夏至：阳极盛，昼最长
夏至，作为二十四节气中的第十个节气，通常在公历 6 月 21 – 22 日交节。这一天，太阳直射北回归线，是北半球一年中白昼最长、黑夜最短的日子，此后太阳直射点逐渐南移，白昼开始变短。夏至的到来，标志着盛夏时节的正式开启，万物在此时生长最为旺盛，也蕴含着丰富的自然与人文内涵。
一、夏至的历史渊源
夏至在古代就备受重视，其历史可追溯至数千年前。据《周礼》记载，当时已有在夏至日举行祭祀活动的习俗，以祈求消除疫病、荒年与人民的灾祸，这体现了古人对夏至这一节气与自然变化关系的深刻认知以及对美好生活的向往。在汉朝，夏至被定为节日，朝廷有放假休息、举行庆祝仪式等活动，官员们还会相互赠送折扇、脂粉等物品，以消暑避夏、保养身体。到了宋代，夏至的庆祝活动更加丰富多样，民间有吃夏至面的习俗流传开来，而且会在门上悬挂艾草等物，以驱邪祈福，这些习俗反映了不同历史时期人们对夏至的重视与独特的文化解读，使得夏至的文化底蕴不断深厚。
二、夏至的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
夏至有着多样的饮食习俗。吃夏至面是最为广泛的传统之一，尤其是在我国北方地区。此时新麦已收获，人们用新麦磨粉制成面条，因夏至白昼最长，吃面寓意长寿，且面条细长，象征着夏季悠长的白昼。南方部分地区则有夏至吃馄饨的习俗，有 “夏至馄饨冬至团，四季安康人团圆” 的说法，馄饨的形状似元宝，吃馄饨既祈求财富，又寓意家庭团圆美满。此外，在一些地方还有吃狗肉、荔枝等习俗，据说夏至吃狗肉能强身健体，抵御炎热夏季的疾病侵扰，而荔枝在夏至时正值上市旺季，其清甜多汁，为人们在炎炎夏日带来清爽的口感享受。
（二）传统活动
夏至的传统活动各具特色。在古代，有 “夏至日，祭地祇” 的习俗，人们会举行盛大的祭祀地神仪式，感谢大地的孕育与滋养，祈求土地肥沃、农作物丰收。如今，在一些地区仍保留着类似的祭祀活动，虽然形式有所简化，但依然承载着人们对土地的敬重与感恩之情。此外，夏至时节，民间还有女子赠扇、香囊给男子的习俗。扇子可在夏日消暑纳凉，香囊则有驱虫辟邪的作用，这些礼物不仅实用，更传递了男女之间的情谊与关怀，也反映了当时的社交文化与民间风俗。还有一些地方会在夏至举办热闹的民俗集会，人们聚集在一起，进行各种传统表演、游戏活动，如舞龙舞狮、唱地方戏曲等，共同庆祝夏至的到来，感受节日的欢乐氛围，增进邻里之间的感情。
三、夏至的文化意义
夏至具有深远的文化意义。从自然科学角度看，它是太阳直射点运动的重要节点，反映了地球在公转轨道上的特定位置以及由此带来的昼夜长短变化和气候特征，是大自然规律的直观体现。在文化层面，夏至的民俗活动反映了人们对自然的敬畏之心与感恩之情。无论是祭祀地神、吃应季食物，还是互赠礼物、举办民俗集会，都蕴含着人们对生活的热爱、对家庭的重视、对社交关系的维护以及对健康幸福的追求。夏至如同一个文化纽带，将古老的传统与现代生活紧密相连，让人们在传承民俗文化的过程中，感受到中华民族深厚的文化底蕴，增强民族认同感与凝聚力，同时也提醒人们尊重自然、顺应自然，在季节的轮回中把握生活的节奏，积极乐观地面对生活的挑战与美好。
The Summer Solstice: The Peak of Yang, the Longest Day
The Summer Solstice, the tenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurs around June 21 – 22 in the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer. It is the day with the longest daylight and the shortest night in the northern hemisphere in a year. After that, the direct point of the sun gradually moves southward and the daylight hours start to shorten. The arrival of the Summer Solstice marks the official start of the midsummer season. All things grow most vigorously at this time and it also contains rich natural and humanistic connotations.
1. Historical Origin of the Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice has been highly valued since ancient times and its history can be traced back thousands of years. According to “The Rites of Zhou”, there was already a custom of holding sacrificial activities on the Summer Solstice to pray for the elimination of diseases, famine years and disasters of the people. This reflects the ancients’ profound understanding of the relationship between the Summer Solstice solar term and natural changes and their longing for a beautiful life. In the Han Dynasty, the Summer Solstice was designated as a festival. The imperial court had activities such as having holidays and holding celebration ceremonies. Officials would also give each other folding fans, rouge and other items to escape the summer heat and take care of their bodies. In the Song Dynasty, the celebration activities of the Summer Solstice became more diverse. The custom of eating noodles on the Summer Solstice spread among the people. And things like mugwort would be hung on doors to drive away evil spirits and pray for blessings. These customs reflect people’s attention and unique cultural interpretations of the Summer Solstice in different historical periods, making the cultural heritage of the Summer Solstice continuously deep.
2. Folk Culture of the Summer Solstice
(1) Dietary Customs
There are various dietary customs on the Summer Solstice. Eating noodles on the Summer Solstice is one of the most widespread traditions, especially in northern China. At this time, the new wheat has been harvested. People use new wheat to grind flour and make noodles. Because the Summer Solstice has the longest daylight, eating noodles implies longevity. And the long and thin noodles symbolize the long daylight hours in summer. In some southern regions, there is a custom of eating wontons on the Summer Solstice. There is a saying that “Wontons on the Summer Solstice and glutinous rice balls on the Winter Solstice ensure good health and family reunion all year round”. The shape of wontons is like ingots. Eating wontons not only prays for wealth but also implies family reunion and happiness. In addition, in some places, there are also customs of eating dog meat and lychees. It is said that eating dog meat on the Summer Solstice can strengthen the body and resist diseases in the hot summer. And lychees are in peak season on the Summer Solstice. Their sweet and juicy taste brings a refreshing enjoyment to people in the hot summer.
(2) Traditional Activities
The traditional activities of the Summer Solstice have their own characteristics. In ancient times, there was a custom of “On the Summer Solstice, sacrificing to the Earth God”. People would hold a grand ceremony to sacrifice to the Earth God, thanking the earth for its nurturing and nourishing and praying for fertile land and a good harvest of crops. Nowadays, similar sacrificial activities are still retained in some regions. Although the forms have been simplified, they still carry people’s respect and gratitude for the land. In addition, during the Summer Solstice, there is a custom among the people that women give fans and sachets to men. Fans can be used to escape the summer heat and cool down. Sachets have the function of repelling insects and warding off evil spirits. These gifts are not only practical but also convey the affection and care between men and women and also reflect the social culture and folk customs at that time. There are also some places that will hold lively folk gatherings on the Summer Solstice. People gather together and have various traditional performances and game activities, such as dragon and lion dances, singing local operas, etc., to jointly celebrate the arrival of the Summer Solstice, feel the festive atmosphere and enhance the relationship between neighbors.
3. Cultural Significance of the Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice has far-reaching cultural significance. From the perspective of natural science, it is an important node of the movement of the direct point of the sun, reflecting the specific position of the earth in its orbit and the resulting changes in day and night length and climate characteristics. It is a direct manifestation of the laws of nature. On a cultural level, the folk activities of the Summer Solstice reflect people’s awe and gratitude for nature. Whether it is sacrificing to the Earth God, eating seasonal foods, giving gifts to each other or holding folk gatherings, they all contain people’s love for life, attention to family, maintenance of social relations and pursuit of health and happiness. The Summer Solstice is like a cultural bond that closely connects ancient traditions and modern life. It makes people feel the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese nation in the process of inheriting folk culture, enhances national identity and cohesion. At the same time, it also reminds people to respect nature, conform to nature, grasp the rhythm of life in the cycle of seasons and actively and optimistically face the challenges and beauties of life.