今天是大寒（Major Cold），中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的最后一个节气。大寒一过，新一年的节气就又轮回来了，正所谓冬去春来。大寒虽然寒冷，但因为已近春天，所以不会像大雪到冬至期间那样酷寒。这时节，人们开始忙着除旧饰新、腌制年肴、准备年货和各种祭祀供品、扫尘洁物，因为中国人最重要的节日——春节就要到啦！The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Cold （ Chinese：大寒）, the 24th solar term，begins this year on Jan 20 and ends on Feb 3.中国农历传统上将一年分为 24 个节气， 大寒正是第 24 个节气。今年大寒从1月20日开始，2月3日结束。Major Cold is the last solar term in winter and also the last solar term in the annual lunar calendar. In this period，snow，rain and icy cold weather exert a big influence on people’ s lives.大寒是寒冷冬天的最后一个节气， 也是农历的最后一个节气。在此期间，雪，雨和冰冷天气会对人们的生活产生非常大的影响。
During Major Cold，as the cold current moves southward，the weather is very cold. Although modern meteorological observation shows that in some regions of China the weather during Major Cold is not colder than Minor Cold， the lowest temperatures of the whole year still occur in the Major Cold period in some coastal areas。
大寒期间，因为寒流向南方移动，天气变得非常寒冷。尽管现代气象观测显示，在中国的一些地区， 大寒并没有小寒时冷， 但在一些沿海地区， 全年的最低气温仍然出现大寒期间。Eating eight-treasure rice pudding 吃八宝饭
Eight-treasure rice pudding is a traditional festival food in Major Cold. It is famous all over the country, especially in regions south of the Yangtze River.八宝饭，大寒节气习俗食物，流行于全国各地，江南尤盛。Eight-treasure rice pudding varies across different areas of China, but most are made from a combination of sticky rice and another eight ingredients such as lotus seeds, red dates and jackfruit, which symbolize good fortune in the coming lunar year.八宝饭的原料因地域不同可能有所差异，但大多由莲子、红枣、蜜冬瓜等八味原材料与糯米制成，象征新的一年运势红火。Meanwhile, eating eight-treasure rice pudding on cold days can strengthen the spleen and nourish blood. It is especially beneficial for people with a weak or tired body.同时，严寒之际吃八宝饭有健脾益气、养血安神的作用，适用于身体虚弱、倦怠乏力等气血两虚的人群。Eating cold dispelling cake 吃消寒糕大寒这天，北京人有吃“消寒糕”的习俗。消寒糕是年糕的一种，一般由糯米、红枣、桂圆、核桃、白糖等材料制成，碳水丰富，食之可起到抗寒作用。Sticky rice, the cake's major ingredient, contains more sugar than rice, which can make people feel warm all over their bodies.糯米是消寒糕的主要原料，其含糖量比大米高，可使人感到全身暖和。In Chinese, the word "rice cake" has the same pronunciation with the word "higher in a new year", which symbolizes good luck and continual promotion.在汉语中，“年糕”和“年高”发音相同，寓意着吉祥如意、年年高升。
大寒时节经常与农历岁末相吻合。古时除夕夜，人们把芝麻秸放在地上，让孩子们来踩，谐音“踩岁（碎）”，有“岁岁平安”的寓意。
In some areas of China, people always fall over each other in eagerness to buy sesame straw during this period because of the old saying, "Rise joint by joint like sesame flowers on the stem." This saying is used to describe either ever-rising living standards or making steady progress in thought, studies or skills.
在中国的一些地区，大寒时人们经常争相去买芝麻秸，因为有句老话讲：“芝麻开花节节高。”这句话常被用来描述生活水平的不断上升或思想、学习和技能方面的稳步提升。
fall over each other：争先恐后地
春卷包含大量春天的蔬菜，营养丰富，既可当菜，也可作主食。在安徽安庆一带，有大寒吃炸春卷的习俗。
People use a round, cooked, thin pancake to wrap stuffing in a thin roll. Then it is fried in a pan with oil until it turns yellow and floats to the top. The stuffing inside the spring roll contains meat or vegetables and the flavor can be salty or sweet.
人们用圆圆的熟的薄饼裹上馅料，卷成细卷，然后放入平底锅中油炸，直至外皮金黄并浮上来。春卷的馅料包括肉类或蔬菜类，有咸和甜两种口味。
大寒期间，用羊肉、红枣等热性食材煲汤，可起到暖身滋补的养生效果。
Residents in Nanjing of Jiangsu province prefer to drink stewed soup during Major Cold, which can make people feel warm from head to foot. They always stew the aged hen soup with ginseng, wolfberry and black fungus.
南京人喜欢在大寒炖汤喝，可以让人从头暖到脚。人们将常用人参、枸杞和黑木耳炖老母鸡汤。
There is a saying in Northern China, "Dripping water freezes during Minor and Major Cold." Folks south of the Yangtze River, however, tend to say, "Everything freezes to a ball of ice during Minor and Major Cold."在中国，华北一带有“小寒大寒，滴水成冰”的说法，江南一带则说“小寒大寒，冷成冰团”。In various regions of China, Major Cold is the perfect time for winter sports such as skiing, ice skating, and sledding. Some strong seniors are fond of winter swimming during this period.在广袤的中国大地上，大寒是做冰上运动的最佳时机，比如滑雪、滑冰和滑雪橇。一些年富力强者会选择在大寒冬泳。