苏说文化二十四节气之春分（英文版）
春分
Spring Equinox
春分 是中国二十四节气中
Spring Equinox is the fourth
的第四个节气。
of the 24 solar terms.
春分一般在3月20或21日
It usually falls on March 20 or 21
这一天阳光直射赤道
when the sun shines directly on the equator
昼夜几乎相等
and the length of day and night is almost the same
故称“春分”
so it’s called ‘equinox’
其后阳光直射位置逐渐北移
After that, the sun’s position gradually moves northward
北半球开始
and days begin to grow longer and nights become shorter
昼长夜短
in the northern hemisphere
中国大部分地区都将进入明媚的春天。
And the most parts of China will enter a bright spring.
这时
Spring Equinox will bring swallows
燕子从南方飞回北方
from the south back to north
气温回暖 雨水充沛
The warm weather and abundant rainfall at this time
农作物进入春季生长的关键时刻
are critical for the growth of crops
俗语“春分麦起身 一刻值千金”
As a saying in the countryside says
说的就是这个意思
Spring Equinox is as precious as gold for wheat to rise
冬小麦返青后进入起身期
Wheat turns green and then grows taller
是浇水、施肥、锄草、防治病虫害等
which is the right time for agricultural activities
田间管理的最佳时节
such as watering, fertilizing, weeding, pest controlling and so on.
春分时节
There are many interesting activities and folk customs
中国民间有许多有趣的传统
about Spring Equinox
“春分竖蛋”便是其中之一
One of them is to erect eggs
有人认为
Some people believe that Spring Equinox is
春分是竖鸡蛋的最佳时机
the best time to practice this game
在春分这一天
because on this day the axis of the earth
地球地轴与地球绕太阳公转的轨道平面
is relatively balanced against the orbital plane
正好属于相对平衡的状态
of the earth's rotation around the sun
因此 春分这天鸡蛋很容易竖起来
which makes it easier to make an egg stand
选择一个光滑匀称
Choose a smooth, well-proportioned and fresh egg
刚生下四五天的新鲜鸡蛋
that is just four or five days old
轻手轻脚地在桌子上把它竖起来
and set it up on the table gently and carefully
4000年前
About 4,000 years ago
中国民族先民就开始
our ancestors started this tradition
以此庆贺春天的来临
to celebrate the coming of spring
“春分到，蛋儿俏”
The saying that “when Spring Equinox arrives, eggs are nice”
的说法流传至今
is still alive this day
人们相信
It is believed
如果能将鸡蛋竖起来
that if someone can make the egg stand
将来会好运连连。
he will have good luck in the future.
春分也是放风筝的好时节
Flying kites is another interesting activity on Spring Equinox
风筝的制作分为三步
The delicate kite making procedure can be divided into three parts
首先 将它劈成纤细的竹篾
Firstly, pare and flex bamboo into thin strips for the frames
然后根据个人喜好
According to taste
扎成蜻蜓 燕子 蜈蚣或蝴蝶
they can have shapes as diverse as
等形状的框架
those of a dragonfly, swallow, centipede or butterfly
接着 在框架上贴上纸张
Secondly, paste paper onto the framework
最后 用五颜六色的丝带和绘画加以装饰
Finally, decorate them with colorful ribbons and paintings
在古代 医疗条件差
In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources
人们为了祈求健康
So to pray for health
把病情写在纸风筝上
they wrote their medical issue on paper kite
当风筝飞到空中时
When the kite was in the air
人们会剪断绳子让风筝飘走
people would cut off the string to let the kite float away
象征祛病消灾
symbolizing the flying away of diseases
后来放风筝发展成一种深受欢迎的春季活动
Later, flying kites developed into a popular game in spring
春分时节
On Spring Equinox
人们在风筝上写下祝福
people write a blessing on the kite
希望天官赐福。
hoping that the gods in the sky would see it and bless them.
此外 春分也是人们
In addition, Spring Equinox is also a good time
调养身体的大好时机
for people to work on improving their fitness
应多食用蔬菜及山野菜等
They should eat more vegetables and wild vegetables
这时
At this time
昼夜温差较大
the temperature difference between day and night is large
雨水较多
and there is much rain
仍要注意保暖。
so it is still necessary to keep warm.
