大雪：赴一场冰雪之约
大雪，是农历二十四节气中的第21个节气, 标志着仲冬时节的正式开始。这个时期，因雪量大、范围广，故名大雪。古人云：“大者，盛也，至此而雪盛也。”此时，天气更冷，降雪的可能性也逐渐增多。一场大雪，对于世间万物，都有着不同的意义。
The Great Snow is the 21st solar term in the 2lunar calendar’s 24 solar terms. It marks the official beginning of midwinter. In this period, a large amount of snow and its wide range made it dubbed Great Snow. In ancient times, people said,“Great meansvast and strong, and so far, snow is great.” At this period, the weather becomes colder, and the possibility of snowfall gradually increases. Heavy snow,to all things in the world,has differentmeanings.
民间流传的农谚“瑞雪兆丰年”可不只是一句吉祥话。积雪覆盖大地，为冬作物创造了良好的越冬环境。雪水中富含氮化物，大约是普通雨水的五倍，积雪融化时，既能增加土壤水分含量，又能促进土地肥沃。
The folk proverb, “Auspicious snow indicated a good harvest,” is not an unfounded saying. When snow covers the land, it creates a good wintering environment for crops. Snow is rich in nitrogen compounds,aboutfive times as much as ordinary rain. Once the snow melts, it increases the soil moisture content and promotes soil fertility.
一年到此，是阴气最盛的时候，但盛极转衰，阳气已经有所萌动。所以，每到大雪节气，很多动物便开始了求偶行动。比如老虎，所谓“大雪到，虎始交。”意思就是大雪节气之时，老虎开始寻找伴侣。在玉树银花的天地间，有青山不老，为雪白头，山中之王尽情展现着威武霸气。
At this time of the year, Yin is at its peak. Once the peak declines, Yang has sprouted. Therefore, every time the Great Snow solar term passes, many animals start their courtship. As the saying goes, “When the snow comes, tigers begin to mate.” It means that tigers and other kinds of animals will look for their respective mates. In the world ofsilversnow, the green mountains areclad in white, and the king of the mountains reigns to show its majesty.
当然，各种动物对于下雪有着完全不同的好恶。谚语还有说：“落雪狗欢喜，麻雀一肚气。”狗喜欢下雪，据说是因为雪掩盖了其他狗狗的气味，发现一片无主儿的“新大陆”可不是件容易事，于是它们在雪地里开疆扩土，满地撒欢儿；而麻雀因为粮食都被“雪藏”了，自然不喜欢下雪。
Animals havedistinctivelydifferentfeelings for snow. One proverb says, “Comes the snow, dogs are happy, but the sparrows are mad.” Dogs like snow. It is said that snow covers the scent of other dogs. It is not easy to find a “new world” with no owners. Dogs take the chance to expand their territories and enjoy themselves all over the land. On the other hand, sparrows do not like snow as the grain is buried under it.
人对于雪的情感虽也有不同，但自古以来还是以赞美居多。晋代孙康，幼年好学，家贫无油，常于冬夜映雪读书，后人用“”这个成语，形容勤学苦读。
Though people have mixed feelings towards snow, praisehas been still the major sentiment since in ancient times. Sun Kang of Jin Dynasty was fond of learning when he was young.His family was poor. He had no lamp oil and so he alwaysstudied during winter nights when the snow made the room brighter. Later generations used the idiom “reading in the snow-light” to describe diligence and hard studying.
有人说，雪，是冬之精灵，它的降临，使大地静谧祥和、山峰冷峻挺拔、玉树琼花怒放。江山如此多娇，冬之精灵与天地万物赶赴一场约会。
Some people believe snow is theelfof winter. Its arrival makes the earth quiet and peaceful. It turns mountains cold and straight, and the flowers of icicles reach its full bloom.In such a wonder world with snow-capped mountains and rivers, the elf comes for a date with all thingson earth.
今年大雪节气，你期待一场雪吗？
Do you expect snow to arrive this year?
