24节气大暑

　　The traditional Chinese lunar calendar pides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Heat, the 12th solar term of the year, begins this year on Wednesday and ends on Aug 7.
　　中国传统农历将一年分为24个节气。大暑是一年中的第12个节气，今年从周三（7月22日）开始，到8月7日结束。
　　（大暑三秋近，林钟九夏移。桂轮开子夜，萤火照空时。瓜果邀儒客，菰蒲长墨池。绦纱浑卷上，经史待风吹。）
　　During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year. The following are 6 things you should know about Major Heat.
　　在大暑期间，中国大部分地区进入了一年中最热的季节。以下是关于大暑你应该知道的6件事。
　　During Major Heat, the sunshine, high temperatures, and heavy rainfall are good for agricultural crops. But like Minor Heat, many natural calamities such as floods
　　, droughts and typhoons also happen during Major Heat. Therefore, it＂s important to harvest and plant in time to avoid setbacks caused by natural disasters.
　　在大暑期间，阳光、高温和强降雨都有利于农作物生长。但就像小暑一样，洪水、干旱和台风等自然灾害也会在大暑期间发生。因此，及时进行收割和种植很重要，能避免自然灾害造成的损失。
　　Sending the Major Heat ship is a folk tradition spanning hundreds of years in Taizhou, East China’s Zhejiang province.
　　The ship is filled with various animals for sacrifice, such as pigs, sheep, chicken, fish, and shrimp. More than 50 fishermen take turns carrying the ship as they march through the streets.
　　送大暑船是浙江台州跨越几百年的民间传统。船上装满了各种祭祀用的动物，如猪、羊、鸡、鱼和虾。50多名渔民轮流载着这艘船在街道上游行。
　　After a series of ceremonies, the ship is finally carried to the wharf. Then, the ship is pulled out of the fishing port and burned at sea. People carry out this ritual to pray for good harvests and health.
　　经过一系列的仪式，船终于被抬到码头。之后船会被拖出渔港，在大海上点燃，以此祝福人们五谷丰登，生活安康。
　　Cricket fighting
　　Major Heat is a season with the largest number of crickets that can be found in the fields along the countryside. Cricket fighting is a popular pastime for some people in China during this period. The custom dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty.
　　大暑是蟋蟀数量最多的时节，人们可以在乡间的田野里发现。一些人在大暑节气喜欢斗蟋蟀这一消遣活动。这一习俗最早可以追溯到1000多年前的唐朝。
　　小知识：
　　斗蟋蟀亦称＂秋兴＂、＂斗促织＂、＂斗蛐蛐＂。蟋蟀相斗，要挑重量与大小差不多的，用蒸熟后特制的日菣草或马尾鬃引斗，让他们互吹较量，几经交锋，败的退却，胜的张翅长鸣。
　　Eating litchi and mizao
　　On the day of Major Heat, there is a custom of eating litchi, mizao in Putian, East China’s Fujian province
　　在大暑这一天，福建莆田有吃荔枝、米糟的习俗，庆祝大暑的到来。
　　Litchi is a nutritious fruit containing glucose and vitamins. People usually soak litchi in cold well water first and eat it. Mizao is made of fermented rice. On the day of Major Heat, people cook them with brown sugar. It can reinforce the vital energy of the human body.
　　荔枝是一种营养丰富的水果，富含葡萄糖和维生素。人们通常先把荔枝泡在井水里吃。米糟是由发酵的大米制成的。大暑那天，人们用红糖煮制它，可以增强体魄。
　　Eating pineapples
　　There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, ＂eating pineapples in Major Heat＂. During the period of Major Heat, pineapple tastes best.
　　台湾有句话叫＂大暑吃菠萝＂。大暑期间，我国台湾有吃菠萝的习俗，老百姓认为这个时节的菠萝口感和甜度最好。
　　Eating grass jelly
　　Grass jelly, is made with a special grass whose stems and leaves can be made into herb jelly after being dried in the sun.
　　仙草是用一种特殊的草制成的，其茎和叶在阳光下晒干后可以制成仙草冻。
　　With the amazing ability to quell the summer heat, grass jelly is described in a popular saying in South China’s Guangdong province that goes, ＂eating herb jelly in Major Heat will make you stay young like the immortals＂.
　　在广东，有句俗语说＂大暑吃草冻，不老如仙＂，仙草冻有神奇的消暑功效。