冬至发生在12月21日-12月23日之间。今年，冬至日为12月21日。在这天，白昼时间是一年中最短的，夜晚时间是一年中最长的。
Winter Solstice falls between the period of December 21 to December 23. This year, it is on December 21. One this day, the day is the shortest and night is the longest in the year.
冬至以后，中国大部分地区都会经历最寒冷的时节，中国人称它“数九”。这一共有九个周期，每个周期为九天。在“一九”和“二九”，手放口袋就能避寒了；“三九”和“四九”，路上会结冰；“五九”和“六九”，可以看到河岸边柳树抽芽了；在“七九”和“八九”，燕子回归，在最后的“九九”，牛开始犁地。
After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese “shǔ jiǔ”. In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each. In the first and second nine days, people keep their hands in pockets; in the third and fourth nine days, people can walk on the ice; in the fifth and sixth nice days, people can see willows along the river bank; in the seventh and eighth nine days, the swallow comes back and in the ninth nine days, cattle start working.
美食习俗 Food Customs
冬至不止是一个节气也是一个非常重要的节日。这里有一些冬至的传统食物。
Winter Solstice is not only a solar term but an important festival. Here are some traditional foods for Winter Solstice.
吃水饺Eating Dumplings
冬至经过数千年的发展，形成了独特的节令饮食文化，吃饺子则是多数中国人冬至的习俗。在北方尤其突显。
China has developed a unique festive food culture throughout the years. Eating dumplings is a common folk custom for many Chinese on the day of winter solstice, especially those living in the north.
吃馄饨Eating Wonton
江苏苏州的人们习惯在冬至吃馄饨。根据历史传说，在2500年前的冬至时节，吴国国王厌倦了所有的昂贵美食，想吃些特别的口味。为迎合吴王的心愿，美女西施去厨房做了一碗馄饨。吴王很喜欢，吃了一大碗。为了纪念西施，苏州人会在冬至做馄饨庆祝节日。
People in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, are accustomed to eating wonton on Winter Solstice. According to legend, during the midwinter feast 2,500 years ago, the King of Wu was disgusted with all kinds of costly food and wanted to eat something different. Then, the beauty Xishi came into the kitchen to make "wonton" to honor the king's wish. He ate a lot and liked the food very much. To commemorate Xishi, the people of Suzhou made wonton the official food to celebrate the festival.
吃羊肉粉汤Eating Mutton and Vermicelli Soup
在宁夏银川，大家称冬至为“鬼节”。这天的习俗是吃羊肉粉汤饺子，此外他们还给这道美味起了个古怪的名字“头脑”。粉汤饺子做好后还要给邻居端上一碗。
In Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, people call Winter Solstice the "Ghost Festival". On that day, it is customary for people there to eat mutton and vermicelli soup and eat the dumplings in the soup. They give the Winter Solstice soup a strange name: "Brain" and share it with their neighbors.
吃年糕Eating Rice Cakes
杭州居民有冬至吃年糕的传统。过去每家每户都会在冬至到来前制作年糕来供奉先人或者馈赠亲友。
During the Winter Solstice, Hangzhou residents traditionally eat rice cakes. In the past, before the approach of the Winter Solstice, every household would make the cakes to worship their ancestors or use as gifts for relatives and friends.
