The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms。 Major Cold （Chinese： 大寒）， the 24th solar term， begins this year on Jan 20 and ends on Feb 4。
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中国农历传统上将一年分为24个节气，大寒正是第24个节气。今年大寒从1月20日开始，2月4日结束。
Major Cold is the last solar term in winter and also the last solar term in the annual lunar calendar。 In this period， snow， rain and icy cold weather exert a big influence on people’s lives。
大寒是寒冷冬天的最后一个节气，也是农历的最后一个节气。在此期间，雪，雨和冰冷天气会对人们的生活产生非常大的影响。
Here are six things you should know about Major Cold。
以下是关于大寒你需要知道的几件事。
1 Cold current
1。寒潮来袭
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 Minor Cold， the lowest temperatures of the whole year still occur in the Major Cold period in some coastal areas。
大寒期间，因为寒流向南方移动，天气变得非常寒冷。尽管现代气象观测显示，在中国的一些地区，大寒并没有小寒时冷，但在一些沿海地区，全年的最低气温仍然出现大寒期间。
2 Eating “dispelling cold cake
2。吃“消寒糕”
During Major Cold， People in Beijing have a habit of eating “dispelling cold cake”， a kind of rice cake。 Sticky rice， the cake’s main ingredient， contains more sugar than rice， which can make people feel warm all over their bodies。 In Chinese the word “rice cake” has the same pronunciation with the word “higher in a new year”， which symbolizes good luck and continual promotion。
在大寒这一天，北京人民有吃“消寒糕”的习俗。它是年糕的一种，主要成分是比大米含糖量高的糯米，食用后全身感觉暖和。在中国文字里，年糕还有“年高”之意，寓意吉祥如意、步步高升头。
3 Buying sesame straw
3。购买芝麻秸
Major Cold always coincides with the end of the year in 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 joint 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，时常和岁末时间相重合。在中国的一些地区，人们总是争相的急于在此期间购买芝麻秸，因为谚语说，“芝麻开花节节高”。这句话常用来形容不断提高生活水平，抑或是在思想，学习或技能方面取得稳步进展。
4.Eating fried spring roll
4。吃炸春卷
In Anqing of Anhui province， people traditionally eat fried spring rolls during Major Cold。 They use a round， cooked， thin pancake to wrap stuffing in a thin roll。 Then it is fried in a pan with oil until it turns yellow and floats to the top。 The stuffing inside the spring roll contains meat or vegetables and the flavor can be salty or sweet。
在安徽省安庆，大寒节气有吃炸春卷的习俗。他们用一个圆形、熟的薄饼包裹上馅料，做成细细的春卷，然后，放入平底锅油炸，直到它变成黄色并浮上来。春卷里面的馅含有肉或蔬菜，味道可咸可甜。
5.Drinking stewed soup
5。 喝汤取暖
Residents in Nanjing of Jiangsu province like to drink stewed soup during Major Cold， which can make people feel warm from head to foot。 They always stew the aged hen soup with ginseng， matrimony vine and black fungus。
江苏南京市民喜欢在大寒这天偎汤喝，能让人从头暖到脚。他们总是喜欢炖人参枸杞黑木耳老母鸡汤。
6.Doing winter sports
6。做冬季运动
There is a saying that goes， “Dripping water freezes during Minor and Major Cold。” In various regions of China， Major Cold is the perfect time for winter sports such as skiing， ice skating and sledding。
民谚有云，“小寒大寒，滴水成冰”。在中国各个地区，大寒是进行滑雪，滑冰和雪橇这样的冬季运动的最佳时期。
