大寒是二十四节气的最后一个节气。大寒时节寒潮南下频繁，此时风大、气温急剧下降、地面积雪不化，是多数地区一年之中最冷的时期。今年的大寒始于1月19日。

民间有“过了大寒、又是一年”的说法，因此此时的民俗多有浓重的“年味”。古人有在腊八（即农历十二月初八）祭祀祖先和神灵、祈求丰收吉祥的传统。多地在腊八节当日有喝八种五谷杂粮熬制而成的腊八粥的习惯，华北地区有腌制腊八蒜的习俗。旧时，大寒时节的街上常有人争相购买芝麻秸。除夕夜，人们将芝麻秸洒在路上供孩童踩碎，取其谐音“踩岁”，寓意“岁岁平安”，求得新年好彩头。

除夕之夜，人们要鸣放烟火爆竹、焚香燃纸、敬迎众神。夜幕降临时，每家每户灯柱通明、全家欢聚，聚在一起守岁，喜迎新的一年的到来。

大寒时节与尾牙祭重叠。尾牙源自于拜土地公做“牙”的习俗，到了农历十二月十六日正好是尾牙。吃春饼（南方叫润饼）是尾牙的习俗之一。在南方广大地区，有大寒吃糯米的习惯，虽听来简单，却包含着前人在生活中积累的生活经验，因为进入大寒天气十分寒冷，糯米是热量非常高的食物，有极佳的御寒功效。

Major Cold

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major cold, the 24^th solar term, is the last solar term in the lunar calendar. Major cold begins on Jan 19 this year.

A folk saying goes:” A new year begins after major cold.” Many of the fold customs during this period are closely related to the lunar new year. Laba festival, celebrated on the 8^th day of the twelfth lunar month, falls during major cold. It is custom to have Laba porridge, made from 8 types of grains, on this day to pay respects to ancestors and gods.

In the old times, people rushed to buy sesame stalks during major cold. The stalks were laid on the ground for kids to crush with their feet (cai sui) on new year’s eve, homophonic to “ wishing a safe and sound coming year.”

Chinese people like to fire fireworks and burn incense paper to pay respects to the gods and welcome the new year. The whole family would get together well into the night on New Year’s Eve to wait for the arrival of the New Year.

Major Cold coincides with the time of end-of-year offerings, which falls on 16^th day of the twelfth lunar month. Eating spring cakes, usually stirfried julienned vegetables wrapped in thin pancakes made from flour, is a custom in many parts of China.

Those in South China like to eat glutinous rice during major cold. This custom, though simple, shows the wisdom of Chinese ancestors. Glutinous rice is high in calories compared to other grains, which made it a suitable staple during the harsh cold winter in the old times.(中英文+书法  ASP公司 程成)