冬至，又称日南至、冬节、亚岁等，兼具自然与人文两大内涵，既是二十四节气中一个重要的节气，也是中国民间的传统祭祖节日。冬至是四时八节之一视为冬季的大节日，在古代民间有“冬至大如年”的讲法。
冬至节气习俗
祭祖
Ancestor worship
冬至祭祖之俗最早出现在东汉的《四民月令》一书中。在南方沿海一带如粤西、潮汕、浙江部分地区延续祭祖的传统习俗，家家户户把祖先像、牌位等供于家中上厅，安放供桌，摆好香炉、供品等。在我国台湾还保存着冬至用九层糕祭祖的传统。
Ancestral Worship: The custom of worshiping ancestors on the Winter Solstice first appeared in the book "Four People's Monthly Orders" of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the southern coastal areas such as western Guangdong, Chaoshan, and some parts of Zhejiang, the traditional custom of ancestor worship continues. Every household presents ancestral statues, plaques, etc. in the upper hall of their home, sets up offering tables, incense burners, offerings, etc. In Taiwan, there is still a tradition of worshipping ancestors with nine layers of cake during the winter solstice.
吃饺子
Eat dumplings
在我国北方许多地区，每年冬至日有吃饺子的习俗。相传医圣张仲景告老还乡时看到受冻的百姓，便用羊肉和一些驱寒药材以及面皮，包成像耳朵的样子，做成“驱寒矫耳汤”施舍给百姓吃，后来人们便模仿着做，形成了习俗。
In many areas of northern China, there is a custom of eating dumplings on the winter solstice every year. According to legend,when the medical saint Zhang Zhongjing returned to his hometown in old age, he saw the frozen people and wrapped them in lamb, some cold dispelling herbs, and dough like ears to make a "cold dispelling and ear correcting soup" for the people to eat. Later, people imitated it and formed a custom.
拜贺
Congratulations
冬至曾作为岁首，古代有迎阳贺新的活动，人们在这一天互相拜贺，又称贺冬。汉代时，朝廷和民间甚至有五天的假日，宋时尤盛。
The Winter Solstice was once the beginning of the year, and in ancient times, there was an activity of welcoming the sun and celebrating the new. People worshipped each other on this day, also known as celebrating winter. During the Han Dynasty, both the court and the people even had a five-day holiday, which was particularly prosperous during the Song Dynasty.
冬至三候
Winter Solstice Three Seasons
一候蚯蚓结
在冬至的第一个五天，蚯蚓在泥土里蜷缩着身体。传说蚯蚓是阴曲阳伸的生物，虽然阳气已经开始生长，但阴气仍然十分强盛，因此它们依然没有展开，而是钻入泥土，寻找适宜生存、有一定温度的地层，直到来年春天暖和起来再重新苏醒。
二候麋角解
冬至的第二个五天，麋鹿的角开始脱落。麋与鹿同科，但阴阳属性不同。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。
三候水泉动
冬至的第三个五天，山中泉水开始有涌动之势。由于阳气初生，泉水可以流动并且略带温热。泉水是地下水出露于地面的天然露头，受地面气温影响很小，一般很少冻结。这些物候现象反映了冬至时节自然界的变化，体现了古代劳动人民对自然界的观察和理解。
关于冬至的诗词
《邯郸冬至夜思家》
唐·白居易
邯郸驿里逢冬至，
抱膝灯前影伴身。
想得家中夜深坐，
还应说着远行人。
《冬至日独游吉祥寺》
唐·苏轼
井底微阳回未回，
萧萧寒雨湿枯荄。
何人更似苏夫子，
不是花时肯独来。
《冬至》
唐·苏辙
阴阳升降自相催，
齿发谁教老不回。
犹有髻珠常照物，
坐看心火冷成灰。
冬至大如年，人间小团圆。愿你在这最长的夜，梦最甜的梦，所有的期待都能如愿，所有的付出都有收获。此后白昼渐长，愿你的生活也如这日渐长的天光，充满光明与希望，幸福安康常相伴，快乐温馨永相随。
撰稿：李玉涵（学生会新闻部）
编辑：薛雯畅（团总支宣传部）
校对：姜再中
审核：张雪
哈剑桥外国语
