即將迎來二十四節氣中的小暑節氣。
小暑介紹
小暑是農曆二十四節氣之第十一個節氣，夏天的第五個節氣。
暑，是炎熱的意思，小暑即為“小熱”，意思是此時雖然已經能夠感受到天氣的炎熱，但是並未達到一年內最熱，小暑只是炎炎夏日的開始。
小暑雖不是一年中最炎熱的季節，但緊接著就是一年中最熱的季節大暑，民間有“小暑大暑，上蒸下煮”之說。
小暑開始進入伏天，所謂“熱在三伏”，三伏天通常出現在小暑與處暑之間，是一年中氣溫最高且又潮濕、悶熱的時段。季風氣候是中國氣候的主要特點，夏季受來自海洋暖濕氣流的影響，中國多地自小暑起進入雷暴最多的時節。小暑這個時節雖然陽光猛烈、高溫潮濕多雨，但對於農作物來講，雨熱同期有利於成長，萬物進入生長旺季。
小暑相關英語表達
小暑：minor heat，slight heat 或 lesser heat
slight：adj. 輕微的，少量的
heat：n. 高溫；壓力；熱度；熱烈
lotus：n. 蓮花；蓮屬植物
watermelon：n. 西瓜
solar term 節氣
dog day 三伏天（指一年中最熱的時段）
In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural production. But the solar term culture is still useful today to guide people’s lives through special foods, cultural ceremonies and even healthy living tips that correspond with each term.
在中國，24節氣是數千年來指導農業生產的金科玉律，但是即使在今天，節氣文化依舊通過每個節氣相關的特殊食物、文化儀式、甚至健康生活指南來指導人們的生活。
Slight Heat, comes between July 6th and 8th annually, is one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar.
小暑是我們農曆的二十四節氣之一，通常始於每年的7月6日至8日之間。
Minor Heat signifies the hottest period is coming but the extreme hot point has yet to arrive.
“小暑”標誌著一年當中最炎熱的時段漸漸逼近，但最酷熱的時候還未到來。
"Shu" stands for hot, so "Xiao Shu" (Slight Heat) means hot, but not as hot as "Da Shu" (Great Heat).
“暑”表示炎熱的意思，所以“小暑”即為小熱，不過還未達到大暑時節的酷熱程度。
Due to the high temperatures of summer, people's digestive functions are relatively weak. Therefore, bland diets are preferred.
由於盛夏酷熱的原因，人們的胃口普遍不佳，故而較為偏愛清淡的飲食。
In the north of China, dumplings and noodles are the traditional food in Slight Heat.
在中國北方地區，餃子和麵條則是小暑時節的傳統時令飲食。
小暑傳統習俗
曬伏 Sunning Books and Clothes
During the Minor Heat period, with the longest amount of sunlight and the strongest sunlight radiation, people take advantage of the time around the Slight Heat where more days are clear and temperatures are high, to busk the books, scrolls, and clothes that haven’t been worn for a long time in the sun to get rid of mites and eliminate musky smells, and to prevent the books from being affected with damp and moths.
小暑時節，民間還有曬衣服的習俗。民諺有雲：“六月六，人曬衣裳龍曬袍”，因為這一天，差不多是在小暑的前夕，為一年中氣溫最高，日照時間最長，陽光輻射最強的日子，所以家家戶戶多會不約而同選擇這一天“曬伏”，趁著小暑前後晴天多、氣溫高，就要趕快將書籍經卷和久不曾穿的衣服拿到太陽底下烘曬，以除蟎、祛黴味，還能防止書籍受潮、生蠹蟲。
貼三伏貼 Receive the Sanfutie
In the Chinese Lunar Calendar, Sanfu or dog days refers to the three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year. Sanfutie, or Sanfu medicinal patch, is a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that receiving Sanfutie during the hottest summer days is effective for coughs, asthma and arthritis.
7月11日起進入“三伏”中的頭伏。在中國農曆中，三伏或酷暑天指的是一年當中預計最熱的三個十天，第一個階段被稱為頭伏。三伏貼是一種由中藥製成的藥貼。中醫認為，在夏季最熱的時日貼三伏貼有助於治療咳嗽、哮喘、關節炎。
遊伏 Youfu
Besides, many people choose to go out for fun with their families. It's called “youfu” that means “more happiness” in the moral.
除此之外，我國好多地方每到小暑有“遊伏”的習俗。家家戶戶都要扶老攜幼出門遊玩。因為“伏”字和“福”字諧音，“遊伏”即“遊福”，含有“有福”的寓意。
小暑飲食
食新 Eating New Food
In the past, the folks had the custom of “Shixin” “eating new food” in Slight Heat. The so-called “Shixin” refers to eating the rice newly harvested. Farmers would grind newly cut rice and wheat into flour to make various kinds of flour cakes and noodles, which can be shared by neighbors and villagers to express their wishes for a bumper harvest. At the same time, we should also prepare a sacrifice to our ancestors and pray for good weather. This reflects the ancient people's respect for nature and ancestors.
古時，民間有小暑“食新”的風俗。即在小暑過後嘗新米，人們將新割的稻穀碾成米後，做好飯供祀五穀大神和祖先，懇請保佑風調雨順。並將新打的米磨成粉，製成各種美食，與鄰居鄉親分享來吃，表達對豐收的祈願。
吃餃子或麵條 Eating Dumplings or Noodles
Folk proverbs for the hot summer days include “You can grow radishes in the first period, vegetables in the second period, and can still grow buckwheat in the third”, and “Eating dumplings in the first period, noodles in the second, and baked pancake with scrambled eggs in the third.” Eating dumplings in the first of the three periods of the hot season is a traditional custom. People have no appetite on scorching hot days and in most cases end up becoming thinner than usual. Colloquially, this is called ku xia, i.e. loss of appetite and weight in summer. In the traditional custom, dumplings just happen to be the food that stimulates one’s appetite and satisfies a craving for good food.
伏天民諺則有“頭伏蘿蔔二伏菜，三伏還能種蕎麥”，“頭伏餃子，二伏面，三伏烙餅攤雞蛋”。頭伏吃餃子是傳統習俗，伏日人們食欲不振，往往比常日消瘦，俗謂之苦夏，而餃子在傳統習俗裏正是開胃解饞的食物。
吃西瓜 Eating Watermelon
When talking about what fruits to eat during the Minor Heat period, watermelon is definitely one of the most seasonal fruits. It is not only sweet and juicy, but also one of the best fruits to relieve heat and quench thirst.
到了小暑節氣，西瓜絕對是最應季的水果之一，它不僅味甜多汁，也是消暑解渴，補充營養和水分最佳的水果之一。
小暑遊玩
賞蓮花 Admiring Lotus Flowers
The high temperature and humidity during the Slight Heat period are conducive to the growth of lotus flowers, which are always in full bloom from June to September, especially in August, as described in Wang Changling’s poem “her silk tinges the lotus leaves green, the tender buds burst with her face between”.
微熱期的高溫高濕有利於荷花的生長，6月至9月，尤其是8月，荷花總是盛開，樸素而高雅。
Lotus flowers also welcome the arrival of high temperatures. During this period, the blooming flowers and green lotus leaves waver with the summer breeze and send out their beauty to visitors. Therefore, in Minor Heat, people enjoy viewing the beautiful lotus, and admiring the quality of a pure lotus flower blooming out of the mud and dirty water.
在這期間，盛開的花朵和綠色的荷葉隨著夏日的微風搖曳，向遊人散發著美麗的氣息。因此，小暑期間人們喜歡觀賞美麗的荷花，並讚美它出淤泥而不染的高潔品質。
賞螢火蟲 Appreciating Fireflies
Fireflies start to act lively during the Slight Heat. On summer nights, if you are an alert observer, in the shade of trees or among the grass, you may find a swarm of fireflies flying around with “little lanterns”
小暑時螢火蟲開始活躍起來。在夏夜，如果你認真觀察，你可能會在樹蔭下或草叢中發現一群螢火蟲提著“小燈籠”四處飛舞。
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