用英語介紹中國傳統節氣 | 大暑 Great Heat 盛夏如火，萬物榮華

“小暑大暑，上蒸下煮“

大暑，作為夏季的最后一個節氣

帶著熾熱的陽光和洶涌的熱浪

如約而至

它是一年中最炎熱的時節

卻也藏著夏日獨有的熱烈與生機

一、節氣概述· Solar Term Overview

The "Great Heat" is the twelfth solar term in the Chinese traditional twenty-four solar terms, and it is also the last solar term in summer.

大暑是中國傳統二十四節氣中的第十二個節氣，也是夏季的最后一個節氣。

During Great Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year.

大暑時節，中國絕大部分地區進入了一年中最熱的時段。

It's a season with the highest temperature, and also it is the most frequent time for drought. After this day, fireflies comes out, soil gets more and more humid and heavy thunderstorm comes from time to time. the days around "Great Heat" witness the blossom season of jasmines and lotuses.

這個季節是氣溫最高的時候，也是干旱最頻繁的時期。大暑以后，螢火蟲開始出現，泥土變得越來越濕潤，時不時會迎來雷雨天氣。“大暑”期間也是茉莉和荷花開放的時節。

Like Minor Heat, many natural calamities such as floods, droughts and typhoons also happen during Major Heat. Therefore, it’s important to harvest and plant in time to avoid setbacks caused by natural disasters.

和小暑節氣一樣，大暑期間也時常發生洪水、干旱和臺風等自然災害。因此，抓緊時間進行收獲和播種，從而規避自然災害造成的損失，是十分重要的。

二、大暑習俗· Cultural Traditions

1、吃荔枝 Eating Litchi

On the day of Great Heat, Putian, Fujian and other places have a tradition of eating lychees to celebrate.

在大暑這天，福建莆田等地有吃荔枝來慶祝的傳統。

Litchi is a nutritious fruit containing glucose and vitamins. People usually soak litchi in cold well water first and eat it. It is said that litchi during Great Heat is as nourishing as ginseng.

荔枝是一種營養豐富的水果，富含葡萄糖和維生素。人們經常將荔枝浸泡在冰涼的井水中后食用。據說大暑期間的荔枝，營養價值堪比人參。

2、斗蟋蟀 Cricket Fight

Crickets(Xi Shuai), known as "Cu Zhi" in ancient times, are described in the Book of Songs, July as "the wild in July". During Great Heat, the number of crickets in rural fields is the largest. Because male crickets are vigorous and aggressive, since ancient times "fighting crickets" has been popular in the folk.

蟋蟀，古稱“促織”，《詩經·七月》中描述蟋蟀“七月在野”，大暑節氣，鄉村田野中的蟋蟀數量最多。因雄性蟋蟀體型矯健又好斗，民間自古便盛行“斗蟋蟀”。

Cricket fighting is a popular pastime for some people in China during this period. The custom dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

“斗蟋蟀”是大暑時節流行的消遣方式。該習俗可追溯到一千多年前的唐代。

3、吃燒仙草 Eating Herb Jelly

Many places in Guangdong have the custom of "eating herb jelly" in the Great Heat. Xiancao, also known as Liangfen grass and Xianren grass, is an important medicinal and edible plant resource . With the amazing ability to quell the summer heat, grass jelly is described in a popular saying in Guangdong province that goes, "eating herb jelly in Major Heat will make you stay young like the immortals."

廣東很多地方在大暑時節有“吃仙草”的習俗。仙草又名涼粉草、仙人草，唇形科仙草屬草本植物，是重要的藥食兩用植物資源。由于其神奇的消暑功效，被譽為“仙草”。廣東人有句俗話：六月大暑吃仙草，活如神仙不會老。

吃鳳梨 Eating Pineapple

There is a custom of eating pineapples in Taiwan. People think that pineapples are the most delicious in this season. In addition, pineapple has the same Minnan pronunciation as "Wanglai", so it is also used as a symbol of praying for peace and prosperity.

臺灣有吃鳳梨的習俗，百姓認為這個時節的鳳梨最好吃。加上鳳梨的閩南語發音和“旺來”相同，所以也被用來作為祈求平安吉祥、生意興隆的象征。

三、詩意大暑·Poetic Heat

白居易《消暑》

“何以消煩暑，端坐一院中。

眼前無長物，窗下有清風。”

心境清涼勝冰飲——古人早已參透：靜心，才是終極消暑之道。

Bai Juyi’s Summer Relief:

"How to quell the sweltering heat? Sit still in the courtyard.

No clutter before my eyes, only breeze through the window."

True coolness lies in tranquility – an ancient antidote to modern air-conditioning.

大暑的熾熱，是大地積蓄的豐饒能量。

在空調房外的世界：

西瓜的清甜正達到巔峰，

荷塘的蓮蓬日漸飽滿，

蟬鳴與雷聲合奏著盛夏交響。

愿大家：飲茶食果，身無郁燥。心守寧靜，自成清涼

#今日互動
你的家鄉有哪些獨特的大暑習俗？
Share your local Great Heat traditions!