The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Heat, the 12th solar term of the year, begins this year on July 22 and ends August 6.
中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)二十四節(jié)氣的第12個(gè)節(jié)氣是大暑，今年的大暑從7月22日開始，8月6日結(jié)束。

During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year.
大暑期間，中國(guó)大部分地區(qū)進(jìn)入全年最熱的時(shí)節(jié)。

The following are 7 things you should know about Major Heat.
一起來了解關(guān)于大暑的7個(gè)小常識(shí)。

A season of harvesting and planting
收獲和種植的季節(jié)

During Major Heat, the sunshine, high temperatures, and heavy rainfall are good for agricultural crops. But 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.
大暑期間的陽光、高溫和大雨有利于農(nóng)作物的生長(zhǎng)。但是和小暑一樣，洪水、干旱和臺(tái)風(fēng)等自然災(zāi)害也發(fā)生在大暑期間。因此，及時(shí)收獲和耕種以避免自然災(zāi)害帶來的損失是很重要的。

Sending the Major Heat ship
送大暑船

Sending the Major Heat ship is a folk tradition spanning hundreds of years in Taizhou, Zhejiang province.
送大暑船是浙江省臺(tái)州市流傳了幾百年的民間傳統(tǒng)。

The ship is filled with various animals for sacrifice such as pigs, sheep, chicken, fish, and shrimps. More than 50 fishermen take turns carrying the ship as they march through the streets. Drums are played and fireworks are lit. Both sides of the street are filled with people praying for blessings.
這艘船上裝滿了豬、羊、雞、魚和蝦等各種用于祭祀的動(dòng)物。伴著鑼鼓喧天、煙花爆竹齊鳴，50多名漁民輪流抬著船在街上巡游，街道兩旁擠滿了祈福的人們。

After a series of ceremonies, the ship is finally carried to the wharf. Then, the ship is pulled out of the fishing port and burned at sea. People carry out this ritual to pray for good harvests and health.
經(jīng)過一系列儀式，船最終被抬到碼頭，拉出漁港，并在海上焚燒。人們送大暑船是為了祈求豐收和健康。

Cricket fighting
斗蟋蟀

Major Heat is a season with the largest number of crickets that can be found in the fields along the countryside. 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).
大暑是蟋蟀在鄉(xiāng)野田間出沒最多的時(shí)節(jié)。斗蟋蟀是中國(guó)人在這個(gè)時(shí)期流行的消遣方式之一。這個(gè)習(xí)俗可以追溯到1000多年前的唐朝（公元618-907年）。

Eating litchi and mizao
吃荔枝和米糟

On the day of Major Heat, there is a custom of eating litchi, Mizao in Putian, Fujian province, as a celebration of Major Heat.
在大暑當(dāng)天，福建莆田人有吃荔枝、米糟來慶祝大暑的習(xí)俗。

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 Major Heat is as nourishing as ginseng.
荔枝是一種營(yíng)養(yǎng)豐富的水果，含有葡萄糖和維生素。人們通常會(huì)先把荔枝在冰涼的井水中泡一泡再吃。據(jù)說大暑時(shí)節(jié)的荔枝營(yíng)養(yǎng)價(jià)值可與人參相媲美。

Mizao is made of fermented rice. On the day of Major Heat, people cook them with brown sugar. It can reinforce the vital energy of the human body.
米糟是用發(fā)酵的米制成的。在大暑當(dāng)天，人們會(huì)用紅糖煮米糟，食之可以增強(qiáng)人體的元?dú)狻?/p>

Eating pineapples
吃菠蘿

There is a saying in Taiwan which goes, "eating pineapples in Major Heat." During the period of Major Heat, pineapple tastes best.
中國(guó)臺(tái)灣有“大暑吃菠蘿”的民間說法。大暑期間的菠蘿最美味。

Drinking mutton soup
喝羊肉湯

There is a custom in southern Shandong province where people drink mutton soup on the day of Major Heat. Many people go to local restaurants to drink mutton soup, which is called "summer mutton soup."
魯南地區(qū)有在大暑當(dāng)天喝羊肉湯的習(xí)俗。許多人會(huì)去當(dāng)?shù)夭宛^喝羊肉湯，這被稱為“喝暑羊”。

Eating grass jelly
吃仙草凍

Grass jelly, Xiancaodong in Chinese, is made with a special grass whose stems and leaves can be made into herb jelly after being dried in the sun.
仙草凍是用一種特殊的草制成的，其莖葉曬干后可以制成草本果凍。

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."
仙草凍具有驚人的消暑功效，在廣東省有句流行的諺語說：“大暑吃仙草，活如神仙不會(huì)老?！?/p>

The herb jelly looks and tastes like another jelly-like Guilinggao, or called Turtle Jelly, but without the bitter taste!
仙草凍的外觀和味道都像果凍狀的龜苓膏，但沒有龜苓膏的苦味！

英文來源：中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)

編譯：丹妮

審校：齊磊、董靜