2020年發生了很多大事，可是時間卻跑得比往常還快。一眨眼，秋天就到了。
今日是我國傳統二十四節氣的「立秋」，從今天開始，北半球日長縮短，天氣向乾燥宜人過渡，涼秋準備登場。
傳統節氣作為我國傳統文化的瑰寶，凝結了我們先祖父輩的經驗智慧，如何用英文表達「立秋」這個節氣？
農曆
lunar calendar
節氣
solar term
立秋
Start of Autumn
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Autumn,the 13th solar term of the year, begins this year on August 7and ends on August 21.
中國傳統的農曆把一年分為24個節氣。立秋，一年中的第13個節氣，今年從8月7日開始，8月21日結束。
In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production.
在中國，二十四節氣千百年前一直引導著農業生產。
Start of Autumn reflects the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The fruitful season is approaching.
立秋意味著夏季結束，秋季開始。豐收的季節即將來臨。
每個特殊的日子都是一個節點，比如每年年末我們都會寫下明年的奮鬥目標，立秋到來，下面這些特殊的習俗需要我們拿小本本記一下：
Autumn Tiger
秋老虎
Although Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather will not come to an end. The period of hot days after Start of Autumn, usually lasting for 30 days, is called "Autumn Tiger" or "Indian Summer." Because of decreasing precipitation（降水量）, it is even more sweltering（炎熱的） during this period than during Major Heat（大暑）.
雖然立秋意味著秋天到了，但是炎熱的天氣不會就此結束。立秋過後，炎熱的天氣通常還會再持續30天，這段時間被稱之為「秋老虎」，北美人稱之為「印第安夏」。這一段時間甚至會比大暑還要熱。
Fleshing out in autumn
貼秋膘
On the first day of the Start of Autumn, usually people will weigh themselves and compare their weight to what it was at the Start of Summer（立夏）. If one has lost weight during the summer, then at the beginning of autumn, he or she needs to flesh out by eating many different kinds of delicious food, especially meat.
立秋頭天，人們通常會稱一稱體重，跟立夏時候的體重比較一下。如果這個夏天瘦了，那麼在立秋這天，他們就要吃點好吃的尤其是肉類來貼秋膘。
Gathering crops
秋收
Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops. There is a saying: "If it rains onthe day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest is expected."
對農民來說，立秋是個非常重要的節氣。收莊稼的時候到了！有諺語這樣說：「立秋下雨萬物收」。
Eating peaches
食秋桃
In Hangzhou, people eat peaches on the Start of Autumn day. The peach stones are kept until New Year's Eve and thrown into the stove, burned into ash. People believed that in this way, plagues（災害） could be prevented for thewhole year.
在杭州，人們有在立秋當天吃桃子的習俗。吃完桃子之後，桃核會一直保存到除夕，然後扔進爐子裡燒成灰。人們相信這樣可以來年遠離災害。
Eating dumplings
吃餃子
In Shandong province, people make dumplings during the Start of Autumn, and they call it "Eating the Autumn". On the day of Start of Autumn, senior members of the family will stand in the middle of the hall, worshiping a bowl of cereal, and praying for the harvest in autumn. Most of the families will eat dumplings together after Start of Autumn day.
在山東，人們在立秋這天包餃子吃，這被稱作「吃秋」。在立秋當天，家裡的老人會站在屋子中間，供起一碗麥子，祈求秋天豐收。立秋過後，大多數家庭都會聚在一起吃餃子。
Eating longans
吃龍眼
The Start of Autumn period is harvest time for Taiwan longan. People believe that eating longan will help their descendants（子孫後代） become senior officials.
立秋是臺灣龍眼豐收的時節。人們認為吃桂圓可以保佑子孫後代當大官。
Eating red beans
吃紅豆
Starting from the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, people in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, have eaten red beans on Start of Autumn day. They take seven to 14 little beans, swallowing them with well water. When taking the beans, one must face west, it is said, so as not to get dysentery（痢疾） during the autumn.
從唐宋開始，浙江義烏的人們就有了立秋當日吃紅豆的習俗。他們會拿出7到14顆紅豆，用井水配合著吃下去。據說，在吃紅豆時，人們必須面朝西邊，這樣在秋天時就不會得痢疾了。
Eating gourds
吃瓜
During the Qing Dynasty, people would put gourds outside for a day before the Start of Autumn, and eat them on Start of Autumn day to drive off the summer heat. Today people in Tianjin still keep this custom, believing that eating melons such as towel gourd（絲瓜）, white gourd（冬瓜） and bitter gourd（苦瓜） can prevent diarrhea（腹瀉） in autumn and the coming winter and spring.
清朝時，人們會在立秋前一天在屋子外掛一根瓜，然後在立秋當天吃掉，希望能祛除夏季的高溫。現在天津的人們仍然保留有這一習俗，認為吃絲瓜、冬瓜、苦瓜等食物可以預防秋冬春季腹瀉。
Touching Autumn
摸秋
There is the custom of "Touching Autumn" in the northern part of Yancheng,Jiangsu province. On the eve of Start of Autumn, people can touch and take for free all kinds of fruits as they like in private or public gardens, and the owners will not be angry, no matter how much they lose. Many gardeners even leave some mellow（成熟的） fruits in the field on purpose for the guests during the night.
江蘇鹽城北部地區有個「摸秋」的習俗。在立秋前一天晚上，人們可以在公共或私人果園裡隨意摘取各種水果，而無論損失多少主人都不會生氣。有些果園主人甚至還會專門為晚上來摸秋的客人準備許多成熟的水果。
本文英文內容來自China Daily和Wikipedia
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