大雪：一年岁暮 至此雪盛
大雪，顾名思义，雪量大。古人云：“大者，盛也，至此而雪盛也”。到了这个时段，雪往往下得大、范围也广。
“夜深知雪重，时闻折竹声。”《中国天文年历》显示，北京时间12月7日零时9分将迎来“大雪”节气，标志着仲冬时节正式开始。此时节，天气会比“小雪”节气时更冷，下雪的可能性也比“小雪”节气时更大了，往往会有“檐挂冰乳，阶铺银床”的景观。可见“大雪”与“小雪”“雨水”“谷雨”一样，是直接反映降水状况的节气。
“大雪”时节，阴气最盛，但盛极而衰，阳气有所萌动。
兰草也抽出新芽
中国传统的农历将一年分为24个节气。大雪(Major Snow)是一年中的第21个节气，从今年的12月7日开始，到12月20日结束。在大雪期间，雪变大、并且开始堆积在地上。气温下降非常显著。这时的自然景色真是“千里冰封，万里雪飘”。
About the snow, a proverb goes, "A timely snow promises a good harvest". As the snow covers the ground, pests living through the winter will be killed by the low temperature.
关于雪，有一句谚语说“瑞雪兆丰年”。随着降雪覆盖地面，过冬的害虫会被低温冻死。
大雪节气来到，我们都期待着能够下一场大雪，这样就可以堆雪人（build a snowman）、打雪仗（have a snowball fight）了，这些可是我们小时候过冬的乐趣所在呢。而现在的冬天，我们更喜欢约上三五好友去开启一场惊险刺激却又令人兴奋的滑雪（go skiing）之旅。那么，传统大雪节气又有那些习俗呢？
Wintersweet usually blossoms in mid-to-late December in some southern cities of China。Sometimes it even blooms earlier。Wintersweet originated in China and is highly appreciated in Chinese culture for its endurance in severe winters。With pine and bamboo，it is referred to as one of the Three Friends of Winter。
Lamb is the main food chosen by Chinese people during Major Snow。It is excellent for nourishing the body，promoting blood circulation and providing protection against the cold。People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup or stewed lamb soup with their families and friends。Nanjing residents like to stew the lamb with yams or wolfberries to make it more nutritious。
大雪期间中国人选择的食物主要就是羊肉。羊肉具有滋补身体、促进血液循环、驱寒保暖的良好功能。重庆的人们这个时候喜欢和亲友们一起吃羊肉火锅、喝羊肉汤。南京的市民们则喜欢把羊肉和山药或者枸杞一起炖，这样会更有营养。
During Major Snow，Chinese people in South China such as in Nanjing，Hangzhou， Hefei，Chongqing make sausages，an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival。
The best meat for sausage is that of the pig’s buttock。The sausage should be dried in a well-ventilated place in the shade。After a week，they are edible。Cut a certain amount off，and boil or fry it as you like。
在大雪期间，南京、杭州、合肥、重庆等中国南方城市的人们会灌香肠，这是为春节所做准备的重要一部分。
Warm porridge could help increase one’s personal heat and nourish the body in cold weather。In China， there is custom to eat red bean porridge on the first day of Winter Solstice and eight-treasure porridge on the eighth day of the last month of the lunar year。In addition， there are other porridges such as wheat porridge， sesame porridge， radish porridge， walnut porridge and tuckahoe porridge。
24节气申遗成功
来源网络，仅供英语学习。
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