白露：露凝而白，秋意渐浓
白露，是二十四节气中的第十五个节气，通常在公历 9 月 7 – 9 日交节。此时，天气逐渐转凉，昼夜温差加大，夜晚水汽在地面或近地物体上凝结成细小的水滴，呈现出白色，故而得名 “白露”。白露的到来，标志着孟秋时节的结束和仲秋时节的开始，自然界的景色也开始发生明显的变化，大地披上了一层淡淡的秋装，万物在秋风的轻抚下，悄然发生着从繁茂到成熟的转变。
一、白露的历史渊源
白露在我国历史文化中有着深厚的底蕴，其记载可追溯至古代典籍。据《月令七十二候集解》记载：“八月节…… 阴气渐重，露凝而白也。” 古人通过对自然气候的长期观察与总结，敏锐地捕捉到了白露时节气候与自然现象的特征，并将其纳入二十四节气体系之中，用以指导农业生产与日常生活。在传统农业社会，白露是一个重要的农事节点，此时大部分农作物已进入生长后期或即将成熟，农民们会依据白露的气候特点，加强田间管理，如预防病虫害、适时灌溉与排水等，以确保农作物能够顺利成熟并收获，这充分体现了古人对自然规律的尊重与合理利用，也反映出白露节气在农耕文化中的重要地位。
二、白露的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
白露有着独特的饮食习俗。民间有 “白露茶” 之说，白露茶是在白露时节采摘制作的茶叶，相较于春茶的鲜嫩和夏茶的苦涩，白露茶具有一种独特的甘醇味道，口感更为醇厚、清香。这是因为白露时节昼夜温差大，茶叶生长缓慢，使得茶叶中的营养成分得以更好地积累，深受茶客们的喜爱。此外，在一些地区还有吃龙眼的习俗，白露时节的龙眼个大味甜，且营养丰富，人们认为在白露这天吃龙眼有补益心脾、养血安神的功效，对身体大有裨益。还有吃白露米酒的传统，白露米酒用糯米、高粱等酿成，酒精度数较低，口感香甜醇厚，在白露时节饮用，不仅可以暖身驱寒，还被视为对丰收的庆祝与祝福。
（二）传统活动
白露期间的传统活动别具特色。祭禹王是太湖流域白露时节的重要活动之一。禹王是传说中治水的英雄，太湖渔民们为了感谢他的治水功绩，在白露这一天会举行盛大的祭祀仪式，人们汇聚在禹王庙，献上丰盛的祭品，祈求禹王保佑渔业丰收、出行平安。这一活动不仅体现了渔民们对禹王的崇敬与感恩之情，也反映了当地独特的地域文化与民俗信仰。在温州等地，有白露采集 “十样白” 的习俗，“十样白” 通常是指十种带 “白” 字的草药，如白木槿、白毛苦等，人们将这些草药采集回来后，用来炖煮乌骨鸡等，据说食用后可以滋补身体，预防疾病，这反映了民间对白露时节养生保健的重视以及利用自然资源进行食疗的传统智慧。
三、白露的文化意义
白露蕴含着丰富的文化意义。从自然层面来看，它是气候由热转凉的显著标志，反映了大自然在季节更替过程中的精细变化与生命节律的调整。昼夜温差的加大促使植物体内的物质发生转化，使得万物在成熟与收获的道路上更进一步，这体现了自然的神奇与生命的顽强。在文化层面，白露的民俗活动反映了人们对自然的敬畏之心、对生活的热爱之情以及对传统文化的传承与坚守。无论是品尝白露茶、吃龙眼、饮白露米酒，还是参与祭禹王、采集 “十样白” 等活动，都凝聚着人们对美好生活的向往、对健康体魄的追求以及对家族与社区和谐稳定的期望。白露就像一首悠扬的秋曲，奏响了自然与人文和谐共生的旋律，在岁月的长河中，它将中华民族的文化基因与自然的韵律紧密相连，使人们在感受秋天的韵味时，也能领悟到传统文化的博大精深，进而激发人们对自然和文化的保护意识，传承和弘扬中华民族优秀的传统文化。
White Dew: The Dew Condenses and Turns White, and Autumn Deepens
White Dew is the fifteenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurring around September 7 – 9 in the Gregorian calendar. At this time, the weather gradually cools down, and the temperature difference between day and night increases. At night, water vapor condenses into tiny water droplets on the ground or near-ground objects, presenting a white color, hence the name “White Dew”. The arrival of White Dew marks the end of the early autumn season and the beginning of the mid-autumn season. The natural scenery also begins to change noticeably. The earth is covered with a faint autumn attire. Under the gentle caress of the autumn wind, all things are quietly undergoing a transformation from prosperity to maturity.
1. Historical Origin of White Dew
White Dew has a profound cultural heritage in China’s history. Its record can be traced back to ancient texts. According to “The Collection and Explanation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms of the Monthly Ordinances”: “The solar term in the eighth lunar month… The yin qi gradually becomes heavier, and the dew condenses and turns white.” Through long-term observation and summary of the natural climate, the ancients keenly captured the characteristics of the climate and natural phenomena during the White Dew season and incorporated it into the twenty-four solar terms system to guide agricultural production and daily life. In traditional agricultural society, White Dew was an important farming node. At this time, most crops had entered the later growth stage or were about to mature. Farmers would strengthen field management according to the climatic characteristics of White Dew, such as preventing pests and diseases, timely irrigating and draining, etc., to ensure that the crops could mature and be harvested smoothly. This fully reflects the ancients’ respect and rational utilization of the laws of nature and also shows the important position of the White Dew solar term in agricultural culture.
2. Folk Culture of White Dew
(1) Dietary Customs
White Dew has unique dietary customs. There is a saying of “White Dew tea” among the people. White Dew tea is the tea picked and made during the White Dew season. Compared with the tender spring tea and the bitter summer tea, White Dew tea has a unique mellow taste and a more mellow and fragrant flavor. This is because the large temperature difference between day and night during the White Dew season makes the tea grow slowly, allowing the nutritional components in the tea to accumulate better and is deeply loved by tea drinkers. In addition, in some regions, there is also a custom of eating longan. The longan during the White Dew season is large, sweet and rich in nutrition. People believe that eating longan on the day of White Dew has the effects of nourishing the heart and spleen, nourishing blood and calming the nerves and is of great benefit to the body. There is also a traditional of drinking White Dew rice wine. White Dew rice wine is brewed from glutinous rice, sorghum, etc. It has a relatively low alcohol content and a sweet and mellow taste. Drinking it during the White Dew season can not only warm the body and expel cold but is also regarded as a celebration and blessing of the harvest.
(2) Traditional Activities
The traditional activities during White Dew have their own characteristics. Sacrificing to King Yu is one of the important activities during the White Dew season in the Taihu Lake Basin. King Yu is a hero in the legend of flood control. To thank him for his achievements in flood control, fishermen in the Taihu Lake area will hold a grand sacrificial ceremony on the day of White Dew. People gather in the King Yu Temple and offer rich sacrifices, praying for King Yu to bless a good harvest in fishery and safe travels. This activity not only reflects the fishermen’s respect and gratitude for King Yu but also shows the unique regional culture and folk beliefs. In Wenzhou and other places, there is a custom of collecting “ten kinds of white” during White Dew. “Ten kinds of white” usually refers to ten kinds of herbs with the character “white”, such as white hibiscus, white-haired bitter, etc. People collect these herbs and use them to stew black-boned chicken, etc. It is said that eating it can nourish the body and prevent diseases, which reflects the importance of health preservation during the White Dew season among the people and the traditional wisdom of using natural resources for dietary therapy.
3. Cultural Significance of White Dew
White Dew contains rich cultural significance. From a natural perspective, it is a significant sign of the climate changing from hot to cool, reflecting the fine changes and the adjustment of the life rhythm of nature during the season change. The increase in the temperature difference between day and night promotes the transformation of substances in plants, making all things move further on the road of maturity and harvest, which reflects the magic of nature and the tenacity of life. On a cultural level, the folk activities of White Dew reflect people’s awe of nature, love for life and the inheritance and adherence to traditional culture. Whether it is tasting White Dew tea, eating longan, drinking White Dew rice wine, or participating in sacrificing to King Yu, collecting “ten kinds of white” and other activities, they all embody people’s yearning for a better life, the pursuit of a healthy body, and the expectation of harmony and stability of the family and community. White Dew is like a melodious autumn song, playing the melody of the harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity. In the long river of history, it closely connects the cultural genes of the Chinese nation with the rhythm of nature, making people understand the profoundness of traditional culture while feeling the charm of autumn, and further inspiring people’s awareness of protecting nature and culture and inheriting and carrying forward the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.