舊歲近暮

新歲即至

“小寒”一般譯作Minor Cold，是中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)二十四節(jié)氣（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第二十三個(gè)節(jié)氣。

Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. For most areas of China, it marks the start of the coldest days of the year. This year's Minor Cold starts on Jan 6. 

按公歷來算，小寒是每年的第一個(gè)節(jié)氣，寒冬已至，春天便不再遙遠(yuǎn)。

今年小寒在1月6日，正值“二九”第７天，而1月9日進(jìn)入“三九”，也恰在小寒節(jié)氣內(nèi)。此時(shí)節(jié)，強(qiáng)冷空氣及寒潮活動(dòng)頻繁，是一年中最冷的時(shí)節(jié)。

不少俗語反映出人們有根據(jù)小寒天氣預(yù)測(cè)來年春天天氣的習(xí)慣。比如，“小寒暖，立春雪”“小寒寒，驚蟄暖”。

Many Chinese sayings use the weather and climate situation during Minor Cold to predict the weather in the following spring.

但寒冷的天氣，并不能阻止人們享受生活，為即將到來的春節(jié)做準(zhǔn)備。

Still, bitter cold can't prevent people from enjoying their lives. Here are some things that help us stay warm during Minor Cold.

小寒節(jié)氣有哪些習(xí)俗呢？咱們一起來看看，也學(xué)習(xí)下用英文講中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)文化。

進(jìn)入小寒年味漸濃，人們開始忙著寫春聯(lián)、剪窗花，趕集買年畫、彩燈、鞭炮、香火等，陸續(xù)為春節(jié)作準(zhǔn)備。

During Minor Cold, people start stocking New Year goods, which include Spring Festival couplets, New Year pictures, paper-cuts for window decoration, fire crackers, incense and lanterns.

飲食上，涮羊肉火鍋（mutton hot pot）、吃糖炒栗子（chestnuts）、烤地瓜薯（baked sweet potato）成為小寒“食”尚。

Mutton hot pot, chestnuts and  baked sweet potato are three recommended foods for Minor Cold. 

俗語說“三九補(bǔ)一冬，來年無病痛”。寒冬時(shí)節(jié)，居民日常飲食偏重于暖性食物，其中以羊肉最為常見。

According to traditional Chinese medicine theories, people need to eat food that contains more yang energy to prevent cold from harming their organs. The yang energy in the three types of food is strengthened through their method of cooking: boiling, stir frying and baking.

此外，牛肉和各類堅(jiān)果也是備受青睞的小寒吃食。

Beef, sesame, walnuts, almonds and raisins are also good choices for Minor Cold.

古時(shí)，南京人對(duì)小寒頗重視，但隨著時(shí)代變遷，現(xiàn)已漸漸淡化，如今人們只能從生活中尋找出點(diǎn)點(diǎn)痕跡。

People in Nanjing used to take Minor Cold quite seriously, and they still keep a custom of eating vegetable rice to celebrate this solar term. 

到了小寒，老南京一般會(huì)煮菜飯（vegetable rice）吃，用矮腳黃青菜與咸肉片、香腸片或是板鴨丁，再剁上一些生姜粒與糯米一起煮，可謂是真正的“南京菜飯”，甚至可與臘八粥相媲美。

The rice is steamed with aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck that are all the specialties in Nanjing.

到了小寒時(shí)節(jié)，也是老中醫(yī)和中藥房最忙的時(shí)候，一般入冬時(shí)熬制的膏方都吃得差不多了。到了此時(shí)，有些人家會(huì)再熬制一點(diǎn)，吃到春節(jié)前后。

Minor Cold is also the busiest time for doctors and pharmacies of traditional Chinese medicine. Many people need them to prepare new medicines, which will be consumed before the Lunar New Year.

小寒已至，

天寒人不寒，

準(zhǔn)備過年啦！