秋分 | 用英语讲好中国文化——合八学子争做文化传播小使者

秋分，是二十四节气之第十六个节气，秋季第四个节气。秋分这天太阳几乎直射地球赤道，全球各地昼夜等长。秋分日后，太阳光直射位置南移，北半球昼短夜长，昼夜温差加大，气温逐日下降。

秋分Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox is the 16th solar term of the lunar 24 solar terms and the 4th one in the autumn season.

秋分，是二十四节气之第十六个节气，秋季第四个节气。

There are two meanings of Autumn Equinox. First, it lies at the midpoint of autumn, dividing autumn into two equal parts. Second, on the day of Autumn Equinox, the day and night are of the equal length(12 hours) and the sun shines almost directly over the equator. After this day, the location of the direct sunlight moves to the south, making days shorter and nights longer in the Northern Hemisphere.

秋分的意思有二：一是秋分这天，正在秋季的中间，将秋天分成了两半。二是秋分这天，昼夜均分，各12小时; 阳光几乎直射赤道。此日后，阳光直射位置南移，北半球昼短夜长。

一、节气特征 (Features of Autumn Equinox)

From the day of Autumn Equinox, the climate mainly presents three characteristics. First, the location of direct sunlight continues to move from the equator to the Southern Hemisphere. The phenomenon of short days and long nights in the Northern Hemisphere will become more and more obvious, with the days gradually getting shorter and the nights getting longer. Until Winter Solstice, the night is longest and the day is shortest. Second, the diurnal temperature variation will gradually increase, and the range will be higher than 10°C. Third, the temperature drops day by day and it’s getting colder and colder, gradually entering the late autumn season. The situation in the Southern Hemisphere is just the opposite.

从秋分这一天起，气候主要呈现三大特点：一是阳光直射的位置继续由赤道向南半球推移，北半球昼短夜长的现象将越来越明显，白天逐渐变短，黑夜变长(直至冬至日达到黑夜最长，白天最短)；二是昼夜温差逐渐加大，幅度将高于10°℃以上；三是气温逐日下降，一天比一天冷，逐渐步入深秋季节。南半球的情况则正好相反。

二、传统习俗(Traditions of Autumn Equinox)

1.祭秋月 Worshiping the moon

Originally, the festival of worshiping the moon was set on Autumn Equinox. According to historical records, as early as the Zhou Dynasty, ancient emperors worshiped the sun on Spring Equinox and the moon on Autumn Equinox according to the custom. However, as a full moon is not always ready on Autumn Equinox, the festivity was later transferred to the 15th day of the 8th month on the lunar calendar.

原本祭月节是设定在秋分这天的。据史书记载，早在周朝（公元前11世纪至256年），古代君王便依照习俗于春分祭日，秋分祭月。然而秋分时的月亮并非总是圆月，祭月庆典后来被更改到了农历八月十五日。

2.竖蛋 Making the egg stand

On Autumn Equinox, thousands of people around the world try to make eggs stand on one end. This Chinese custom has become a world game. But the game is simple and fun. Choose a smooth, well-proportioned, fresh chicken egg that is four or five days old and gently set it upright on the table. Although there are many losers, there are also many winners. Autumn Equinox has become the best time for making the egg stand.

在每年的秋分那一天，世界各地都会有数以千万计的人在做“竖蛋”试验。这一中国习俗以成为“世界游戏”。不过其玩法确简单易行且富有趣味：选择一个光滑匀称、刚生下四五天的新鲜鸡蛋，轻手轻脚地在桌子上把它竖起来。虽然失败者颇多，但成功者也不少。秋分成了竖蛋游戏的最佳时光。

3.吃秋菜 Eating Qiucai

In certain areas of Lingnan, there is a custom popularly known as “having Qiucai” on the Autumn Equinox. Qiucai is a kind of wild Xiancai(amaranth/ˈæmərænθ/). On this day, people go outdoors and pick up Qiucai. Qiucai is taken back and made into soup with fish, named "Qiutang" (autumn soup). There is a verse about the soup: “Drink the soup to clear the liver and intestines, thus the whole family will be safe and healthy”.

在岭南地区，逢秋分有“吃秋菜”的习俗。秋菜是一种野苋菜。每到秋分这天，人们外出采摘秋菜。秋菜采回家，与鱼片煮汤，名曰：秋汤。关于秋汤，还有一首打油诗：秋汤灌脏，洗涤肝肠。阖家老少，平安健康。

三、节气养生（Regimen in Autumn Equinox）

In autumn, there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening. It is necessary to add or remove clothing in a timely manner according to weather changes and physical condition to prevent cold. But there is no need to "wear more clothes" too early.

秋季早晚温差大，应根据天气变化和每个人的体质情况，及时增减衣物，预防风寒。但也不必过早“多穿衣”。

Autumn is suitable for sports, and sports during this season should also follow the rules of autumn. Exercise should not be excessive, and sports should not be too intense. It is advisable to choose activities that are easy, gentle and with minimal activity. You can also engage in some cold endurance exercises and aerobic exercises, such as hiking, walking, practicing Tai Chi, cycling, dancing, etc.

秋季适合运动，这一时节的运动也要顺应秋季规律，运动不可过量，运动项目也不宜太过激烈。运动宜选择轻松平缓、活动量不大的项目。还可适当进行一些耐寒锻炼和有氧运动，比如：登山、步行、打太极拳、骑自行车、跳舞等。

After Autumnal Equinox, the heat will fade away and it becomes drier and drier. People often experience dry skin, dry nose, cracked lips, and dry throat. So the key to regimen during this season is to nourish the lungs. To achieve the goal of moistening and nourishing the lungs, one can drink more water and eat foods such as sesame, nuts, glutinous rice, honey, pears, and dairy products.

秋分过后，暑热余气渐消，天气会越来越干燥，人们经常会感觉皮肤干涩、鼻子干燥、嘴唇干裂、咽干等情形。所以这一时节的养生，重在益肺润燥。为了达到润肺养肺的目的，可以多喝水，吃一些像芝麻，坚果，糯米，蜂蜜，梨和奶制品。