Start of Winter

立冬是冬季的第一个节气，也是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第十九个节气。立，是“建立、开始”的意思；冬有“终了”的意思。所以，立冬至，则冬日始，秋收作物要储藏起来了。

古时人们将立冬视作冬天的开端，然而，受地理环境和纬度因素影响，各地实际入冬的时间也会不同。

In fact, the Start of Winter is not the beginning of winter in terms of meteorology. The climate every year is different, so the beginning of winter could be quite different. And with the vast territory of China, winter time starts at different times in different areas.

事实上，从气象学上讲，立冬并非冬天的开始。每年的气候都是不一样的，因而冬天开始的时间也会有所差异。由于中国幅员辽阔，每个地区的冬季也不会在同一时间开始。

立冬有哪些习俗呢？一起来看看吧。

01

Beginning of winter or not

立冬是否是冬天的开始？

In ancient times, the Chinese people took the Start of Winter to be the beginning of the winter. However in fact, the Start of Winter is not the beginning of winter in terms of meteorology. The climate every year is different, so the beginning of winter could be quite different. And with the vast territory of China, winter of every area doesn’t begin at the same time.

在古代，中国人把立冬当作冬天的开始。然而事实上，从气象学的角度来看，冬天的开始并都不是立冬。每年的气候都不一样，所以冬天的开始可能会很不一样。而且中国幅员辽阔，各地的冬天并不是同时开始的。

02

Welcoming the winter in ancient times

古代迎冬

The four beginnings of the seasons were important festivals in ancient times. Before the Start of Winter, the ancient emperor would take a shower and have no more meat. On that day, the emperor would lead his officials to the suburbs and perform the ceremony of "welcoming the winter."

在古代四季的开始是一个重要的节日。在立冬之前，皇帝通常会洗个澡，不再吃肉食。在这一天，皇帝会带领他的官员到郊区，举行“迎冬”仪式。

03

Eating dumplings

吃饺子

A legend has it that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220), "Medical Saint" Zhang Zhongjing saved many people in Henan province from a typhoid epidemic and their ears’ from being frostbitten around Start of Winter.

传说在东汉末年(公元25-220年)，“医圣”张仲景救了许多河南人，让他们免于流行伤寒，帮助他们在初冬时耳朵免于冻伤。

He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to dispel the cold and increase body heat. He wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape. Since then, people have learned to make the food which became known as "dumpling". Today there is still a saying that goes "Eat dumplings on Start of Winter Day, or your ears will be frostbitten".

他通过煮羊肉、辣椒和一些草药来给大家驱寒，增加体温。他把这些配料包在一个面皮里，做成耳朵形状。从那时起，人们就学会了包饺子。今天仍然有一个说法，“在初冬吃饺子，否则你的耳朵会被冻伤”。

04

Yifan Festival of Mulam Ethnic Mi