立冬：冬之伊始，万物收藏
立冬，是二十四节气中的第十九个节气，通常在公历 11 月 7 – 8 日交节。立，建始也，表示冬季自此开始。此时，秋季作物全部收晒完毕，收藏入库，动物也已藏伏起来准备冬眠，自然界的万物都进入了蛰伏闭藏的状态，以躲避寒冷的侵袭，休养生息，为来年的生机勃发积蓄力量。
一、立冬的历史渊源
立冬在我国历史文化中占据着重要地位，其历史可追溯至古代。据《月令七十二候集解》记载：“立，建始也；冬，终也，万物收藏也。” 这表明古人早已认识到立冬是季节转换的重要节点，标志着一年中万物生长趋于停止并开始收藏。在古代，立冬与立春、立夏、立秋合称 “四立”，是非常重要的节日。天子会率领三公九卿等朝廷百官到北郊举行迎冬礼，并行赏死事、恤孤寡等活动，以鼓励民众抵御寒冬，同时祈求上苍保佑来年风调雨顺、国泰民安。民间也会在立冬前后进行一些诸如祭祀祖先、神灵等活动，以感恩过去一年的庇佑，并期望在冬季得到安宁与保护，这些活动反映了古人对自然规律的敬畏以及对生活的美好祈愿，立冬也由此成为传承千年的传统文化的重要载体。
二、立冬的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
立冬有着独特的饮食习俗。“立冬补冬，补嘴空” 这句俗语在民间广为流传，立冬时节，人们会通过饮食来滋补身体，为抵御寒冬做好准备。吃饺子是北方地区立冬的重要习俗，饺子的形状像耳朵，人们认为在立冬吃饺子可以防止耳朵被冻伤。饺子馅料丰富多样，有猪肉大葱、羊肉胡萝卜、韭菜鸡蛋等，一家人围坐在一起包饺子、吃饺子，其乐融融，也象征着家庭的团圆与和睦。在南方一些地区，立冬有吃甘蔗的习俗，甘蔗味甘性寒，有清热生津、润燥和中、解毒等功效，在干燥寒冷的冬季，食用甘蔗可以缓解口干舌燥等不适症状，为身体补充水分和营养。此外，还有些地方会在立冬吃羊肉汤、喝黄酒等，羊肉性温热，黄酒可活血驱寒，这些食物都有助于人们增强体质，抵御寒冷的天气。
（二）传统活动
立冬期间的传统活动各具特色。在一些地区，立冬有冬泳的习俗，冬泳爱好者们会在立冬这一天跳进冰冷的水中，他们相信冬泳可以锻炼意志、增强体质、提高免疫力，尽管水温寒冷，但参与者们热情高涨，这一活动也成为当地冬季一道独特的风景线。贺冬也是立冬的传统活动之一，古时，人们会在立冬这一天更换新衣，相互拜访祝贺，如同过年一般热闹，邻里之间互道祝福，交流情感，这种活动增进了人与人之间的感情，营造了和谐融洽的社会氛围。此外，在农村地区，立冬还有烧荒肥田的习俗，农民们将田地里的杂草、秸秆等点燃，经过焚烧后的草木灰富含钾等营养元素，可以为土壤提供肥力，为来年的农作物种植打下良好的基础，这体现了农民们对土地的精心呵护以及对农业生产的重视。
三、立冬的文化意义
立冬蕴含着丰富的文化意义。从自然规律角度看，它是季节循环的重要标志，象征着万物从生长到收藏的转变，体现了大自然的节律与生命的循环不息。在寒冷的冬季来临之际，万物收敛生机，是为了在艰难的环境中保存实力，等待来年春天的复苏与繁荣，这启示人们在生活中也要懂得适时调整节奏，积蓄力量，以应对困难与挑战。在文化层面，立冬的民俗活动反映了人们对自然的敬畏、对家庭的重视以及对美好生活的向往。无论是品尝饺子、甘蔗等美食，还是参与冬泳、贺冬等活动，都凝聚着人们对健康的追求、对家庭团圆的期盼以及对和谐人际关系的珍视。立冬就像一个文化纽带，将自然变化、农业生产与民俗文化紧密相连，传承着中华民族的智慧与情感，使人们在遵循自然规律的同时，也能感受到传统文化的魅力与温暖，从而更加珍惜自然的馈赠和家庭的团聚，以积极乐观的态度迎接冬季的到来，在静谧的寒冬中养精蓄锐，期待新的一年里能够生机勃勃、繁荣昌盛。
The Beginning of Winter: The Start of Winter, All Things Are Stored
The Beginning of Winter is the nineteenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurring around November 7 – 8 in the Gregorian calendar. “Li” means the beginning of establishment, indicating that winter starts from this time. At this moment, all the autumn crops have been harvested and dried and stored in warehouses. Animals have also hidden and prepared for hibernation. All things in nature have entered a state of dormancy and storage to avoid the cold and recuperate, accumulating strength for the vigorous growth in the coming year.
1. Historical Origin of The Beginning of Winter
The Beginning of Winter occupies an important position in China’s historical culture and its history can be traced back to ancient times. According to “The Collection and Explanation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms of the Monthly Ordinances”: “Li means the beginning of establishment; Dong means the end, and all things are stored.” This shows that the ancients had long recognized that The Beginning of Winter is an important node of seasonal change, marking that the growth of all things in a year tends to stop and starts to be stored. In ancient times, The Beginning of Winter, together with The Beginning of Spring, The Beginning of Summer and The Beginning of Autumn, was collectively called “the Four Li” and was a very important festival. The emperor would lead the Three Dukes, Nine Ministers and other court officials to the northern suburbs to hold a ceremony to welcome winter and also carry out activities such as rewarding the families of the deceased and taking care of the orphans and widows to encourage the people to resist the cold winter and pray to the heavens for favorable weather and national prosperity and people’s well-being in the coming year. Among the people, some activities such as sacrificing to ancestors and gods were also carried out around The Beginning of Winter to be grateful for the protection in the past year and expect peace and protection in winter. These activities reflect the ancients’ awe of the laws of nature and their good wishes for life. Therefore, The Beginning of Winter has become an important carrier of traditional culture that has been passed down for thousands of years.
2. Folk Culture of The Beginning of Winter
(1) Dietary Customs
The Beginning of Winter has unique dietary customs. The saying “Nourishing in The Beginning of Winter to fill the empty stomach” is widely spread among the people. During The Beginning of Winter, people will nourish their bodies through diet to prepare for resisting the cold winter. Eating dumplings is an important custom in the northern regions in The Beginning of Winter. The shape of dumplings is like ears. People believe that eating dumplings in The Beginning of Winter can prevent ears from being frostbitten. There are various fillings for dumplings, such as pork and scallions, mutton and carrots, leek and eggs, etc. The family sits around and makes and eats dumplings, enjoying a happy time and also symbolizing family reunion and harmony. In some southern regions, there is a custom of eating sugarcane in The Beginning of Winter. Sugarcane is sweet in taste and cold in nature and has the effects of clearing heat, promoting fluid production, moistening dryness, regulating the middle and detoxifying. In the dry and cold winter, eating sugarcane can relieve symptoms such as dry mouth and tongue and supplement water and nutrition for the body. In addition, in some places, people will eat mutton soup and drink yellow rice wine in The Beginning of Winter. Mutton is warm in nature and yellow rice wine can promote blood circulation and expel cold. These foods all help people strengthen their bodies and resist the cold weather.
(2) Traditional Activities
The traditional activities during The Beginning of Winter have their own characteristics. In some regions, there is a custom of winter swimming in The Beginning of Winter. Winter swimming enthusiasts will jump into the cold water on The Beginning of Winter. They believe that winter swimming can train willpower, strengthen the body and improve immunity. Although the water temperature is cold, the participants are enthusiastic. This activity has also become a unique landscape in the local winter. Celebrating winter is also one of the traditional activities in The Beginning of Winter. In ancient times, people would change into new clothes and visit and congratulate each other on The Beginning of Winter, as lively as celebrating the New Year. Neighbors exchange blessings and communicate emotions. This kind of activity enhances the feelings between people and creates a harmonious and friendly social atmosphere. In addition, in rural areas, there is a custom of burning weeds to fertilize the fields in The Beginning of Winter. Farmers set fire to the weeds and straws in the fields. The ash after burning is rich in potassium and other nutrients and can provide fertility for the soil and lay a good foundation for the crop planting in the coming year. This reflects the farmers’ careful care of the land and their attention to agricultural production.
3. Cultural Significance of The Beginning of Winter
The Beginning of Winter contains rich cultural significance. From the perspective of natural laws, it is an important sign of seasonal cycle, symbolizing the transformation of all things from growth to storage and reflecting the rhythm of nature and the cycle of life. When the cold winter is approaching, all things restrain their vitality to preserve strength in a difficult environment and wait for the recovery and prosperity in the coming spring. This inspires people to know how to adjust the rhythm in time and accumulate strength to deal with difficulties and challenges in life. On a cultural level, the folk activities of The Beginning of Winter reflect people’s awe of nature, attention to family and longing for a beautiful life. Whether it is tasting delicious foods such as dumplings and sugarcane or participating in activities such as winter swimming and celebrating winter, they all embody people’s pursuit of health, expectation of family reunion and cherishment of harmonious interpersonal relationships. The Beginning of Winter is like a cultural bond that closely connects natural changes, agricultural production and folk culture, inheriting the wisdom and emotions of the Chinese nation. It makes people feel the charm and warmth of traditional culture while following the laws of nature and thus cherish the gifts of nature and family reunions more and welcome the arrival of winter with a positive and optimistic attitude. In the quiet cold winter, people recuperate and look forward to being vigorous and prosperous in the new year.