立秋：凉风至，秋意初临
立秋，作为二十四节气中的第十三个节气，通常在公历 8 月 7 – 9 日交节。“立” 是开始之意，立秋标志着秋季的开始，但立秋时节，炎热的天气往往并不会立刻结束，仍会持续一段时间，民间有 “秋老虎” 之说，不过，此时自然界的阴阳之气已开始转变，万物也逐渐从繁茂生长走向成熟收获。
一、立秋的历史渊源
立秋在我国历史文化中占据着重要地位，其历史可追溯至上古时期。据《月令七十二候集解》记载：“七月节，立字解见春（立春）。秋，揫也，物于此而揫敛也。” 这表明古人已清晰认识到立秋是万物开始收敛的时节。在古代，立秋是一个重要的农事节日，天子会亲率三公九卿诸侯大夫到西郊迎秋，并举行祭祀仪式，以祈求秋季的风调雨顺和五谷丰登。同时，朝廷还会颁布法令，督促农民抓紧农事活动，如收割早熟作物、准备秋播等，这一系列活动体现了古人对农业生产与季节变化紧密关系的重视，也反映了立秋在传统农耕社会中的关键作用。
二、立秋的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
立秋有着丰富多样的饮食习俗。民间有 “贴秋膘” 的传统，因为夏季人们食欲减退，体重往往会有所下降，立秋后天气转凉，人们便开始通过食用各种肉类来补充营养，增加体重，以应对即将到来的秋冬季节。常见的有炖肉、烤肉、红烧肉等，一家人围坐在一起吃肉，也寓意着家庭生活的富足与美满。此外，在一些地区还有吃西瓜的习俗，称为 “咬秋”。立秋时吃西瓜，一方面是因为此时西瓜仍大量上市，口感鲜美；另一方面也有迎接秋天到来，告别炎热夏季的含义，人们希望借此习俗保佑整个秋季身体健康，避免生病。还有吃秋桃的习俗，在浙江杭州等地，人们会在立秋时吃桃子，并将桃核留到除夕时扔进火炉中烧成灰烬，寓意着祛除瘟疫，保佑平安。
（二）传统活动
立秋期间的传统活动各具特色。晒秋是立秋时节极具地域特色的民俗活动，主要流行于我国南方山区。由于地势复杂，村庄平地较少，村民们便利用房前屋后及自家窗台、屋顶等空间，将农作物如辣椒、玉米、南瓜等晾晒出来，五彩斑斓的农作物与古色古香的村落建筑相互映衬，构成了一幅独特而美丽的秋日画卷，不仅展示了丰收的成果，也体现了农民们对生活的热爱与对自然馈赠的感恩。在一些地方，立秋还有 “摸秋” 的习俗，在夜晚，人们可以到别人家的田地里偷偷摘取一些成熟的瓜果，被摘的人家不会生气，因为这被视为一种分享丰收喜悦的方式，也体现了乡村邻里之间的和睦与宽容。此外，立秋时，民间会有一些祭祀土地神的活动，感谢土地神在过去的时间里对农作物生长的庇佑，祈求土地继续保持肥沃，保佑来年的农业生产顺利进行。
三、立秋的文化意义
立秋蕴含着深厚的文化意义。从自然规律角度看，它是季节交替的重要标志，象征着万物从生长走向成熟的过渡，体现了大自然的生命轮回与节律变化。在文化层面，立秋的民俗活动反映了人们对生活的热爱、对家庭的重视以及对自然的敬畏与感恩。无论是 “贴秋膘”“咬秋” 等饮食习俗，还是晒秋、“摸秋” 等传统活动，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和谐人际关系的珍视。立秋如同一个文化纽带，将自然变化、农业生产与民俗文化紧密相连，传承着中华民族千年的智慧与情感，让人们在季节的更迭中感受到岁月的流转与文化的传承，激励着人们遵循自然规律，积极面对生活，在收获的季节里感恩过往，展望未来。
The Beginning of Autumn: The Arrival of Cool Winds, the Initial Touch of Autumn
The Beginning of Autumn, the thirteenth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurs around August 7 – 9 in the Gregorian calendar. “Li” means the start. The Beginning of Autumn marks the beginning of autumn. However, during the Beginning of Autumn season, the hot weather usually does not end immediately and will last for a while. There is a folk saying of “Autumn Tiger”. Nevertheless, the yin and yang qi in nature has already begun to change, and all things are gradually changing from prosperous growth to mature harvest.
1. Historical Origin of the Beginning of Autumn
The Beginning of Autumn 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”: “The solar term in the seventh lunar month. The meaning of ‘li’ is the same as that in the Beginning of Spring. ‘Qiu’ means gathering. Things start to gather here.” This shows that the ancients had clearly recognized that the Beginning of Autumn is the season when all things start to gather. In ancient times, the Beginning of Autumn was an important farming festival. The emperor would lead the Three Dukes, Nine Ministers, feudal lords and high officials to the western suburbs to welcome autumn and hold sacrificial ceremonies to pray for favorable weather and a bumper harvest in autumn. At the same time, the imperial court would also promulgate laws and decrees to urge farmers to hurry with farming activities, such as harvesting early-ripening crops and preparing for autumn sowing. This series of activities reflects the ancients’ attention to the close relationship between agricultural production and seasonal changes and also reflects the key role of the Beginning of Autumn in traditional agricultural society.
2. Folk Culture of the Beginning of Autumn
(1) Dietary Customs
The Beginning of Autumn has rich and diverse dietary customs. There is a traditional custom of “putting on autumn weight” among the people. Because people’s appetite decreases in summer and their weight often drops. After the Beginning of Autumn, the weather turns cool and people start to supplement nutrition and gain weight by eating various kinds of meat to cope with the upcoming autumn and winter seasons. Common ones include stewed meat, roasted meat, braised pork, etc. The family sitting around and eating meat also implies the wealth and happiness of family life. In addition, in some regions, there is a custom of eating watermelon, which is called “biting autumn”. Eating watermelon at the Beginning of Autumn is partly because there is still a large amount of watermelon on the market at this time and the taste is delicious; on the other hand, it also has the meaning of welcoming the arrival of autumn and bidding farewell to the hot summer. People hope that this custom will bless them with good health throughout the autumn and avoid getting sick. There is also a custom of eating autumn peaches. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang and other places, people will eat peaches at the Beginning of Autumn and keep the peach pits until New Year’s Eve and throw them into the stove and burn them to ashes, which implies expelling the plague and blessing for safety.
(2) Traditional Activities
The traditional activities during the Beginning of Autumn have their own characteristics. “Drying crops in autumn” is a folk activity with strong regional characteristics during the Beginning of Autumn season, which is mainly popular in the mountainous areas in southern China. Due to the complex terrain and less flat land in the village, villagers make use of the space in front of and behind the house, their own window sills, rooftops, etc. to dry out crops such as peppers, corns, pumpkins, etc. The colorful crops and the antique village buildings set off each other, forming a unique and beautiful autumn picture. It not only shows the results of the harvest but also reflects the farmers’ love for life and gratitude for the gifts of nature. In some places, there is a custom of “touching autumn” during the Beginning of Autumn. At night, people can secretly pick some ripe melons and fruits in other people’s fields. The owners of the picked fields will not be angry because this is regarded as a way to share the joy of harvest and also reflects the harmony and tolerance among rural neighbors. In addition, during the Beginning of Autumn, there will be some activities of sacrificing to the God of the Land among the people. Thanking the God of the Land for its protection of the growth of crops in the past and praying that the land will continue to be fertile and bless the smooth progress of agricultural production in the coming year.
3. Cultural Significance of the Beginning of Autumn
The Beginning of Autumn contains profound cultural significance. From the perspective of natural laws, it is an important sign of the alternation of seasons, symbolizing the transition of all things from growth to maturity and reflecting the cycle of life and rhythmic changes of nature. On a cultural level, the folk activities of the Beginning of Autumn reflect people’s love for life, attention to family, awe and gratitude for nature. Whether it is the dietary customs such as “putting on autumn weight” and “biting autumn” or the traditional activities such as “drying crops in autumn” and “touching autumn”, they all embody people’s yearning for a better life, the pursuit of a healthy body, and the cherishing of harmonious interpersonal relationships. The Beginning of Autumn is like a cultural bond that closely connects natural changes, agricultural production and folk culture, inheriting the wisdom and emotions of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. It makes people feel the passage of time and the inheritance of culture in the alternation of seasons and inspires people to follow the laws of nature, actively face life, be grateful for the past and look forward to the future in the harvest season.