中国古代把冬至分为三候：“一候蚯蚓结，二候麋角解，三候水泉动。”传说蚯蚓是阴曲阳伸的生物，冬至之后，阳气虽已生长，但阴气仍然十分强盛，土中的蚯蚓仍然蜷缩着身体；麋与鹿同科，却阴阳不同，古人认为麋的角朝后生，所以为阴，而冬至一阳生，麋感阴气渐退而解角；由于阳气初生，所以山中的泉水可以流动并且温热。

Winter was separated into three periods in ancient China: “In the first period earthworms curl up. In the second period elk antlers fall off. In the third period spring water flows.” Legend has it that earthworms curl up when the energy of Yin increases. Though the energy (qi) of Yang is already growing after the winter solstice, the energy (qi) of Yin is still very powerful. The earthworms in the soil still curl up their bodies. Elk and deer are of the same family, but have different Yin and Yang attributes. The ancients believed that elk antlers grew backwards, therefore elk antlers were Yin. Elk feel the energy (qi) of Yin gradually dissipating when Yang grows after the winter solstice and then their antlers fall off. Spring waters in mountains begin to flow and turn warm due to the renewal of the energy (qi) of Yang.

二

冬至节

中国古代有一种说法，“冬至与春节一样重要。”

here was a saying in ancient China, "The Winter Solstice is as significant as the Spring Festival."

早在周朝(公元前11世纪-公元前256年)，人们就在冬至的第一天祭拜神灵，也就是新年的第一天。

As early as the Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-256BC), people worshipped the gods on the first day of the Winter Solstice, which also was the first day of the new year.

冬至在汉代(公元前206年-公元220年)成为一个冬季节日。庆祝活动正式组织。在这一天，官员和老百姓都会休息。

The Winter Solstice became a winter festival during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220AD). The celebratory activities were officially organized. On this day, both officials and common people would have a rest.

在随后的朝代，如唐(618-907)，宋(960-1279)和清(1644-1911)，冬至是祭天和祭祖的日子。

During subsequent dynasties, such as the Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911), the Winter Solstice was a day to offer sacrifices to Heaven and to ancestors.

三

气候特点

冬至天文学上把冬至作为冬季的开始，对于我国多数地区来说，显然偏迟。冬至期间，西北高原平均气温普遍在0℃以下，南方地区也只有6℃至8℃左右。西南低海拔河谷地区，即使在当地最冷的1月上旬，平均气温仍然在10℃以上，可谓秋去春来，全年无冬。

The winter solstice is designated as the beginning of winter in astronomy. There are clear differences in climate during the winter solstice in many regions of China. The northwestern plateaus have an average temperature below 0℃ during the winter solstice. Southern regions have temperatures of only around 6℃ to 8℃. The average temperatures of the southwestern low altitude river valley regions are still above 10℃ even during the coldest time of the year locally in mid-January. You could say that autumn is followed by spring, and there is no winter throughout the year.

冬至日外出中国古代对冬至很重视，冬至被当作一个较大节日，曾有“冬至大如年”的说法，而且有庆贺冬至的习俗。人们认为：过了冬至，白昼一天比一天长，阳气回升，是一个节气循环的开始，也是一个吉日，应该庆贺。

Great importance was attached to going out on the day of winter solstice in ancient China. Winter solstice was a relatively large festival. There was once a saying that said “winter solstice is as grand as the Spring Festival”. There was also a custom of celebrating the winter solstice. People believed that: days grew longer and the energy (qi) of Yang increased again after the winter solstice. It was the beginning of another solar term cycle, and also an auspicious day that should be celebrated.

冬至日是一年中白天时间最短的一天，过了冬至以后，太阳直射点逐渐向北移动，北半球白天逐渐变长，夜间逐渐变短，有俗话说，“吃了冬至面，一天长一线。冬至开始“数九”，冬至日成了“数九”的第一天。关于“数九”，民间流传着的歌谣说：“一九、二九不出手，三九、四九冰上走，五九、六九沿河看柳，七九河开，八九燕来，九九加一九，耕牛遍地走。”

The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. The point where the sun directly shines gradually moves north after the winter solstice. The days in the northern hemisphere gradually lengthen and nights gradually shorten. There is an old saying that goes, “Days become longer each day after eating winter solstice noodles.” Following the winter solstice, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese, “Shu Jiu”, meaning counting nine. “Shu Jiu” consists of nine Nine-Day Periods. The day of the winter solstice is the first day of the “Shu Jiu”. There is a folk song handed down among the people about the “Shu Jiu” or Counting Nine: “It is too cold to take your hands out form your pockets during the first and second nine days. Walk on ice during the third and fourth nine days. Enjoy the willow trees along the river on the fifth and sixth nine days. Rivers flow during the seventh nine days. Swallows come back during the eighth nine days. Farm cattle work in the field everywhere during the ninth and tenth nine days.”

冬至后的三九通常是冬季最冷的时期；三九之后，气温逐渐回升。

The third nine days after Winter Solstice is usually the coldest period in winter; the temperature gradually starts to rise after that.

“数九”的传统自南北朝流传至今，在中国，有许多庆祝“数九”的娱乐活动。

The tradition of “counting nine” has been popular since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and there are plenty of recreational activities in China.

明朝人有画九的传统。冬至这天，人们会画一枝梅枝，枝上有九朵无色的梅花，每朵梅花上有九片花瓣。每过一天，就把一片花瓣涂上颜色，等所有花都被涂上颜色后，春天就近了。

People in the Ming Dynasty have a tradition of painting nines. On Winter Solstice, people draw a plum branch with nine colorless flowers, each with nine petals. Every day, one petal is painted in color. After all the flowers are colored, it is near springtime.

在清朝，写九被人们当作漫长严冬中的娱乐。人们挑选一句描述春天来临的诗词，一共九个字，每字有九个笔画，每天写一笔，直到春天到来。有些人还在笔画上记录天气状况。

In the Qing Dynasty,writing nines was seen as fun time for people locked in a long hard winter. They would pick a poetic sentence indicating the arrival of spring. There are nine characters in total, and each character has nine strokes. People will write one stroke every day until the spring is coming. Some people also recorded the weather condition on the stroke.

四

相关知识

1. 冬至英文solstice的意思是“太阳静止不动”

冬至英文solstice源于拉丁文solstitium，sol意思是“太阳”，stitium是sistere的过去分词形式，意思是“停下来”。这是基于对正午时分太阳在天空中位置的观察，太阳的位置会随着四季轮回升降，而在冬至前后太阳似乎停下来不动了。

Solstice derives from the Latin term solstitium, containing sol, which means "sun," and the past participle stem of sistere, meaning "to make stand." This comes from the fact that the sun’s position in the sky relative to the horizon at noon, which increases and decreases throughout the year, appears to pause in the days surrounding the solstice.

2. 古代文化将冬至视为死亡和重生的时节

冬月里黑夜漫漫，太阳似乎远去了。在饥饿的威胁下，古人会举行各种冬至庆祝活动和仪式来迎接太阳的回归，期待新生的来临。冬至时节古人会宰杀牲口和其他动物，然后在接下来几个月尽情享用最后的鲜肉。

The seeming death of the light and very real threat of starvation over the winter months would have weighed heavily on early societies, who held varied solstice celebrations and rites meant to herald the return of the sun and hope for new life. Cattle and other animals were slaughtered around midwinter, followed by feasting on what was the last fresh meat for several months.

3. 冬至前后地球距离太阳最近

尽管身在北半球的你可能感觉不到，但是地球在1月初比7月初距离太阳更近，近了大约300万英里。太阳和一颗行星最短的距离叫作近日点，2021年地球于1月2日到达近日点。

Though it doesn’t feel like it in the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is closer to the sun in early January— approximately 3 million miles closer—than it is in early July. The shortest distance between the sun and a planet is called perihelion; in 2021, Earth was at perihelion on January 2.

尽管距离太阳更近，但是温度却很低，这是由于地球倾斜23.5度导致北半球在冬天接收到的阳光更少，因此天气也更冷。北半球在冬天是背离太阳的方向倾斜着身子公转，而在夏天（7月）是向着太阳倾斜。

Despite the proximity to the sun, the reason for cold temperatures is because the Northern Hemisphere receives less sunlight and has cooler temperatures in winter due to Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun in winter, and toward it in July.

4. 冬至是一年中白昼最短的一天，但不是日落最早的一天

尽管冬至是日照最少的一天，但这不是因为日落时间早。事实上，日落最早的时间是在约两周以前。以纽约为例，今年的冬至是12月21日，但是当地日落最早的日子是12月7日和8日（下午4点28分）。

Though the winter solstice is the day with the least amount of sunlight, that’s not because of the sunset. In fact, the earliest sunset happens about two weeks prior—in 2021 in New York, for example, the winter solstice is December 21, but the earliest sunsets occur on December 7 and 8 (at 4:28 pm).

这种差异是由于我们计算时间的方式产生的。我们的时钟按照精确的24小时来运行，但是从严格意义上来讲我们每一天的时间会长一点或短一点。从太阳升至天空最高点（正午时分）到第二天再次升至最高点的这段时间算作一天。

The discrepancy is due to the way we calculate time. Our clocks operate on an exact 24-hour schedule, but our days are technically a little longer or shorter. One day equals the time between when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, called solar noon, and the next.

由于地球的倾斜角度和公转，夏至和冬至时的一个太阳日比24小时略长，在春分和秋分比24小时略短。纽约冬至日12月21日的正午时分实际上是美国东部标准时间上午11点54分。

A solar day is slightly longer than 24 hours during the summer and winter solstices and slightly shorter during the spring and fall equinoxes because of Earth’s tilt and orbit. During the winter solstice in New York on December 21, solar noon is actually 11:54 am EST.

5、根据冬至的天气情况推测春节的天气

一个颇受欢迎的传统，人们至今仍在遵循着，就是根据冬至的天气情况推测春节的天气。

A popular tradition which is still followed today is speculating the weather of the Spring Festival according to the Winter Solstice’s weather condition.

根据传统，冬至这天如果下雨，春节的天气就会晴朗；但如果冬至阳光明媚，春节很可能会下雨。

According to the tradition, if it’s raining on Winter Solstice, it’ll be fine on the Spring Festival; but if it’s sunny on Winter Solstice, it’ll be most likely raining on the Spring Festival.

五

冬至习俗

1、吃饺子

People in the North Eat Dumplings

每年冬至，不论贫富，饺子是必不可少的节日饭。谚云：“十一月，冬至到，家家户户吃水饺。”这种习俗，是因纪念“医圣”张仲景冬至舍药留下的。

Whether rich or poor, dumplings are an indispensable holiday food on the day of winter solstice . There is a saying that goes: “All families eat dumplings when winter solstice arrives in the eleventh lunar month.” This custom has been preserved in order to commemorate the “medical sage” Zhang Zhongjing who donated medicine to the poor on the winter solstice.

各地在冬至时有不同的风俗，但多数地方有冬至吃饺子的习俗。冬至经过数千年发展，形成了独特的节令食文化，吃饺子成为多数中国人冬至的风俗。

Different places have different customs during the winter solstice. However, a majority of places have a custom of eating dumplings on the winter solstice. A distinctive seasonal dining culture has formed during the winter solstice over the course of thousands of years of development. Eating dumplings has become a winter solstice custom for the majority of Chinese people.

2、南方吃汤圆

People in the South Eat Glutinous Rice Flour Balls

汉族民谚云：“冬节大如年”、“冬节没返没祖宗”。意思是外出的人，到冬至这一天无论如何要赶回家敬拜祖宗，否则就是没有祖家观念。海峡两岸的同胞，都很看重冬至，把冬至当作团圆节。

A Han Chinese folk proverb says: “Winter solstice is as grand as the Spring Festival” and “If you don’t return home on the winter solstice, you have no reverence to your ancestors”. What it means is that people away from home have to return home by all possible means to praise and worship their ancestors on the winter solstice. Otherwise, they do not have the concept of ancestor veneration in their minds. People in the Mainland and Taiwan both highly value the winter solstice, and regard it as a festival of reunion.

广东潮汕的人们吃了冬节圆后，还要在家宅的门、窗、桌、橱、梯、床等显眼处粘附两粒冬节圆，甚至渔家的船首，农户耕牛的牛角，果农种植的果树也不例外。现代台湾著名学者林再复在《闽南人》一书中描述台湾冬节之日“家家户户清晨要以冬至圆仔致祭祖先……从大门、小门、窗门、仓门、床、柜、桌、井、厕、牛舍、猪舍都得以冬至圆一二粒在上面，祭告一番，以求保佑一家大小平安”。

After eating winter solstice rice balls the people of the Chaoshan Area in Guangdong Province also adhere two winter solstice rice balls on the highly visible areas of their homes like doors, windows, tables, cabinets, stairs, and beds. They even adhere them to the bows of the boats of fisherman’s families, the horns of the farming cattle of peasant households, and the fruit trees grown by fruit farmers. The famous modern Taiwanese scholar Lin Zaifu in his book “The People of Minnan” described a winter festival day in Taiwan: “All families have to offer winter solstice rice balls to their ancestors in the morning....From the large gate, small gate, windows, granary doors, beds, cabinets, tables, wells, restrooms, to ox tails, and pig tails, all have one or two winter solstice rice balls on them. They are offered in order to request their ancestors to bless, protect, and ensure the safety of the members of the family.”

3、吃馄饨

Eating wontons

苏州人习惯在冬至吃馄饨。根据历史传说，在2500年前的冬至时节，吴国国王厌倦了各类珍馐，想换个口味。为满足吴王的心愿，西施去厨房做了一碗馄饨。吴王很喜欢，吃了一大碗。为了纪念西施，苏州人会在冬至做馄饨庆祝节日。

People in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, are accustomed to eating wontons in midwinter. According to legend, during the midwinter feast 2,500 years ago, the King of Wu was disgusted with all kinds of costly foods and wanted to eat something different. Then, the beauty Xishi came into the kitchen to make "wontons" to honor the king's wish. He ate a lot and liked the food very much. To commemorate Xishi, the people of Suzhou made wontons the official food to celebrate the festival.

4、吃坚果类食物

Eating nuts

冬天时户外活动减少，在这段时期，吃一些诸如花生、核桃、栗子等坚果类食物对身体大有好处。坚果类食物有养肾强心脑的功能。

When midwinter comes, vital movement begins to decline and calm down. In this period, eating an appropriate amount of nuts, such as peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and almonds, is good for one's body. Traditional Chinese medical science teaches that the quality of a nut is tepidity and most nuts have the function of nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the brain and heart.

5、吃羊肉粉汤

Eating mutton and vermicelli soup

在宁夏银川，大家称冬至为“鬼节”，这天的习俗是吃羊肉粉汤饺子。此外，他们还给这道美味起了个古怪的名字“头脑”。粉汤饺子做好后还要给邻居端上一碗。

In Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, people call midwinter the "Ghost Festival". On that day, it is customary for people there to drink mutton and vermicelli soup and eat the dumplings in the soup. They give the midwinter soup a strange name: "brain" and share it with their neighbors.

6、吃年糕

Eating rice cakes

杭州居民有冬至吃年糕的传统。过去家家户户都会在冬至到来前制作年糕来供奉先人或者馈赠亲友。

During the Winter Solstice, Hangzhou residents traditionally eat rice cakes. In the past, before the approach of the Winter Solstice, every household would make the cakes to worship their ancestors or use as gifts for relatives and friends.

7、染素梅

Color in Plum Blossoms

画一枝素梅，枝上画梅花九朵，每朵梅花九个花瓣，共八十一瓣，代表「数九寒天」的八十一天。每天用颜色染上梅花的一朵花瓣，涂完九朵梅花，就出「九」了。

Draw a plum blossom tree with nine plum blossoms. Draw nine flower petals on each plum blossom for a total of 81 petals to represent the 81 days of the “Cold Days of the Nine Periods”. Color in one petal every day. You will exit the “Nine Periods” when all of the plum blossoms are colored in.

有诗人云：「冬至后，贴梅花一枝于窗间，佳人晓妆，日以胭脂日图一圈，八十一圈既足，变作杏花，即暖回矣。」美人梳妆时用胭脂点染梅图，八十一天后，素梅化红杏，春意喧闹，颇有雅趣。

A poet wrote: “Draw a branch of plain plum blossoms on the window after the winter solstice. When a beauty applies make up, she colors in one petal with rouge each day. It is complete after 81 petals. Warmth has returned when the plum blossoms transform into apricot blossoms.” A beautiful woman would use rouge to color in a picture of plum blossoms when applying makeup. The plum blossoms become apricot blossoms after 81 days. The excitement of the beginning of spring possesses quite an elegant charm.

8、描书法

Trace in Calligraphy

繁体字「亭前垂柳珍重待春風」，九字每字九划，共八十一划。从冬至开始每天按笔画描一笔，这句话都描完时，垂柳青青，春风凉爽，春回大地。

The nine traditional characters “亭前垂柳珍重待春風” is a poetic line meaning that the willow trees in front of the pavilion waiting for balmy spring breezes Each character has nine strokes for a total of 81 strokes in all the nine characters. Trace in each stroke every day starting on the winter solstice. Weeping willows are green, spring breezes are pleasantly cool, and spring has returned when the verse line is fully traced in.

当然，也可根据天气情况按不同的颜色描，晴为红，阴为黑，雨为蓝，风为黄，落雪则白。全部涂完色彩斑斓，记录着冬去春来的过程。

Of course, the characters can be traced in with different colors according to weather conditions. Clear skies are red. Cloudy skies are black. Rain is blue. Wind is yellow. Falling snow is white. The colors are gorgeous when all characters are traced in, and indeed record the process of spring arriving after winter.

六

冬至养生

1、针灸通穴

冬至是阴阳二气的自然转化，这个阴阳交接的时候艾灸神阙穴是激发身体阳气上升的最佳时间。在冬至前后四天，加上冬至这一天共九天中，可以通过用艾条灸神阙穴的方法养生。把艾条点着后以肚脐为中心，熏灼肚脐周围就可以了。注意不要烫到皮肤，有温热的感觉即可。每天一次，每次15—20分钟。

Winter solstice is the natural transformation of the two energies (qi) of Yin and Yang. It is the best time to stimulate the Shenque acupuncture reflex point using the moxibustion therapy to increase the energy (qi) of Yang in the body. The moxibustion acupuncture therapy is adopted to preserve health during the total of nine days on the respective four days before and after winter solstice in addition to the day of the winter solstice. Light the moxa stick, and with the belly button as the center, heat the area surrounding the belly button. Make sure not to burn the skin. A warm sensation is enough. Do this once a day for 15-20 minutes each session.

神阙穴是五脏六腑之本，为任脉、冲脉循行之地、元气归藏之根，为连接人体先天与后天之要穴。艾灸神阙穴可益气补阳，温肾健脾，祛风除湿，温阳救逆，温通经络，调和气血，对身体非常有好处，甚至会使人第二年都少生病。

According to the acupuncture theory, Shenque acupuncture point is the basis of the internal organs of the body, the places where the Ren channels and Chong channels circulate, the root of the Primoridal energy (yuanqi), and the crucial acupuncture reflex point for connecting the congenital and acquired qi of the human body. The moxibustion of Shenque acupuncture point can tonify vital energy (qi), recuperate Yang, warm the kidneys, strengthen the spleen, relieve rheumatic pains, get rid of internal dampness, warm Yang and the meridians, and regulate energy (qi) and blood. It is said to be fairly beneficial for the body, and even able to lessen the number of times people fall ill in the following year.

2、晚间泡脚

中医认为，人体中的寒气是由大地经足部进入人体的，因此，多泡脚可有效帮助女性保暖，但泡脚一定要坚持，不可三天打鱼两天晒网，只有长期坚持，才能起到保健养生、防寒保暖的功效。

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the cold energy (qi) in the body enter the body through the feet from the ground. Hence, soaking one’s feet in hot water can effectively help women to stay warm. However, be sure to be consistent from beginning to end in soaking one’s feet in hot water. You cannot work by fits and starts. Only by remaining consistent for a long period of time can this technique produce a health maintaining, cold resisting, and warmth retaining effect.

七

冬至诗词

冬至夜怀湘灵

（白居易·唐）

Missing Xiangling on Winter Solstice Night

艳质无由见，寒衾不可亲。

I can’t see my lover, and quilt is too cold to touch.

何堪最长夜，俱作独眠人。

Both of us sleep alone; how can we spend the longest night?

邯郸冬至夜思家

（白居易·唐）

Homesick Winter Solstice Night in Handan

邯郸驿里逢冬至，抱膝灯前影伴身。

At the courier station of Handan on Winter Solstice night, my arms clasping my knees, only my shadow is accompanying me.

想得家中夜深坐，还应说着远行人。

My family might sit for a long time, talking about me now at this moment.

冬至

（杜甫·唐）

Winter Solstice

年年至日长为客，忽忽穷愁泥杀人。

Far from my hometown on Winter Solstice every year, I’m in such sorrow for my poverty.

江上形容吾独老，天边风俗自相亲。

Gaunt on the river far away from home, I miss my family so much.

杖藜雪后临丹壑，鸣玉朝来散紫宸。

Facing the valley with a stick, I think of old glorious days in the palace.

心折此时无一寸，路迷何处见三秦。

Every time at this moment, I feel lost and upset.

减字木兰花

（阮阅·北宋）

Shortened Magnolia Flowers Tune (a kind of poem pattern)

晓云舒瑞，寒影初回长日至。

Clouds fell away at this dawn; day would be longer since then.

罗袜新成，更有何人继后尘。

The socks for elders are newly woven; the custom should be handed down.

绮窗寒浅，尽道朝来添一线。

Warmer and warmer, shadow would also be shorter.

秉烛须游，已减铜壶昨夜筹。

As night turns to be shorter, weights for timing should also be reduced.

满江红.冬至

（范成大·宋）

Azolla Tune (a kind of poem pattern)

寒谷春生，熏叶气、玉筒吹谷。

Spring sprouts in the cold winter; the aroma of new vanilla leaves fills in the valley.

新阳后、便占新岁，吉云清穆。

After the sunrise tomorrow, it would be a new wonderful year.

休把心情关药裹，但逢节序添诗轴。

Don’t be thinking about medicines all the time; write a new poem at the solar term.

笑强颜、风物岂非痴，终非俗。

It’s not a forced smile; I merely revel in fantastic nature.

清昼永，佳眠熟。门外事，何时足。

The day is long and I slept well. But when will things outside be satisfactory?

且团栾同社，笑歌相属。

It would be better to gather with like-minded friends to have a great time on this day.

著意调停云露酿，从头检举梅花曲。

We make good wine and study the ancient musical notations.

纵不能、将醉作生涯，休拘束。

Even though I can’t be drunk all the time, I am free at the moment.

八

冬至相关英语

【习俗】custom /ˈkʌs.təm/ 习俗 [n.]

【饺子】：Dumplings , Chinese meat ravioli, Jiaozi；

【馄饨】：Wonton, dumplings in soup；【米团】：Rice dumpling；

【长线面】：Long noodle ；

【冬至】winter solstice / Dongzhi

【汤圆】 Tangyuan Glutinous rice ball / rice ball

【二十四节气】 24 Solar Terms

【冬至祭祖】：Offering a Sacrifice to the Ancestors on the Winter Solstice。

九

冬至的祝福

Happy winter solstice.

冬至快乐。

Stay warm and healthy, and good luck in the new coming year. Happy winter solstice.

祝你在新的一年里温暖、健康、好运。冬至快乐。

I wish our family peace and prosperity in the new year.

我希望新的一年里，我的家庭和睦繁荣。

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