__from China Daily
小寒是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第二十三个节气，英语表达为Minor Cold。
此时，窗外的树枝变得光秃秃的，只余冷风在诉说天地间的萧瑟。走在路上，手都冻得通红，空气中隐约可见呼出的白气。俗话说：小寒大寒，冻成冰团。一年中最为寒冷的时节已经到了。
During Minor Cold, most areas in China have entered the bitter cold stage of winter. The ground and rivers are frozen. The cold air from the north moves southward continuously.
小寒时节，中国大部分地区已进入寒冬。天寒地冻，河水结冰，北方的冷空气持续向南推进。
下面一起看看有关小寒的文化知识吧。
“三九”
尽管“小寒”这个名称意味着它没有下一个节气“大寒”那样冷，但据中国气象资料显示，小寒才是一年中气温最低的时期，古代也有“冷在三九”的说法。
"Sanjiu period" refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th-27th days) after the day of the Winter Solstice, which is in Minor Cold. Actually Minor Cold is normally the coldest period of winter. It is important to keep warm during this period.
“三九”指冬至过后的第三个九天（即冬至后的第十九天至第二十七天），而这段时间正处于小寒内。事实上，小寒往往是冬季中最冷的时段，注意保暖是非常重要的。
食补
从饮食健康角度而言，小寒期间，人们应当吃一些热性食物来滋养身体，抵御严寒的侵袭。但冬季气温干燥，也要注意上火等症状。
Hot foods include trout, pepper, cinnamon, leeks, fennel and parsley. It is the best time of the year to have hot pot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is sensible to notice that too much spicy food may cause acute gastritis.
热性食物包括鲑鱼、胡椒粉、桂皮、韭菜、茴香和西芹等。此时正是吃火锅和红烧羊肉的好时候。但需要注意的是，吃太多辛辣的食物可能会引起急性胃炎。
gastritis：胃炎
冬练
中国有句老话：“冬练三九。”在锻炼前做好热身和保暖措施，最好选择日出后的时段锻炼身体，可起到强身健体的作用。
Generally, Minor Cold is the coldest period in China, which is the best time for exercising and improving one’s physique. To keep warm, Chinese children have special games to play, such as hoop rolling and the cockfighting game.
总的来说，小寒是中国最寒冷的时节，也是锻炼和改善体格的最佳时期。孩子们会玩一些特别的游戏来保暖，如滚铁环和“斗鸡”（也叫“撞拐子”）。
吃黄芽菜
小寒吃黄芽菜，是天津的一项习俗。“黄芽菜”是白菜的一个旧称，因其菜心浅黄如嫩芽，故名“黄芽菜”。为方便保存，冬季人们还会将其腌制，做成“冬菜”。
There are large amounts of Vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.
黄芽菜富含维生素A和维生素B。鲜嫩的黄芽菜炒、烧和炖均可
吃糯米饭
根据传统，广东人小寒的早晨要吃糯米饭。糯米含糖量高，有良好的驱寒效果，一碗下去，全身暖暖的。
Cantonese people mix fried preserved pork, sausage and peanuts into the rice. According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, glutinous rice has the effect of tonifying the spleen and stomach in the cold season.
广东人会将炸制的猪肉、香肠和花生混入米饭中。根据中医理论，糯米饭在寒冷的季节有滋养脾胃的效果。
菜饭
古时，南京人对待小寒的态度非常正式，但随着时间的流逝，小寒期间的诸多庆典仪式渐渐在历史中流散。然而，吃菜饭的习俗一直保留了下来，直到今天。
The steamed vegetable rice is incredibly delicious. Some of the ingredients like aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.
这种蒸制的米饭有种难以形容的美味，其配料矮脚黄、香肠和盐水鸭均为南京特产。
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