小雪：雪花洒洒 食暖不畏冬来
每逢公历11月22或23日便迎来了中国的第二十个节气——小雪。这个时节雪量还不足，因此称作小雪。北方有一句谚语：“小雪雪满天，来年必丰年”，意思是小雪时节若有雪花飘落，积雪能够防寒润地，冻死害虫，这样来年肯定是个丰收年。中国自古是农业生产大国，中国人更以勤劳著称，即便是冬季来临，农民们也会翻地封田，滋养土壤，准备迎接来年的农忙与丰收。
November 22nd or 23rd of the Gregorian calendar ushers in China’s twentieth solar term when everything is covered in a blanket of light snow. In the north, there is a saying, “If the light snow flies in the sky, the next year will be a good year.” Light snow can provide moisture to soil while trapping and freezing pests, which would mean a good harvest the next year. This is why Light Snow is welcomed, especially by farmers in an agrarian country like China. Chinese are known for their diligence and they prepare for the weather. Ahead of winter, farmers dig the land to nourish the soil and don’t sow until spring when the earth is primed for a rich harvest.
千百年来，小雪不仅飘进了文人墨客的诗词歌赋里，也浸润到了人们的日常生活中。中国幅员辽阔、地大物博，中国人爱吃，会吃，每逢小雪飘洒时，各地的人们会用各种独特的习俗来迎接“寒”的到来。
For hundreds of years, Light Snow has lent itself to beautiful poetry and soulful songs. It has become entrenched in daily life too. China is a vast country with a vast territory and abundant resources. Chinese people like to eat with gusto. The arrival of Light Snow heralds another set of festivities where people follow unique customs to welcome the cold.
小雪到，美酒酿。早在夏朝，中国人就开始了酿酒。小雪时节酿的酒被称为小雪酒，此时的水最为清澈，因此酿出的酒色清味冽。寒冷的冬季饮一壶热酒，暖身暖胃。
When Light Snow comes knocking at your door, pour out the good wine. The Chinese have been making wine as early as the Xia Dynasty. But what does snow have to do with wine? Plenty! There is a special term for wine that is brewed during the solar term of Light Snow, called “Light Snow Wine.” At this time, the water is the clearest so the wine brewed is clear and tasteful. Drink a pot of hot wine to warm your stomach in cold winter.
小雪到，腊肉腌。雪后气温急剧下降，天气变得干燥，正是加工腊肉的好时候。小雪节气后，一些农家开始动手做香肠、腊肉，经过两个月的等待，春节时就能享受美食了。窗外雪花洒洒，屋内腊肉香，人团圆。
When Light Snow comes knocking at your door, lay bacon on the table. After the snow, the temperature drops sharply and the weather becomes dry, which is a good time for processing bacon. After Light Snow, farmers prepare sausages and bacon. After a wait of two months, they can begin enjoying delicious food during the Spring Festival. When snow is sprinkling outside, families gather in warm home, savoring the delicious bacon and enjoying their happy reunion.
小雪到，糍粑烧。在中国南方，客家人还有着小雪吃糍粑的习俗。在古代，糍粑是农民用来祭牛神的供品，祈祷来年可以劳作顺利，粮食丰收。
When light snow comes knocking at your door, take out your mittens and bake some rice cakes. In South China, Hakka people follow the tradition of eating sticky rice cakes in Light Snow. In ancient times, sticky rice cake was used for sacrificial purposes. Farmers would offer it to the God of Cattle while praying for a good harvest next year.
小雪到，干鱼晒。居住在海边的渔民们，在小雪到来之际便陆陆续续地开始晒鱼干以储备过冬。这时，肥美的腌制咸鱼排列，也是海边初冬的一副生动景象。
Light Snow reminds you it’s time to dry fish. This is also a time for fishermen living by the sea to dry their fish for the winter. The arrangement of dried, salted fish is a vivid portrayal of the early winter by the sea.
小雪到，食刨汤。每到小雪前后，土家族人就会进行一年一度的“杀年猪，迎新年”民俗活动。农家用热气尚存的上等新鲜猪肉，精心烹饪成刨汤，邀邻里乡亲齐聚共享，给寒冷的冬天增添了热烈的气氛。
Light Snow reminds you it’s time for a pork feast. Before and after the Light Snow, Tujia community carries out the annual tradition of slaying pigs and welcoming the New Year. Then farmers use their best fresh pork to cook up a pork feast. Neighbors are invited and residents gather together to have a good time.
对于美食，中国人不但要求色香味俱全，还讲究食疗。小雪时节，人们会选择食用牛羊肉等食材来暖身御寒。同时，食物不仅能够暖身，还能“暖心”。冬季的阴郁、萧瑟，可能会导致人们产生抑郁情绪，这时，中国人会选择食用菠菜、黄豆、青菜、猕猴桃等富含叶酸的食物来缓解抑郁。此正所谓，食暖不畏冬来。
But food for the Chinese is as therapeutic for the soul as it is for their palate. In the Light Snow solar term, people prefer to eat beef, mutton and other ingredients to keep their bodies and souls warm. A gloomy and bleak winter may lead to depression. So the Chinese prefer to eat spinach, soybean, vegetables, kiwifruit and other foods rich in folic acid to relieve symptoms of depression. Eating these so-called “warming food” helps people enjoy winter.
图片购于视觉中国
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