惊蛰：蛰虫惊醒，春光渐盛
惊蛰，是二十四节气中的第三个节气，通常在公历 3 月 5 – 7 日交节。此时，天气转暖，渐有春雷，蛰伏于地下冬眠的动物开始苏醒，这一节气也因此得名。惊蛰的到来，仿佛是大自然发出的一声有力召唤，唤醒了沉睡许久的万物，拉开了仲春时节生机勃勃的序幕。
一、惊蛰的历史渊源
惊蛰在古代农耕文化中有着深厚的根基。早在《月令七十二候集解》中就提到：“二月节……万物出乎震，震为雷，故曰惊蛰，是蛰虫惊而出走矣。”古人依据对自然现象的细致观察，将惊蛰视为春季农事活动全面开启的重要标志。随着惊蛰时节的到来，气温回升，土壤解冻，春雨渐多，这为春耕、播种以及农作物的生长提供了极为有利的条件。在传统农业社会，农民们会依据惊蛰的物候变化，有条不紊地开展诸如翻耕土地、施肥、播种早稻等一系列农事劳作，期望在新的一年里能够获得丰收。
二、惊蛰的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
在惊蛰时节，民间有许多独特的饮食习俗。一些地区有吃梨的传统，寓意与害虫分离，远离疾病灾祸，期望在新的一年里身体健康。此外，惊蛰吃炒豆也较为常见，人们将黄豆等豆类在锅中爆炒，发出噼里啪啦的声响，象征着虫子在锅中受热煎熬，以此来祈求消灭害虫，保障庄稼丰收。还有部分地区会食用惊蛰蛋，人们认为在惊蛰这天吃鸡蛋可以增强体质，抵御即将到来的各种疾病侵袭。
（二）传统活动
惊蛰期间，民间有“打小人”的习俗，主要流行于广东、香港等地。人们会在特定的场所，手持清香、艾草等，一边口中念念有词，一边用鞋子拍打纸扎的“小人”，目的是驱赶霉运、恶灵，祈求新的一年诸事顺遂，不受小人的干扰与陷害。同时，惊蛰时节也是人们开始植树造林的好时机，许多地方会组织民众参与植树活动，这不仅能够绿化环境，还契合了惊蛰万物生长的节气特点，象征着新生命的孕育与希望的播种。
三、惊蛰的文化意义
惊蛰是自然节律变化的生动体现，它象征着生命的复苏与觉醒。春雷乍动，蛰虫苏醒，这一自然现象深刻地反映了大自然的神奇力量和生命的顽强不屈。在文化层面，惊蛰的各种民俗活动蕴含着人们对美好生活的向往与追求。无论是吃梨、炒豆等饮食习俗，还是“打小人”等传统活动，都寄托了人们希望远离灾厄、身体健康、生活顺遂的美好愿望。此外，惊蛰时节人们积极投入农事生产和植树造林活动，体现了中华民族顺应自然、勤劳质朴、与自然和谐共生的传统美德和价值观念，它是中华民族传统文化宝库中一颗璀璨的明珠，承载着历史与文化的厚重记忆，代代相传，延续至今。
Awakening of Insects: Hibernating Creatures Stir, and Spring Scenery Thrives
The Awakening of Insects is the third solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurring around March 5 – 7 in the Gregorian calendar. At this time, the weather gets warmer, spring thunder gradually appears, and hibernating animals that have been dormant underground start to wake up, hence the name of this solar term. The arrival of the Awakening of Insects is like a powerful call from nature, awakening all things that have been sleeping for a long time and kicking off the vibrant prelude to the mid-spring season.
1. Historical Origin of the Awakening of Insects
The Awakening of Insects has deep roots in ancient agricultural culture. As early as mentioned in “The Collection and Explanation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms of the Monthly Ordinances”: “In the February solar term… All things emerge due to the vibration. The vibration is represented by thunder, so it is called the Awakening of Insects, which means hibernating insects are startled and come out.” Based on their meticulous observation of natural phenomena, the ancients regarded the Awakening of Insects as an important sign for the full start of spring farming activities. With the arrival of the Awakening of Insects season, the temperature rises, the soil thaws, and spring rain gradually increases, which provides extremely favorable conditions for spring ploughing, sowing, and the growth of crops. In traditional agricultural society, farmers would carry out a series of farming tasks such as ploughing the land, fertilizing, and sowing early rice in an orderly manner according to the phenological changes of the Awakening of Insects, hoping to achieve a bumper harvest in the new year.
2. Folk Culture of the Awakening of Insects
(1) Dietary Customs
During the Awakening of Insects season, there are many unique dietary customs among the people. In some regions, there is a tradition of eating pears, which implies separation from pests and staying away from diseases and disasters, hoping for good health in the new year. In addition, eating fried beans is also common during the Awakening of Insects. People stir-fry soybeans and other beans in a pan, making a crackling sound, symbolizing that the bugs are being tormented in the pan. This is to pray for the elimination of pests and a good harvest of crops. In some areas, people also eat eggs on the day of the Awakening of Insects. They believe that eating eggs on this day can strengthen the body and resist the invasion of various diseases that are about to come.
(2) Traditional Activities
During the Awakening of Insects, there is a custom of “beating the villain”, which is mainly popular in Guangdong, Hong Kong and other places. People will be in specific places, holding incense, mugwort and other things, chanting incantations while beating paper-made “villains” with shoes. The purpose is to drive away bad luck and evil spirits and pray for a smooth year without the interference and harm of villains. At the same time, the Awakening of Insects season is also a good time for people to start afforestation. Many places will organize people to participate in tree-planting activities. This not only can green the environment but also conforms to the characteristics of the solar term of the Awakening of Insects when all things are growing, symbolizing the gestation of new life and the sowing of hope.
3. Cultural Significance of the Awakening of Insects
The Awakening of Insects is a vivid manifestation of the change of natural rhythms. It symbolizes the revival and awakening of life. The sudden sound of spring thunder and the awakening of hibernating insects deeply reflect the miraculous power of nature and the tenacity of life. On a cultural level, various folk activities of the Awakening of Insects contain people’s longing and pursuit of a beautiful life. Whether it is the dietary customs such as eating pears and fried beans or the traditional activities such as “beating the villain”, they all carry people’s good wishes of staying away from disasters, having good health and a smooth life. In addition, people’s active participation in farming production and tree-planting activities during the Awakening of Insects season reflects the traditional virtues and values of the Chinese nation of conforming to nature, being industrious and simple, and living in harmony with nature. It is a bright pearl in the treasure house of traditional Chinese culture, carrying the heavy memory of history and culture and passing down from generation to generation until today.