The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides 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.
中國傳統農曆將一年分為24個節氣。大暑是一年中的第12個節氣，今年從周三（7月22日）開始，到8月7日結束。
（大暑三秋近，林鐘九夏移。桂輪開子夜，螢火照空時。瓜果邀儒客，菰蒲長墨池。絛紗渾卷上，經史待風吹。）
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.
在大暑期間，中國大部分地區進入了一年中最熱的季節。以下是關於大暑你應該知道的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.
在大暑期間，陽光、高溫和強降雨都有利於農作物生長。但就像小暑一樣，洪水、乾旱和颱風等自然災害也會在大暑期間發生。因此，及時進行收割和種植很重要，能避免自然災害造成的損失。
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幾百年的民間傳統。船上裝滿了各種祭祀用的動物，如豬、羊、雞、魚和蝦。50多名漁民輪流載著這艘船在街道上遊行。
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.
經過一系列的儀式，船終於被抬到碼頭。之後船會被拖出漁港，在大海上點燃，以此祝福人們五穀豐登，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.
大暑是蟋蟀數量最多的時節，人們可以在鄉間的田野裡發現。一些人在大暑節氣喜歡鬥蟋蟀這一消遣活動。這一習俗最早可以追溯到1000多年前的唐朝。
小知識：
鬥蟋蟀亦稱「秋興」、「鬥促織」、「鬥蛐蛐」。蟋蟀相鬥，要挑重量與大小差不多的，用蒸熟後特製的日菣草或馬尾鬃引鬥，讓他們互吹較量，幾經交鋒，敗的退卻，勝的張翅長鳴。
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
在大暑這一天，福建莆田有吃荔枝、米糟的習俗，慶祝大暑的到來。
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.
荔枝是一種營養豐富的水果，富含葡萄糖和維生素。人們通常先把荔枝泡在井水裡吃。米糟是由發酵的大米製成的。大暑那天，人們用紅糖煮製它，可以增強體魄。
Eating pineapples
There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, "eating pineapples in Major Heat". During the period of Major Heat, pineapple tastes best.
臺灣有句話叫「大暑吃菠蘿」。大暑期間，我國臺灣有吃菠蘿的習俗，老百姓認為這個時節的菠蘿口感和甜度最好。
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.
仙草是用一種特殊的草製成的，其莖和葉在陽光下曬乾後可以製成仙草凍。
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".
在廣東，有句俗語說「大暑吃草凍，不老如仙」，仙草凍有神奇的消暑功效。