中国文化 Chinese Culture | 二十四节气之立夏 Start of Summer
中国传统二十四节气
为丰富西财留学生的文化生活，我们特别推出“中国文化——二十四节气”栏目，帮助同学们了解中国二十四节气及传统文化习俗。
In order to enrich the cultural knowledge of our international SWUFErs, we launch the column of "Chinese Culture - The 24 Solar Terms" for students to understand the Chinese traditions and customs of the 24 Solar Terms.
什么是二十四节气？
What are the 24 Solar Terms?
二十四节气是中国古代人们通过观察太阳天体运行，来认知季节、气候和自然变化规律的知识体系。这套体系中，一年被分为二十四个时节，为农耕生产、日常生活和节日提供了时间框架。
The Twenty-Four Solar Terms were developed by farmers in ancient China through observation of the sun's annual motion. These terms are used to mark the seasons, weather, and natural variations. The year is divided into twenty-four equal periods. This thus provides a time frame for farmers to plan crop production and farming as well as daily life and festivals.
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立夏 Start Of Summer
立夏标志着季节的转变。这一天，太阳光线与地球的夹角达到 45 度。在此期间气温将迅速上升，但中国北方的天气仍然属于温而不热。
Start of Summer signals the transition of seasons. On this day, the sun's rays reach an angle of 45 degrees to the earth. The temperature will rise quickly during this period, yet in northern China weather remains mild, not tropical.《月令七十二候集解》：“立夏，四月节。立字解见春。夏，假也。物至此时皆假大也。”在天文学上，立夏表示即将告别春天，是夏天的开始。人们习惯上都把立夏当作是温度明显升高，炎暑将临，雷雨增多，农作物进入旺季生长的一个重要节气。
According to the Seventy-two Pentads of a Month: "Start of Summer, the April festival. The word 'Lixia' is interpreted the same way as spring. Summer refers to growing up. At this time, all things are growing up." In astronomy, Start of Summer indicates farewell to spring and welcome the summer. People are accustomed to treat the summer as an important festival when the temperature rises significantly, the heat approaches, thunderstorms increase, and crops enter the peak growth season.
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“立夏”习俗
Customs of "Start of Summer"
称重
Weighing People立夏称重的习俗起源于三国时期，盛行于今天的华南地区。人们相信这种做法会给称重的人带来健康和好运。
立夏当天午饭后，人们会在横梁上悬挂凳子或篮子。男女老少轮流称重，计算重量的人会送上祝福和吉祥话。据说，称重的人在炎热的夏天会平安健康，而没有称重的人可能会生病。
The custom of weighing people at the Start of Summer originated from the Three Kingdoms Period and prevails in South China today. It was believed this practice would bring health and good luck to the people weighted.
After lunch on the day of Start of Summer, people would suspend a stool or basket from a beam. The young and old took turns to get weighed while the person calculating the weight would offer good wishes and auspicious words. It is said those who were weighed would stay healthy in the hot summer and those who weren't would suffer illness.
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蛋
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斗蛋
Egg Competitions中国有句老话：“立夏胸挂蛋，小儿不疰夏。”这一天，家长们总会准备好煮鸡蛋，装进一个五色丝线编成的小线袋里，然后挂在孩子们的胸前。来到学校，孩子们聚集在一起玩“斗蛋”的游戏——将他们带的鸡蛋两两对撞，而没有碎的那一方即是胜利者。
As an old Chinese saying goes "hanging an egg on children's chest can prevent them from getting summer diseases", parents will prepare boiled eggs and put them in a knitted bag before hanging them on their child's chest. When at school, children gather together to play egg competitions by colliding each other's eggs in pairs and the one whose egg is not broken wins.
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