小雪，是二十四节气中的第20个节气，冬季第2个节气，时间在每年公历11月22或23日。小雪是反映降水与气温的节气，它是寒潮和强冷空气活动频数较高的节气。小雪节气的到来，意味着天气会越来越冷、降水量渐增。
Minor Snow, the 20th solar term in the 24 solar terms, is the second solar term of winter, falling on November 22nd or 23rd of the Gregorian calendar each year. Just as its name implies, it reflects precipitation and temperature changes, often associated with frequent cold air and snow activity. Its arrival signifies progressively colder weather and increased precipitation.
历史渊源
Historical Reference
《孝经纬》说:(立冬)后十五日，斗指亥，为小雪。天地积阴，温则为雨，寒则为雪。时言小者，寒未深而雪未大也。小雪节气是一个气候概念，它代表的是小雪节气期间的气候特征。气候要素包括降水、气温、光照等，其中降水是气候一个重要要素。
According to the Chinese classic Xiao Jing Wei, Fifteen days after the Beginning of Winter, when Dou points to the constellation of Hai, it's Minor Snow. The accumulation of Yin energy leads to rain when it's warm and snow when it's cold. 'Minor' means it's not intensely cold or snowy yet.”The Minor Snow solar term is a climatic concept that represents the climatic characteristics during this period. Climatic factors include precipitation, temperature, sunlight, among which precipitation is an important factor of climate.
小雪物候
Phenology
小雪分为三候: 一候虹藏不见；二候天气上升地气下降；三候闭塞而成冬。由于天空中的阳气上升，地中的阴气下降，导致天地不通，阴阳不交，所以万物失去生机，天地闭塞而转入严寒的冬天。
The Minor Snow is divided into three phenological periods:The first period is when the rainbow is hidden and cannot be seen.The second period is when the weather is getting colder and the energy of the earth is descending.The third period is when everything becomes closed and winter sets in. Due to the rising of the yang energy in the sky and the descending of the yin energy in the earth, the communication between the sky and the earth is blocked, and the interaction between yin and yang is disrupted, causing all living things to lose their vitality. This leads to the closure of sky and earth and the onset of severe cold in winter.
[一候] 虹藏不见
The first period：
Rainbows are concealed from view
古人认为，天虹出现是因为天地间阴阳之气交泰之故，而此时阴气旺盛阳气隐伏，天地不交，所以“虹藏不见”。
It was believed that rainbows were the results of yin and yang energy mixing; winter, being dominated by yin, would not present rainbows.
[二候] 天气上升地气下降
The second period：
The Qi of the sky ascends,
and the Qi of the earth descends.
天空中的阳气上升，地中的阴气下降，阴阳不交，万物失去生机。
[三候] 闭塞而成冬
The third period:
Closure and stasis create winter
由于天气的寒冷，万物的气息飘移和游离几乎停止，故三候曰“闭塞而成冬”。
The end of mixing between sky and earth, yin and yang, leads to the dormancy of winter.
小雪习俗
Customs
冬腊风腌，蓄以御冬
Making Preserved Pork
民间有:冬腊风腌，蓄以御冬的习俗。小雪时节气温急剧下降，天气变得干燥，是加工腊肉的好时候。一些农家开始动手做香肠、腊肉，把多余的肉煮敬乎类用传统方法储备起来，等到春节时正好享受美食。很多地方都有冬季吃腊肉的习俗，尤其是南方城市，更是对腊味情有独钟。广州人最喜欢用腊味来做腊味萝卜糕、腊味煮香芋，还有腊肠炒蜜豆。
The folk saying goes: Preserve food with the winter wind and pickled in winter to prepare for the cold. During Minor Snow, temperatures drop sharply, and it gets dry, making it a good time to process preserved meats. Many households begin making sausages and preserved pork to store for the Spring Festival, especially in southern cities like Guangzhou, where people have a special preference for dishes made from preserved pork.
晒鱼干
Making Dried Fish
小雪时台湾中南部海边的渔民们会开始晒鱼干、储存乾粮。乌鱼群会在小雪前后来到台湾海峡，另外还有旗鱼、沙鱼等。台湾俗谚:十月豆，肥到不见头，是指在嘉义县布袋一带，到了农历十月可以捕到豆仔鱼。
Fishermen in central and southern Taiwan start drying fish and storing dry goods during Minor Snow, as certain fish species, like blackfish and sailfish, arrive in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese saying: In October, the fish are so fat you can't see their heads. This refers to the area around Budai in Chiayi County, where in the tenth lunar month, one can catch 豆仔鱼 (dòu zǎi yú), a type of fish.
吃糍粑
Eating Glutinous Rice Cake
在南方某些地方，还有农历十月吃糍粑的习俗。糍粑是用糯米蒸熟捣烂后所制成的一种食品，是中国南方一些地区流行的美食。古时，糍粑是南方地区传统的节日祭品，最早是农民用来祭牛神的供品。有俗语十月朝，糍粑禄禄烧，就是指的祭祀事件。
In some southern areas, there's a tradition of eating glutinous rice cake in October of the lunar calendar. Glutinous rice cake is a delicacy made from steamed and pounded glutinous rice, once used as an offering to deities.In ancient times, glutinous rice cake was a traditional festival offering in the southern regions, originally used by farmers as an offering to the God of Cattle. There is a saying In the tenth lunar month, roll up the glutinous rice cake and make it, which refers to the sacrificial event.
小雪诗词
Poems
《小雪日戏题绝句》
唐·张登
甲子徒推小雪天，刺梧犹绿槿花然。
融和长养无时歇，却是炎洲雨露偏。
Minor Snow
Zhang Deng (Tang Dynasty)
In Winter's whisper, snowflakes dance,
Green thorns pierce, jasmines delay.
Harmony nurtures, unceasing, so tender,
Yet, the tropics' rain persists with fervor.
《夜泊荆溪》
唐·陈羽
小雪已晴芦叶暗，长波乍急鹤声嘶。
孤舟一夜宿流水，眼看山头月落溪。
A Night in Jingxi
Chen Yu (Tang Dynasty)
After light snow clears, reeds dimly rest,
Sudden waves, urgent, crane's cry expressed.
Alone, the boat moors through the night's glide,
Watching the moon fade by the mountain's side.
《春近四绝句》
宋·黄庭坚
小雪晴沙不作泥，疏帘红日弄朝晖。
年华已伴梅梢晚，春色先从草际归。
Awaiting for Spring
Huang Tingjian (Song Dynasty)
After Minor Snow, sand clears without mire,
Sparse curtains, red sun, morning's fire.
Youth lingers by the plum's late bough,
Spring hues return from the grass now.
《初寒》
宋·陆游
久雨重阳后，清寒小雪前。
拾薪椎髻仆，卖菜掘头船。
薄米全家粥，空床故物毡。
身犹付一歃，名字更须传？
Early Winter
Lu You (Song Dynasty)
After Double Ninth's rain, enduring long,
Clear chill, light snow, before we throng.
Gather wood, tie hair in knots, bend,
Sell greens, dig for roots, boat's trend.
Thin rice feeds all, within the bowl,
Empty bed holds past, life's soul.
What's left for this fleeting breath?
Names, passed down, escape death?
图片来源于网络
翻译/王 影
