大寒

Cold current 寒流来袭

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.

在大寒期间，伴随寒流一路向南，天气会变得很寒冷。尽管现代气象观测显示，在中国的某些区域，大寒期间的天气并不比小寒更冷，但在一些沿海区域，全年最低气温仍然出目前大寒期间。

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.

在大寒节气，北京人有吃消寒糕的风俗。汉语中的年糕与年高发音相同，因此象征着好运势和不断高升。

Buying sesame straw 买芝麻杆

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.

大寒节气恰逢阴历岁末。在中国的部分区域，这时大家会争相购买芝麻杆，由于老话有云：芝麻开花节节高。这句俗语含义生活质量不断提升或思想、学业、技能稳步前进。

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.

在安徽安庆，大寒节气有吃炸春卷的传统。春卷里包着菜肉等馅料，口味可咸可甜。

Drinking stewed8 soup 喝汤

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.

江苏南京人喜欢在大寒时节喝汤。他们一般炖老母鸡汤，加入人参、枸杞和黑木耳。

Doing winter sports 拓展冬天运动

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

在中国各地，大寒是拓展滑雪、滑冰、滑雪橇等冬天运动的最好时节。