大寒

Cold current 寒流來襲

During Major Cold, as the cold current moves southward, the weather is very cold. Although modern meteorological observation shows that in some regions of China the weather during Major Cold is not colder than Minor1 Cold, the lowest temperatures of the whole year still occur in the Major Cold period in some coastal2 areas.

在大寒期間，伴隨寒流一路向南，天氣會變得很寒冷。盡管現代氣象觀測顯示，在中國的某些區域，大寒期間的天氣并不比小寒更冷，但在一些沿海區域，全年最低氣溫仍然出目前大寒期間。

Eating dispelling3 cold cake 吃消寒糕

During Major Cold, People in Beijing have a habit of eating dispelling cold cake, a kind of rice cake. In Chinese the word rice cake has the same pronunciation with the word higher in a new year, which symbolizes4 good luck and continual promotion5.

在大寒節氣，北京人有吃消寒糕的風俗。漢語中的年糕與年高發音相同，因此象征著好運勢和不斷高升。

Buying sesame straw 買芝麻桿

Major Cold always coincides with the end of the year in the lunar calendar. In some areas of China, people always fall over each other in eagerness to buy sesame straw during this period because of the old saying, Rise joint6 by joint like sesame flowers on the stem. This saying is used to describe either ever-rising living standards or making steady progress in thought, studies or skills.

大寒節氣恰逢陰歷歲末。在中國的部分區域，這時大家會爭相購買芝麻桿，由于老話有云：芝麻開花節節高。這句俗語含義生活質量不斷提升或思想、學業、技能穩步前進。

Eating fried spring rolls 吃炸春卷

In Anqing of Anhui province, people traditionally eat fried spring rolls during Major Cold. The stuffing inside the spring roll contains meat or vegetables and the flavor can be salty or sweet.

在安徽安慶，大寒節氣有吃炸春卷的傳統。春卷里包著菜肉等餡料，口味可咸可甜。

Drinking stewed8 soup 喝湯

Residents in Nanjing of Jiangsu province like to drink stewed soup during Major Cold. They always stew7 the aged9 hen soup with ginseng, matrimony vine and black fungus10.

江蘇南京人喜歡在大寒時節喝湯。他們一般燉老母雞湯，加入人參、枸杞和黑木耳。

Doing winter sports 拓展冬天運動

In various regions of China, Major Cold is the perfect time for winter sports such as skiing, ice skating and sledding.

在中國各地，大寒是拓展滑雪、滑冰、滑雪橇等冬天運動的最好時節。