春分

Spring Equinox

春分 是中國二十四節(jié)氣中

Spring Equinox is the fourth

的第四個節(jié)氣。

of the 24 solar terms.

春分一般在3月20或21日

It usually falls on March 20 or 21

這一天陽光直射赤道

when the sun shines directly on the equator

晝夜幾乎相等

and the length of day and night is almost the same

故稱“春分”

so it’s called ‘equinox’

其后陽光直射位置逐漸北移

After that, the sun’s position gradually moves northward

北半球開始

and days begin to grow longer and nights become shorter

晝長夜短

in the northern hemisphere

中國大部分地區(qū)都將進入明媚的春天。

And the most parts of China will enter a bright spring.

這時

Spring Equinox will bring swallows

燕子從南方飛回北方

from the south back to north

氣溫回暖 雨水充沛

The warm weather and abundant rainfall at this time

農作物進入春季生長的關鍵時刻

are critical for the growth of crops

俗語“春分麥起身 一刻值千金”

As a saying in the countryside says

說的就是這個意思

Spring Equinox is as precious as gold for wheat to rise

冬小麥返青后進入起身期

Wheat turns green and then grows taller

是澆水、施肥、鋤草、防治病蟲害等

which is the right time for agricultural activities

田間管理的最佳時節(jié)

such as watering, fertilizing, weeding, pest controlling and so on.

春分時節(jié)

There are many interesting activities and folk customs

中國民間有許多有趣的傳統(tǒng)

about Spring Equinox

“春分豎蛋”便是其中之一

One of them is to erect eggs

有人認為

Some people believe that Spring Equinox is

春分是豎雞蛋的最佳時機

the best time to practice this game

在春分這一天

because on this day the axis of the earth

地球地軸與地球繞太陽公轉的軌道平面

is relatively balanced against the orbital plane

正好屬于相對平衡的狀態(tài)

of the earth's rotation around the sun

因此 春分這天雞蛋很容易豎起來

which makes it easier to make an egg stand

選擇一個光滑勻稱

Choose a smooth, well-proportioned and fresh egg

剛生下四五天的新鮮雞蛋

that is just four or five days old

輕手輕腳地在桌子上把它豎起來

and set it up on the table gently and carefully

4000年前

About 4,000 years ago

中國民族先民就開始

our ancestors started this tradition

以此慶賀春天的來臨

to celebrate the coming of spring

“春分到，蛋兒俏”

The saying that “when Spring Equinox arrives, eggs are nice”

的說法流傳至今

is still alive this day

人們相信

It is believed

如果能將雞蛋豎起來

that if someone can make the egg stand

將來會好運連連。

he will have good luck in the future.

春分也是放風箏的好時節(jié)

Flying kites is another interesting activity on Spring Equinox

風箏的制作分為三步

The delicate kite making?procedure can be divided into three parts

首先 將它劈成纖細的竹篾

Firstly, pare and flex bamboo into thin strips for the frames

然后根據個人喜好

According to taste

扎成蜻蜓 燕子 蜈蚣或蝴蝶

they can have shapes as diverse as

等形狀的框架

those of a dragonfly, swallow, centipede or butterfly

接著 在框架上貼上紙張

Secondly, paste paper onto the framework

最后 用五顏六色的絲帶和繪畫加以裝飾

Finally, decorate?them with colorful ribbons and paintings

在古代 醫(yī)療條件差

In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources

人們?yōu)榱似砬蠼】?/p>

So to pray for health

把病情寫在紙風箏上

they wrote their medical issue on paper kite

當風箏飛到空中時

When the kite was in the air

人們會剪斷繩子讓風箏飄走

people would cut off the string to let the kite float away

象征祛病消災

symbolizing the flying away of diseases

后來放風箏發(fā)展成一種深受歡迎的春季活動

Later, flying kites developed into a popular game in spring

春分時節(jié)

On Spring Equinox

人們在風箏上寫下祝福

people write a blessing on the kite

希望天官賜福。

hoping that the gods in the sky would see it and bless them.

此外 春分也是人們

In addition, Spring Equinox is also a good time

調養(yǎng)身體的大好時機

for people to work on improving their fitness

應多食用蔬菜及山野菜等

They should eat more vegetables and wild vegetables

這時

At this time

晝夜溫差較大

the temperature difference between day and night is large

雨水較多

and there is much rain

仍要注意保暖。

so it is still necessary to keep warm.