立冬节气在每年的11月7日或8日，是二冲四节气的第19个节气。我国古时民间习惯以立冬为冬季的开始。
二十四节气之立冬介绍，用英语讲述中国文化--立冬
The Start of Winter marks the cold season’s beginning. This year, it falls on the eighth of November.“Li” means “to start”, while “Dong” means “the winter”. In the ancient Chinese language,“Dong” also indicates（表明；象征）“the end”, meaning that crops need to be collected after a year’s growth. Many animals sink into hibernation（冬眠；蛰伏）. Nature is basically dormant（休眠的；静止的）. Beginnings of winter, spring, summer and autumn are known as the “Four Beginnings”. They were important festivals in the ancient agricultural society.
立冬标志着寒冷季节的到来。今年，立冬在11月8日。“立”的意思是“开始”，“冬”的意思即“冬天”。在古文中，冬也有“终”的意思，意味着农作物在经过一年的生长后，此刻要被贮藏起来了。许多动物进入冬眠状态。大自然也休息了。立冬、立春、立夏和立秋一起被称作“四立”。在古代农业社会，它们都是非常重要的节日。
In fact, the Start of Winter is not the beginning of winter in terms of meteorology（气象学）. The winter actually starts on the first day of five consecutive（连续的） days when the average temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. With the vast（巨大的） territory （领土；版图）of China, winter starts at different times in different areas.
事实上，从气象学上讲，立冬并不等于入冬。冬季实际开始于连续五天平均气温低于10摄氏度的第一天。由于中国幅员辽阔，每个地区的冬季也不会在同一时间开始。
Mohe, a town in the northernmost part of China, has entered a long winter since early September. While the Yangtze River Region will not see the winter scenes until the end of November.
在中国最北部的漠河小镇，9月上旬就已进入了漫长的冬季。而在11月底，长江流域才开始看到冬天的景象。
Traditional Chinese believe Lidong is a crucial（关键的；至关重要的） time to consume （消费；吃）some nutrients（营养品）, thus ensuring continued health throughout winter. People often eat high-calorie food such as chicken, duck, beef, mutton, and fish to prepare for the oncoming cold winter. Today, there is still a saying that goes “Nourish the winter, fill up your mouth.”
传统的中国人认为，立冬是进补一些营养品的关键时期，以确保整个冬季都能保持健康。人们食用鸡鸭鱼肉以及牛羊肉等高热量的食物，为即将到来的寒冬做准备。民间素有“立冬补冬，补嘴空”的说法。
In northern China, people celebrate Lidong as the “Small Spring Festival”, a time for eating dumplings. The shape of dumplings is like our ears. There goes a saying, “Eat dumplings on the Start of Winter, or your ears will be frostbitten.”The nam“jiaozi” (dumplings) comes from “jiāozǐzhīshí” (the transition of time). Eating jiaozi also resonates（产生联想；和......想法类似） with the change from autumn to winter.
在中国北方，人们庆祝立冬为“小春节”，是吃饺子的时候。饺子的形状就像我们的耳朵。一句俗语道：“立冬不端饺子碗，冻掉耳朵没人管。”“饺子”的名字来源于“交子之时”，吃饺子也正回应了从秋入冬的季节变化。
24节气之立冬英文介绍：
24 solar terms are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. Each solar term reflects the changes in climate, phenology, agriculture, and other aspects of human life.立冬 (li dong) is the 19th solar term, marking the beginning of winter. As the temperature drops, people start to wear thicker clothes and eat more nourishing food to keep warm.
During立冬,people in China often eat traditional winter foods such as hot pot, lamb stew，and dumplings. These foods are believed to help the body stay warm and healthy during the cold winter months. In addition, people also start to drink more hot drinks like tea and ginger soup to keep themselves warm and prevent colds.
In ancient China, farmers used立冬as a marker for the beginning of winter farming activities. They would start to prepare their fields for winter crops and make plans for the coming winter season. This solar term also marked the time for storing food and supplies for the cold months ahead.
In Chinese culture, there are many customs and activities associated with立冬.For example, people may visit their ancestors' graves to pay their respects, or they may hold special ceremonies to worship their ancestors and pray for a good winter. In addition, some regions in China hold special festivals or events to celebrate the arrival of winter.
Overall,立冬is an important time in traditional Chinese culture, marking the beginning of the winter season and bringing with it a variety of customs and activities. It is a time for people to adjust their lifestyles, take care of their health, and prepare for the cold months ahead.
更多立冬相关范文请见： http://www.liuxuepaper.com/tags/index/id/1095.html
立冬知识英语介绍：
The Start of Winter 立冬
“Winter Begins” arrives on November 7 or November 8 each year. At this time of the year, some rivers in China start to freeze.
立冬通常是每年的11月7日或8日。每年这个时候，河水就开始结冰。
Beginning of winter or not
立冬就代表着入冬？
In ancient times, the Chinese people took the Start of Winter to be the beginning of the winter. However, in fact, the Start of Winter is not the beginning of winter in terms of meteorology. The climate every year is different, so the beginning of winter could be quite different. And with the vast territory of China, winter of every area doesn’t begin at the same time.
在中国古代人们认为立冬这一天就标志着冬季的到来，但事实上，农历的立冬并不是现在气象学上的冬季开始。而且每年气候条件都不同，实际入冬的时间就有所差异了，再加上中国幅员辽阔，各地入冬时间并不一致。
Welcoming the winter in ancient times
古代的迎冬活动
The four beginnings of the seasons were important festivals in ancient times. Before the Start of Winter, the ancient emperor would take a shower and have no more meat. On that day, the emperor would lead his officials to the suburbs and perform the ceremony of "welcoming the winter."
传统24节气中的四个“立”在中国古达是十分重要的节日，在“立冬”之前，天子就会戒斋沐浴，而到了立冬这一天就会带领群臣出游，行迎冬之礼。
Eating dumplings
吃饺子
A legend has it that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220), "Medical Saint" Zhang Zhongjing saved many people in Henan province from a typhoidepidemic and their ears’ from being frostbitten around Start of Winter.
相传在东汉（公元25年-220年）年末。“立冬”前后，很多河南的百姓患上了风寒，耳朵被冻伤，当时的医圣张仲景知道后使用其妙方法帮助百姓治好了伤寒。
He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to dispel the cold and increase body heat. He wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape. Since then, people have learned to make the food which became known as "dumpling". Today there is still a saying that goes "Eat dumplings on Start of Winter Day, or your ears will be frostbitten".
张仲景将羊肉，辣椒等驱寒药材煮熟，包如耳朵状面皮中。从此百姓开始模仿这种制作方法，制作食物，这就是现在被大家熟知的饺子，直到现在仍然有“立冬不端饺子碗，冻掉耳朵没人管”的说法。
