秋分是中國傳統二十四節氣(the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms)中的第十六個節氣。「秋分」的英文表達為Autumn Equinox,它有以下兩個含義:
After that day, the location of direct sunlight moves to the south, making days shorter and nights longer in the northern hemisphere.
秋分過後,太陽直射點向南移動,北半球白晝時間變短,夜晚時間變長。
中國典籍《春秋繁露》記載:「秋分者,陰陽相半也,故晝夜均而寒暑平。」
秋分的到來,預示著這一年已脫離夏的炎熱,正式進入了秋季。秋分有哪些特點和習俗呢?一起看看吧。
自秋分起,中國大部分地區已經進入了涼爽的秋季。此時田裡的莊稼已長得豐腴飽滿,路邊的梧桐葉子被季節染成一片暖黃。然而,與熱情的顏色共生的,是淅淅瀝瀝一場涼過一場的秋雨。
When the cold air southward meets the declining warm and wet air, precipitation is the result. The temperature also drops frequently.
當南下的冷空氣與不斷衰退的暖溼空氣相遇時,就產生了降雨,溫度也頻頻下降。
秋天的蟹,膏滿黃肥,民間素有「秋風起,蟹腳癢」一說。《紅樓夢》中的一場「螃蟹宴」中,曹雪芹更是借黛玉之口詠出「螯封嫩玉雙雙滿,殼凸紅脂塊塊香」的美句,不知饞得多少人深夜裡吞口水。
In this season, crabs are delicious. Eating crabs helps nourish the marrow and clear the heat inside the body.
這個時節的蟹是非常肥美的。吃蟹可益陰補髓,清熱解毒。
在中國南方,秋分「吃秋菜」也是廣受歡迎的習俗。秋菜是一種野莧菜。每到秋分這天,村民們都會去野外採摘秋菜。田野中的秋菜青翠纖細,可與魚一起熬成湯。
Qiucai is taken back and made into soup with fish, named "Qiutang" (autumn soup). There is a verse about the soup: "Drink the soup to clear the liver and intestines, thus the whole family will be safe and healthy."
採摘的秋菜和魚一起熬成湯,這種湯被叫做「秋湯」。有句關於秋湯的順口溜:「秋湯灌髒,洗滌肝腸,闔家老少,平安健康。」
「桂樹婆娑影,天香滿世聞。」 秋分正是聞桂香、賞桂花的好時節。
At this time, it is hot in the day and cool in the night in South China, so people have to wear light clothing when it is hot, and put on more clothes when it is getting cooler. This period is named as "Guihuazheng" in Chinese, which means osmanthus mugginess.
秋分時節,中國南方晝暖夜涼,所以人們白天穿單衣,溫度變涼時就要加衣服。這段時期在漢語中被叫做「桂花蒸」,表示桂花綻放之時出現的悶熱天氣。
古人云:「寒花開已盡,菊蕊獨盈枝。」秋風蕭瑟,萬花憔悴失色,此時盛放的菊花一簇簇站在天地間,耀眼得讓人敬佩。
It is also a good season to enjoy chrysanthemums in full blossom around Autumn Equinox.
秋分前後也是欣賞菊花的佳期。
秋分這天,世界各地成千上萬的人在參與「豎蛋」遊戲。而相傳這一習俗,起源於中國。
關於「豎蛋」的原理,有兩種不同的說法:一種說法是,春秋分時期,地球地軸與地球繞太陽公轉的軌道平面正好處於一種力的相對平衡狀態,有利於「豎蛋」;另外一種觀點則表明,「豎蛋」的成功率與日期無關,關鍵需要使蛋的重心下移。
The trick is holding the egg until the yolk sinks as much as possible. For this, you're better off choosing an egg of about 4 or 5 days old, whose yolk is easier to sink down.
「豎蛋」的訣竅是握住雞蛋,使其蛋黃儘可能下沉。為了達成這個條件,最好選擇生出來4-5天的雞蛋,蛋黃更易沉降。
據史料記載,自周代起,我國便有「春祭日,秋祭月」的傳統。「中秋節」的諸多儀式便是承襲了秋分祭月的習俗而來。
Since it is not a fixed day in lunar August, there might be no full moon on the Autumn Equinox. During the festival, if there was no moon to make sacrifices to, it would spoil the fun. Thus, the day was changed to the Mid-Autumn Day.
農曆八月的「祭月節」並不是固定的,秋分日並不一定會有滿月。如果祭月期間無月可祭,就大煞風景了。因此,祭月節便由秋分改成了中秋節。
spoil the fun:掃興,大煞風景
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編輯:唐曉敏
參考:China Daily 百度百科
配圖:視覺中國
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