24节气之小寒：这6件小事你可能并不知道

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Cold (Chinese: 小寒), the 23rd solar term, begins this year on Jan 5 and ends on Jan 19.The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Cold (Chinese: 小寒), the 23rd solar term, begins this year on Jan 5 and ends on Jan 19.

中国传统农历中，一年有24个节气。小寒是一年中的第23个节气，今年从1月5日开始，到1月19日结束。

During Minor Cold, most areas in China have entered the bitter cold stage of winter. The ground and rivers are frozen. The cold air from the north moves southward continuously.

小寒节气间，中国大部分地区都已进入寒冬时节。土地和河流都被冰冻。北方的冷空气持续南下。

Here are six things you should know about Minor Cold.

如下是关于小寒你应该知道的6件事。

Sanjiu

一、三九

Although "Minor Cold" means less cold than the following solar term, "Major Cold", there is an old saying in China that goes, "The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days." "Sanjiu period" refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th-27th days) after the day of the Winter Solstice, which is in Minor Cold. Actually Minor Cold is normally the coldest period of winter. It is important to keep warm during this period.

尽管“小寒”的意思是，和下个节气“大寒”相比，不如“大寒”冷，但中国有一句老话说“数九寒天，冷在三九”。“三九时节”指的是冬至过后第三个九天（第19到27天），恰好就在小寒内。事实上，小寒通常是冬天最冷的时候。在这期间保暖很重要。

Cuisines fit for Minor Cold

二、美食进补正当时

From the perspective of dietary health care, during Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the invasion of cold weather — hot foods like trout, pepper, cinnamon, leeks, fennel and parsley. Now is the best time to have hot pot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is sensible to notice that too much spicy food may cause acute gastritis.

从膳食健康的角度看，小寒期间，人们应该进食一些热性的食物以滋补身体、抵御严寒，比如像鲑鱼、辣椒、肉桂、大葱、茴香和香菜等。这时是吃火锅和红烧羊肉的最好时节，但也应该注意，吃了太多辛辣食物会引起急性胃炎。

Winter exercise

三、冬练强身健体

There is an old Chinese saying that goes, "Get exercise in the coldest days of winter." Generally, Minor Cold is the coldest period in China, which is the best time for exercising and improving one’s physique. To keep warm, the children of China have special games to play, such as hoop rolling and the cockfighting game.

中国有一句老话说“冬练三九”。一般来说，小寒是中国最冷的时候，也是锻炼增强体质的最佳时机。中国孩子们会玩一些特别的游戏，例如滚铁环和斗鸡等以保暖。

Eating huangyacai

四、吃黄芽菜。

In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of Vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.

天津有在小寒时吃黄芽菜（一种中国大白菜）的习俗。黄芽菜富含维生素A和维生素B。它非常鲜嫩，适合炒、烧、焖等做法。

Eating glutinous rice

五、吃糯米饭

According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved pork, sausage and peanuts and mix them into the rice. According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, glutinous rice has the effect of tonifying the spleen and stomach in the cold season.

按照传统，广东人在小寒期间的早上要吃糯米饭。他们会将一些煎好的腊猪肉、香肠和花生加到糯米饭中。根据中医理论，在寒冷季节糯米饭有补脾益胃的功效。

Eating vegetable rice

六、吃菜饭

In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually faded. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today.

古时，南京人对小寒很重视，但随着时间的推移，对小寒的庆祝逐渐消失了。不过，吃菜饭的习俗仍然沿用至今。

The rice is steamed and is unspeakably delicious. Among the ingredients, aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.

这种米饭是蒸熟的，有一种无法言说的美味。它的配料矮脚黄（一种绿色蔬菜）、香肠和盐水鸭都是南京特产。