每年11月22或23日，是第二十個(gè)節(jié)氣——小雪。此時(shí)雪量不大，故稱小雪。北方諺語(yǔ)有云：“小雪雪滿天，來(lái)年必豐年”。小雪飄雪花，在農(nóng)業(yè)生產(chǎn)大國(guó)的中國(guó)，是農(nóng)民們最為期盼的。冰雪，凍死害蟲(chóng)，雪水，滋養(yǎng)土壤，確保來(lái)年豐收。

November 22nd or 23rd ushers in Xiaoxue, or Light Snow in English, the twentieth solar term, when it begins to snow lightly. In the north, there is a saying, “If it snows during Light Snow, there will be a good harvest next year.” Light snow now is welcomed in an agrarian country like China. Falling snow can trap and kill pests while melted snow can provide moisture to soil, making sure of a rich harvest next year.

千百年來(lái)，小雪不僅飄進(jìn)了文人墨客的詩(shī)詞歌賦里，也浸潤(rùn)著人們的日常生活。中國(guó)幅員遼闊、地大物博，中國(guó)人愛(ài)吃，會(huì)吃，每逢小雪飄落，人們會(huì)用各種飲食習(xí)俗，來(lái)迎“寒”。

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 eating customs to welcome the cold.

小雪到，美酒釀。早在夏朝，中國(guó)人就開(kāi)始釀酒。小雪時(shí)節(jié)的酒，被稱為“小雪酒”。此時(shí)，泉水清澈，釀出的酒，色清味醇。天寒地凍，一壺?zé)峋疲砼浮?/p>

When Light Snow comes knocking at your door, pour out the good liquor. The Chinese have made liquor as early as in the Xia Dynasty. Light Snow Liquor is a special term for that brewed during Light Snow. At this time, spring water is the clearest so the liquor brewed is clear and tasteful. A pot of hot liquor in cold winter, your stomach will be warmed.

小雪到，臘肉腌。霽學(xué)初晴，氣溫驟降，氣候干燥，正是加工臘肉的最佳時(shí)節(jié)。小雪后，農(nóng)家開(kāi)始制做香腸、臘肉。兩個(gè)月后，春節(jié)到來(lái)，就能享受美食。窗外飛雪漫天，屋內(nèi)臘肉飄香，家人團(tuán)圓，同享天倫。

When Light Snow is coming, 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. During Light Snow, farmers are to prepare sausages and bacon. After a wait of two months, they can begin enjoying the delicious food during Spring Festival. Snow sprinkling outside, and the fragrant aroma floating around, families gather in warm home, enjoying their happy reunion.

小雪到，糍粑（ciba21）燒。中國(guó)南方，客家人有小雪吃糍粑的習(xí)俗。古代，糍粑是用來(lái)祭牛神的供品，祈禱風(fēng)調(diào)雨順，糧食豐收。

When light snow is approaching, prepare rice cakes. In South China, Hakka people follow the tradition of eating sticky rice cakes. In ancient times, farmers offered sticky rice cakes to the God of Cattle to pray for a good harvest next year.

小雪到，干魚(yú)曬。此時(shí)，海邊的漁民，開(kāi)始曬制魚(yú)干，儲(chǔ)備過(guò)冬。溫暖的陽(yáng)光下，整體排列的咸魚(yú)，是海邊初冬的一道獨(dú)特風(fēng)景。

Light Snow reminds you it’s time to dry fish. Fishermen living by the sea begin to dry their fish for the winter. In the warm sunshine, the neat arrangement of dried, salted fish is a vivid portrayal of the early winter by the sea.

小雪到，食刨湯。小雪前后，土家人“殺年豬，迎新年”的大戲上演。上等的新鮮豬肉，精心烹飪的刨湯，鄰里鄉(xiāng)親，齊聚共享，其樂(lè)融融。

Light Snow reminds you it’s time for a pork feast. Before and after Light Snow, Tujia community carries out the annual tradition of slaying pigs and welcoming New Year. Farmers use their best fresh pork to cook up a pork feast. Neighbors are invited and gathered together to have a good time.

中國(guó)人的美食，不但要色香味俱全，還要有益健康。小雪時(shí)節(jié)，食用牛羊肉等不僅能暖身，還能“暖心”。冬季，陰郁蕭瑟，很容易讓人情緒低落，這時(shí)，食用菠菜、黃豆、青菜、獼猴桃等富含葉酸的食物，可以調(diào)節(jié)心情，緩解抑郁。正所謂，食暖不畏冬寒。

Food for the Chinese is as therapeutic for the soul as it is for their palate. During Light Snow, people prefer to eat beef and mutton to keep their bodies and souls warm. A gloomy and bleak winter may lead to depression. So the Chinese prefer to eat spinach, soybean, greens, kiwifruit and other foods rich in folic acid to relieve symptoms of depression. Eating these so-called “warming food” helps people enjoy winter.