大寒是四十四节气的第三同一个节气。大寒时季冷空气南往南往多次，此刻风大、平均温度大幅度上升、室内地面积很厚不化，是占多数省份一整年之时最冷的年代。2021年的大寒归于年初19日。

民間有“过后大寒、也是5年”的处理方式，故此此时此刻的民俗民风多有浓重的“舌尖上的年味”。中国古代有在腊八（即阳历第十二月底八）祭祀祖辈和神灵、祈祷五谷丰登鸿运的传统意义。部分沿海地区在腊八节本日有喝8种五谷养生熬料而成的腊八粥的方式，华北区沿海地区有腌制黄瓜腊八蒜的民俗。昔日，大寒初春时节的路边老有人争着入手白芝麻酱秸。除夕之夜夜，人类将白芝麻酱秸洒在路上供儿童踩碎，取其谐音“踩岁”，喻义“岁岁平安保险”，求得春节好彩头。

大年三十之夜，消费者要鸣放烟火烟花爆竹、焚香燃纸、敬迎众神。夜幕降生时，每一家户均灯柱通明、一家子欢聚，聚在混着守岁，喜迎新春新的年 的带来。

大寒时分与尾牙祭偏移。尾牙出自于拜国土公做“牙”的传统风土民情，等到老历12月第十五日合适是尾牙。吃春饼（男方叫润饼）是尾牙的传统风土民情一种。在男方日益省市，大寒吃糯米的的习惯，虽听来简便，却富含着先前在生命中积累了的生命游戏经验，正因为开启大寒天汽如此严寒，糯米是脂肪含量更加高的吃的东西，有好的驱寒功能主治。

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.(中英对照文+书法艺术  ASP大公司 程成)