and Taiwan. There is a saying in Fujian which goes, “Even nourishing all year is not as good as nourishing the human body on the first day of Frost's Descent.” Eating duck is a way for people there to gain weight.
 

Eating chestnuts 吃板栗

Eating chestnuts during Frost's Descent is beneficial for one's health. Chestnuts have a warm nature and sweet flavor, and are good for nourishing the spleen and stomach, invigorating the circulation of blood, relieving coughs and reducing sputum.

Eating dates 吃枣

The date is one of the fruits on the market during Frost's Descent. Nutritious with a great number of vitamins, dates can nourish the blood, decrease blood pressure, and improve one's immunity. But eating too many could be harmful. Rotten dates can cause headaches and dizziness or even put people's lives in danger.

 

 

一、由来

霜降是秋季的最后一个节气，是秋季到冬季的过渡节气。这时中国黄河流域一带出现初霜，大部分地区多忙于播种小麦等作物。晚秋地面上散热很多，温度骤然下降到0度以下，空气中的水蒸气在地面或植物上直接凝结形成细微的冰针，有的成为六角形的霜花，色白且结构疏松。

我国古代将霜降分为三候：“一候豺乃祭兽；二候草木黄落；三候蜇虫咸俯。” 此节气中豺狼将捕获的猎物先陈列后再食用；大地上的树叶枯黄掉落；蜇虫也全在洞中不动不食，垂下头来进入冬眠状态中。 

二、习俗

我国很多地区霜降时都有吃柿子的习俗。俗话说；“霜降吃柿子，不会流鼻涕。” 

山西：时值寒露抓秋耕，秋收秋种莫放松。采棉刨薯回茬麦结合秋浇快进行。浇地造林集饲料，山药异地换种子。 

河北：寒露霜降，收割大豆。抓紧打场，及时入库。晚茬小麦，突击播种。收割山草，好喂牲口。菠菜油菜，种上几亩。来年春季，能早收获。 

山东：霜降一到，天气渐冷。抓紧收割，地瓜花生。切晒瓜干，要趁晴天。地瓜入窖，不能放松。麦田苗情，检查要精。缺苗断垄，及时补种。　

三、养生

霜降节气是慢性胃炎和胃十二指肠溃疡病复发的高峰期。老年人也极容易患上“老寒腿”（膝关节骨性关节炎）的毛病，慢性支气管炎也容易复发或加重。这时应该多吃些梨、苹果、白果、洋葱、芥菜(雪里蕻)。

霜降之时，在五行中属土，根据中医养生学的观点，在四季五补（春要升补、夏要清补、长夏要淡补、秋要平补、冬要温补）的相互关系上，此时与长夏同属土，所以应以淡补为原则，并且要补血气以养胃。饮食养生学侧重于根据食物的“性味归经”来调节人体阴阳，滋养五脏六腑和预防疾病。

 

中国24节气中英文对照与时间 

立春 the Beginning of Spring (1st solar term)Feb.3,4, or 5 
雨水 Rain Water (2nd solar term)Feb.18,19 or 20 
惊蛰 the Waking of Insects (3rd solar term)Mar.5,6, or 7 
春分 the Spring Equinox (4th solar term)Mar.20,21 or 22 
清明 Pure Brightness (5th solar term)Apr.4,5 or 6 
谷雨 Grain Rain (6th solar term)Apr.19,20 or 21 
立夏 the Beginning of Summer (7th solar term)May 5,6 or 7 
小满 Lesser Fullness of Grain (8th solar term)May 20,21 or 22 
芒种 Grain in Beard (9th solar term)Jun.5,6 or 7 
夏至 the Summer Solstice (10th solar term)Jun.21 or 22 
小暑 Lesser Heat (11th solar term)Jul.6,7 or 8 
大暑 Greater Heat (12th solar term)Jul.22,23 or 24 
立秋 the Beginning of Autumn (13th solar term)Aug.7,8 or 9 
处暑 the End of Heat (14th solar term)Aug.22,23 or 24 
白露 White Dew (15th solar term)Sep.7,8 or 9 
秋分 the Autumn Equinox (16th solar term)Sep.22,23 or 24 
寒露 Cold Dew (17th solar term)Oct.8 or 9 
霜降 Frost\'s Descent (18th solar term)Oct.23 or 24 
立冬 the Beginning of Winter (19th solar term)Nov.7 or 8 
小雪 Lesser Snow (20th solar term)Nov.22 or 23 
大雪 Greater Snow (21th solar term)Dec.6,7 or 8 
冬至 the Winter Solstice (22th solar term)Dec.21,22 or 23 
小寒 Lesser Cold (23th solar term)Jan.5,6 or 7 
大寒 Greater Cold (24th solar term)Jan.20 or 2