《双语说节气》立春

俗话说，一年之计在于春。立春节在传统文化和农业生产中承担着团聚、祈求丰收的美好寓意。 作为二十四节气之首，立春节的到来意味着严冬的结束。此时柳萌黄枝，水泛新绿，万物生长的春季已经到来。因“立”有“开始”之意，所以“立春”的英文表达为Start of Spring，是不是很贴切？ After that everything turns green and becomes full of vigor. People clearly can notice that daytime becomes longer and the weather gets warmer. 立春节后，植物转绿，焕发勃勃生机。人们可以清楚地注意到白天的时间变得更长，天气也愈发温暖了。 关于立春的习俗大家知道多少呢？ 放风筝 It can help build one’s health and prevent diseases. It also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and speeding up metabolism. A breath of fresh air outside can discharge the foul smell accumulated in winter. 放风筝可以帮助人们强身健体，预防疾病。它有助于促进血液循环，加速新陈代谢。在室外呼吸一下新鲜空气，可以排出体内沉积了一整个冬天的浊气。 立鸡蛋 In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of the Start of Spring, Spring Equinox day and Autumn Equinox day. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future. 在中国，传说在立春、春分和秋分的时候，鸡蛋可以被立起。人们认为，如果有人能在立春的时候把鸡蛋立起来，他在未来就会交到好运。 Spring Equinox day：春分 Autumn Equinox day：秋分 咬春 In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Start of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots. 在中国许多地区，人们在立春的时候遵循“咬春”的习俗，会吃春饼，春卷，或是几口胡萝卜。 赏梅 The plum blossom, as it fights against the cold, is the most highly regarded. In China, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are praised as the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers. 梅花因其不畏严寒的特性而备受推崇。在中国，梅、兰、竹、菊被誉为“花中四君子”。 迎春仪式 People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. 中国人早在3000年前就已开始在立春的第一天举行特别的盛典了。春神句芒掌管农业，人们为他制作贡品。到了清代（1644-1911），迎春庆典已成为重要的民俗活动。