称重的人会说些吉祥话。据说这样可以驱病消灾,保持身体健康。人们还会将体重与去年立夏时相比,希望通过这种方式观察自己的身体变化,调整生活习惯。
Eating eggs3、吃鸡蛋。During Start of Summer, it was customary to eat dyed hard-boiled eggs, which were believed to help prevent summer heat and ward off evil spirits. This tradition originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and is still popular in many parts of China. Eggs symbolize life and fertility, and the custom has evolved into various fun games, such as "egg fighting," where people try to crack each other's eggs with their own.在立夏时节,人们会食用染色的熟鸡蛋,认为这有助于抵御暑热和驱邪。这一习俗始于唐朝(618-907年),在中国许多地方至今仍十分盛行。鸡蛋象征生命和繁衍,而“斗蛋”游戏也应运而生,人们互相用鸡蛋碰撞,试图打破对方的鸡蛋。
Wearing five-colored silk4、佩戴五彩丝线。In ancient China, people would wear five-colored silk threads on their wrists or ankles during Start of Summer, believing that this could protect them from diseases and misfortune. The five colors—red, yellow, green, white, and black—represented the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in Chinese philosophy. This custom has been passed down through generations, reflecting the deep-rooted belief in the power of natural elements to promote well-being.立夏时,古人会在手腕或脚踝上佩戴五色丝线,即红、黄、绿、白、黑,这五种颜色对应中国古代哲学中的五行——木、火、土、金、水,被认为能防病避邪。这一习俗流传至今,体现了人们对自然元素护佑健康的信仰。
Festivals and Folk Customs5、节日与民间风俗。Many local festivals and customs are associated with the Start of Summer across China. For example, in some areas, farmers would organize a ceremony to sacrifice to the God of Fields, seeking blessings for a bountiful harvest. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, a traditional dish called "cold面" (cold noodles) is enjoyed, believed to prevent heatstroke. Additionally, people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces often drink a special herbal tea known as "Sanwu Tea" to cleanse the body and adjust to the rising temperatures.在中国各地,立夏与许多地方性的节日和民俗相联系。比如,某些地区农民会举行祭田神的仪式,祈求丰收。在浙江杭州,人们会食用“冷面”以防止中暑。江苏和浙江一带,人们常喝一种名为“三吴茶”的草药茶,帮助清体解暑,适应气温上升。
总结起来,立夏不仅是中国农历中的一个重要节气,更是承载了丰富的文化内涵和历史传统。从古代的迎夏仪式到现代的习俗,如称重、吃鸡蛋、佩戴五色丝线以及各种地方性的庆祝活动,这些都展现了中国人民对自然规律的尊重和对生活的热爱。立夏的到来意味着春天的结束和夏天的开始,人们通过这些习俗来祈求健康、平安,同时也是对传统文化的传承和发扬。