苏说文化二十四节气之冬至（英文版）
冬至，最重要的节气之一，也是中华民族的一个传统节日。早在春秋时期，我国就已经测定了冬至，它是二十四节气中最早制定出来的一个，时间在每年的阳历12月21日与12月23日之间。冬至这天，太阳直射地面的位置到达一年的最南端，直射点在南回归线上，北半球白天最短，黑夜最长。
The Winter Solstice, or Dongzhi in Chinese, is one of the most important solar terms, and it is also a traditional Chinese festival. During as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, Chinese determined the date of Dongzhi, the first nailed down of the 24 solar terms. Dongzhi comes between December 21 and 23 of the Gregorian calendar. On the day, the position where the sun shines directly reaches the southernmost of the earth, that is, the Tropic of Cancer, thus, the longest day time and the shortest night time in the northern hemisphere.
“十一月中，终藏之气，至此而极也”。至，极致，冬至，冬藏之气至此而极。但此时不是最冷，冬至后的一个月左右，才是一年中最冷的时候。
"In the middle of lunar November, winter energy is in full swing". Zhi in Chinese means extreme. So, Dongzhi means the winter reaches its extremeness. It is, however, not the coldest time of the year while the month after Dongzhi will be the coldest time.
冬至有三候。一候蚯蚓结，蚯蚓对温度变化十分敏感，此时阳气虽已生发，但阴气仍然十分强盛，土中的蚯蚓仍然蜷缩着身体，故为蚯蚓结。二候麋角解，冬至节气，麋鹿感受到阳气发生，头上的角便开始脱落。三候水泉动，地下的水感受到阳气回升，山中的泉水已经开始慢慢流动了。
There are three pentads in Dongzhi. During the first, earthworms knot. Earthworms are very sensitive to temperatures. At this time, while Yang Qi begins to come up Yin Qi still dominates. So, earthworms in the soil curl up like knots. During the second, elk horns fall off. Belonging to a Yin beast, elk can feel the coming Yang Qi, and the horns begin to fall off. And during the third, spring water flows. Underground water feels the Yang Qi rising and begins to flow gradually.
我国古代，有“冬至大如年”的说法。历朝历代都有庆贺冬至的习俗。这一天，帝王要举行祭天大礼。北京南郊的天坛就是明清皇帝祭天的地方。
In ancient China, Dongzhi was as important a festival as Spring Festival. Almost every ancient dynasty had the custom of celebrating it. The emperor would hold a grand ceremony to worship Heaven. The Temple of Heaven in the southern suburb of Beijing is the place where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshiped Heaven .
从冬至起，人们便开始“数九”，每九九天，共八十一天。元代诗人杨允孚的一首诗，栩栩如生地描绘了古人数九的画面。“试数窗间九九图，余寒消尽暖回初。梅花点遍无余白，看到今朝是杏株。”在古代，一些风雅之士或大家闺秀绘绘梅数九，他们以九朵八十一瓣的梅花代表八十一天，日染一瓣，待到把八十一瓣都染成红色，温暖的春天也就到来了。
From Dongzhi, people begin to "Shu Jiu". Shu means count and Jiu means nine days. One Jiu contains nine days. Jiujiu means 81 days. A poet by Yang Yunfu in Yuan Dynasty vividly pictured the scene of “Shu Jiu”. "Staring at the Jiujiu painting on the window, I’m eager to paint the remaining pedals. When all the white wintersweet pedals are painted red, the tree will blossom like an apricot tree". In ancient times, some elegant ladies or gentlemen would draw wintersweet followers to Shujiu. Nine wintersweet flowers, with each one containing nine white pedals, represented 81 days. One petal was painted each day. When the 81 petals were all painted red the warm spring would be coming.
冬至时节，北方吃饺子，南方吃汤圆。古诗有云“家家捣米做汤圆，知是明朝冬至天”。冬至吃汤圆的习俗在江南一带尤为盛行。江南百姓在冬至前常用糯米粉包上精肉，豆沙，萝卜丝等馅料，制成汤圆。“圆”有团圆圆满之意，以此寄寓来年阖家团圆，幸福美满。
During Dongzhi, Jiaozi is eaten in the north while Tangyuan in the south. An ancient poem says, "Seeing every family making Tangyuan, I know tomorrow is Dongzhi". The custom of eating Tangyuan on Dongzhi is particularly popular in Jiangnan Region. Before Dongzhi, people will fill glutinous rice dough with fillings such as pork, bean paste and shredded radish to make Tangyuan. "Yuan" means reunion and perfection, with which to pray for family reunion and happiness in the coming year.
俗话说“冬至到，羊肉俏”。冬至后，将迎来最寒冷的天气。此时人体内阳气蓬勃生发，最易吸收营养，是进补是最好时间。冬天吃羊肉既能抵御风寒，又可以滋补身体，
冬至过后，白昼一天天长起来，黑夜一天天短下去，只有走过冬的严寒，才能体会春意盎然。
As the saying goes, "Mutton is popular when Dongzhi comes". Dongzhi ushers in the coldest weather. At this time, the Yang Qi in our body begins to thrive and it is easy to absorb nutrients. So, Dongzhi is the best time to do tonifying. Mutton has the property of Yang and eating mutton in winter can not only resist cold, but also nourish the body,
After the winter solstice, the day time becomes longer and the night time gets shorter. Only by experiencing the severe cold of the winter can we cherish the warmth of the spring.
