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新岁即至
“小寒”一般译作minor cold，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。
minor cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional chinese solar terms. for most areas of china, it marks the start of the coldest days of the year. this year's minor cold starts on jan 6.
按公历来算，小寒是每年的第一个节气，寒冬已至，春天便不再遥远。
今年小寒在1月6日，正值“二九”第７天，而1月9日进入“三九”，也恰在小寒节气内。此时节，强冷空气及寒潮活动频繁，是一年中最冷的时节。
不少俗语反映出人们有根据小寒天气预测来年春天天气的习惯。比如，“小寒暖，立春雪”“小寒寒，惊蛰暖”。
many chinese sayings use the weather and climate situation during minor cold to predict the weather in the following spring.
但寒冷的天气，并不能阻止人们享受生活，为即将到来的春节做准备。
still, bitter cold can't prevent people from enjoying their lives. here are some things that help us stay warm during minor cold.
小寒节气有哪些习俗呢？咱们一起来看看，也学习下用英文讲中国传统文化。
准备过年
进入小寒年味渐浓，人们开始忙着写春联、剪窗花，赶集买年画、彩灯、鞭炮、香火等，陆续为春节作准备。
during minor cold, people start stocking new year goods, which include spring festival couplets, new year pictures, paper-cuts for window decoration, fire crackers, incense and lanterns.
小寒美食
饮食上，涮羊肉火锅（mutton hot pot）、吃糖炒栗子（chestnuts）、烤地瓜薯（baked sweet potato）成为小寒“食”尚。
mutton hot pot, chestnuts and baked sweet potato are three recommended foods for minor cold.
俗语说“三九补一冬，来年无病痛”。寒冬时节，居民日常饮食偏重于暖性食物，其中以羊肉最为常见。
according to traditional chinese medicine theories, people need to eat food that contains more yang energy to prevent cold from harming their organs. the yang energy in the three types of food is strengthened through their method of cooking: boiling, stir frying and baking.
此外，牛肉和各类坚果也是备受青睐的小寒吃食。
beef, sesame, walnuts, almonds and raisins are also good choices for minor cold.
南京菜饭
古时，南京人对小寒颇重视，但随着时代变迁，现已渐渐淡化，如今人们只能从生活中寻找出点点痕迹。
people in nanjing used to take minor cold quite seriously, and they still keep a custom of eating vegetable rice to celebrate this solar term.
到了小寒，老南京一般会煮菜饭（vegetable rice）吃，用矮脚黄青菜与咸肉片、香肠片或是板鸭丁，再剁上一些生姜粒与糯米一起煮，可谓是真正的“南京菜饭”，甚至可与腊八粥相媲美。
the rice is steamed with aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck that are all the specialties in nanjing.
中药养生
到了小寒时节，也是老中医和中药房最忙的时候，一般入冬时熬制的膏方都吃得差不多了。到了此时，有些人家会再熬制一点，吃到春节前后。
minor cold is also the busiest time for doctors and pharmacies of traditional chinese medicine. many people need them to prepare new medicines, which will be consumed before the lunar new year.
小寒已至，
天寒人不寒，
准备过年啦！