春分：昼夜平分，阴阳平衡
春分，作为二十四节气中的第四个节气，通常在公历 3 月 20 – 22 日交节。此节气昼夜长短几乎相等，平分了春季，故得名 “春分”。春分时节，大地回暖，万物复苏，自然界呈现出一片生机勃勃、和谐平衡的景象，它在天文、气候以及农业生产等多方面都具有极为重要的意义。
一、春分的历史渊源
春分的历史可追溯至古老的农耕文明时期。在古代，春分是确定春季到来以及校准农事活动日程的关键节点。据《月令七十二候集解》记载：“春分，二月中。分者，半也，此当九十日之半，故谓之分。” 早在周朝，就有春分祭日的仪式，表达对太阳的崇敬与感恩，祈求风调雨顺、五谷丰登。这一祭祀传统历经数千年传承，成为春分节气独特而庄重的文化符号，彰显了古人对自然规律的尊崇以及对天地和谐共生的不懈追求。
二、春分的民俗文化
（一）饮食习俗
春分有许多特色饮食习俗。其中，吃春菜尤为盛行。春菜多为野苋菜之类的应季野菜，人们将其采回洗净后，与鱼片一起滚汤，名曰 “春汤”。民间流传着 “春汤灌脏，洗涤肝肠。阖家老少，平安健康” 的说法，寄托了人们对身体健康、家庭和睦的美好祈愿。此外，还有吃汤圆的习俗，而且会将汤圆煮好后放置在竹筛上，滚上一层薄糖，名曰 “粘雀子嘴”，寓意是让雀鸟嘴被粘住，不去破坏庄稼，以保佑当年粮食丰收。
（二）传统活动
春分期间的传统活动丰富多彩。立蛋是一项广为人知且饶有趣味的活动，据说在春分这一天，鸡蛋更容易立起来，人们通过立蛋来庆祝春天的到来，也象征着新生命的开始与生活的平稳安定。放风筝也是春分的传统民俗活动之一，此时风和日丽，天空中五彩斑斓的风筝随风飘舞，人们借此活动舒展身心，感受大自然的美好，同时也寓意着将厄运放飞，迎来好运与吉祥。还有春分祭日活动，从古代皇家到民间百姓，都会在这一天举行庄重的祭日仪式，以表达对太阳神的敬意，祈求阳光普照、万物生长。
三、春分的文化意义
春分不仅是自然现象的体现，更是蕴含着深厚的文化内涵。昼夜平分的特点象征着阴阳平衡、和谐有序，这一理念深深融入了中国传统文化之中，成为中国人追求天地人和的哲学思想的生动映照。春分的民俗活动传承着中华民族的历史记忆与文化基因，从饮食习俗到传统活动，都承载着人们对美好生活的向往、对自然的敬畏以及对家庭和社会和谐稳定的期盼。它犹如一条无形的纽带，将人们与自然、历史紧密相连，在岁月的长河中代代相传，延续着中华民族独特的文化魅力与精神价值。
The Spring Equinox: Equal Day and Night, Balance of Yin and Yang
The Spring Equinox, the fourth solar term among the twenty-four solar terms, usually occurs around March 20 – 22 in the Gregorian calendar. During this solar term, the length of day and night is almost equal, dividing spring in half, hence the name “Spring Equinox”. In the season of the Spring Equinox, the earth gets warmer, all things revive, and the natural world presents a vibrant, harmonious and balanced scene. It has extremely important significance in astronomy, climate and agricultural production.
1. Historical Origin of the Spring Equinox
The history of the Spring Equinox can be traced back to the ancient agricultural civilization period. In ancient times, the Spring Equinox was a key node for determining the arrival of spring and calibrating the schedule of farming activities. According to “The Collection and Explanation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms of the Monthly Ordinances”: “The Spring Equinox, in the middle of the second lunar month. ‘Equinox’ means half. It is the midpoint of the ninety days of spring, so it is called ‘equinox’.” As early as the Zhou Dynasty, there was a ceremony of sacrificing to the sun on the Spring Equinox to express respect and gratitude to the sun and pray for favorable weather and a bumper harvest. This sacrificial tradition has been passed down for thousands of years and has become a unique and solemn cultural symbol of the Spring Equinox solar term, demonstrating the ancients’ respect for the laws of nature and their unremitting pursuit of the harmonious coexistence of heaven and earth.
2. Folk Culture of the Spring Equinox
(1) Dietary Customs
There are many characteristic dietary customs during the Spring Equinox. Among them, eating spring vegetables is particularly popular. Spring vegetables are mostly seasonal wild vegetables such as wild amaranth. People pick them back, wash them, and make a soup with fish slices, named “Spring Soup”. There is a folk saying that “Spring Soup cleanses the internal organs and washes the liver and intestines. The whole family, young and old, will be healthy and safe”, expressing people’s good wishes for good health and family harmony. In addition, there is also a custom of eating glutinous rice balls. After boiling the glutinous rice balls, they are placed on a bamboo sieve and rolled with a thin layer of sugar, named “Sticking the Sparrows’ Beaks”. The implication is to make the sparrows’ beaks stuck so that they will not damage the crops and ensure a good harvest of grains in the current year.
(2) Traditional Activities
The traditional activities during the Spring Equinox are rich and colorful. Standing an egg is a well-known and interesting activity. It is said that on the Spring Equinox, it is easier for eggs to stand up. People celebrate the arrival of spring by standing eggs, which also symbolizes the beginning of new life and the stability of life. Flying kites is also one of the traditional folk activities of the Spring Equinox. At this time, the weather is sunny and windy, and the colorful kites flutter in the sky. People stretch their bodies and minds through this activity, feel the beauty of nature, and also symbolize flying away bad luck and welcoming good luck and auspiciousness. There is also a ceremony of sacrificing to the sun on the Spring Equinox. From the ancient royal family to the common people, solemn sacrificial ceremonies to the sun god will be held on this day to express respect for the sun god and pray for the sun to shine brightly and all things to grow.
3. Cultural Significance of the Spring Equinox
The Spring Equinox is not only a manifestation of natural phenomena but also contains profound cultural connotations. The characteristic of equal day and night symbolizes the balance of yin and yang and harmonious order. This concept is deeply integrated into traditional Chinese culture and has become a vivid reflection of the Chinese people’s philosophical thought of pursuing the harmony between heaven, earth and people. The folk activities of the Spring Equinox inherit the historical memory and cultural genes of the Chinese nation. From dietary customs to traditional activities, they all carry people’s longing for a beautiful life, their awe of nature and their expectations for the harmonious and stable of families and society. It is like an invisible bond that closely connects people with nature and history, passing down from generation to generation in the long river of years, continuing the unique cultural charm and spiritual value of the Chinese nation.