“冬至”，是二十四節氣中的第二十二節氣，通常在12月21日或者22日。在這一天，北半球晝最短夜最長(cháng)。
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【冬至 Winter Solstice】“solstice”這個(gè)詞我們不太看到，因為它的意思很特別，表示“the time of either the longest day in the year (about June 22) or the shortest day in the year (about December 22)”。這么看來(lái)，這個(gè)詞的用武之地似乎局限性很大了。基本上也就用在“Winter Solstice”（冬至）以及“Summer Solstice”（夏至）之處。節氣百科After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese, “Shu Jiu”. In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each. In the first and second nine days, people keep their hands in pockets; in the third and fourth nine days, people can walk on ice; in the fifth and sixth nice days, people can see willows along the river bank; in the seventh and eighth nine days, the swallow comes back and in the ninth nine days, the yak starts working.
從冬至以后，中國的絕大部分地區都會(huì )經(jīng)歷最寒冷的時(shí)期，中國人叫它”數九“。這一共有九個(gè)時(shí)期，每個(gè)時(shí)期分別有九天。在”一九“和”二九“，手放口袋就能避寒；”三九“和”四九“，路上會(huì )結冰；”五九“和”六九“，可以看到河岸邊柳樹(shù)抽芽了；在”七九“和”八九“，燕子回歸，在最后的”九九“，牛開(kāi)始犁地。
冬至的傳統習俗：
Winter Solstice is a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.冬至是家族團聚的一天。在這天，中國南方的家庭會(huì )包湯圓、吃湯圓，以象征團圓的意思。不過(guò)在中國北方，似乎更多的人會(huì )吃餃子。比如說(shuō)會(huì )有“冬至到，吃水餃”這樣的諺語(yǔ)。
中國人為什么重視冬至
其實(shí)，從中國文化方面講，“冬至”這個(gè)日子還可以翻譯成“Dongzhi Festival”，中國人為什么比較重視這個(gè)節氣？
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in.
原來(lái)是和“陰陽(yáng)”相關(guān)。人們認為，過(guò)了這一天，白晝一天比一天長(cháng)了，是一個(gè)節氣循環(huán)的開(kāi)始，“陽(yáng)”氣逐漸回升，因此算是個(gè)吉利的日子。
關(guān)于冬至的相關(guān)英語(yǔ)
【餃子】：Dumplings , Chinese meat ravioli, Jiaozi；
【餛飩】：Wonton, dumplings in soup；
【米團】：Rice dumpling；
【長(cháng)線(xiàn)面】：Long noodle ；
【冬至祭祖】：Offering a Sacrifice to the Ancestors on the Winter Solstice。
中國24節氣的英語(yǔ)表達：
雨水 The rains 驚蟄 Insects awaken 春分 Vernal Equinox 清明 Clear and bright 谷雨 Grain rain 立夏 Summer begins 小滿(mǎn) Grain buds 芒種 Grain in ear 夏至 Summer solstice 小暑 Slight heat 大暑 Great heat
立秋 Autumn begins 處暑 Stopping the heat 白露 White dews
秋分 Autumn Equinox 寒露 Cold dews 霜降 Hoar-frost falls 立冬 Winter begins 小雪 Light snow
大雪 Heavy snow 冬至 Winter Solstice 小寒 Slight cold 大寒 Great cold
