【博览中国】Frost's Descent 霜降

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Frost's Descent, (Chinese: 霜降shuāng jiàng), the 18th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 24 and ends on Nov 7.

Frost's Descent is the last solar term of autumn, during which time the weather becomes much colder than before and frost begins to appear.

霜降，是二十四节气中的第十八个节气，也是秋季的最后一个节气。霜降期间，气候由凉向寒过渡，所以霜降的来临意味着“寒秋”的开始。

Frost consists of white ice crystals of frozen water vapor near the ground. During Frost's Descent, frost begins to appear. But in the lower reaches of the Yellow River region, frost first appears in late October or early November. As Frost's Descent comes, the world is filled with the atmosphere of late autumn.

霜降时节，冰霜开始出现了。但在黄河下游地区，初霜会在十月末或十一月初出现。随着霜降的来临，整个世界都充满了晚秋的气息。

Eating persimmons during Frost's Descent can help people resist the cold and protect their bones. In the countryside, people believe that their lips will crack if they don't eat persimmons during this period.

霜降时吃柿子能帮助人们御寒和保护骨骼。在乡下，人们认为，如果霜降期间不吃柿子，嘴唇会干裂。

The apple is one kind of recommended fruit during Frost's Descent. There are many sayings about apples' benefits in China, such as "Eat an apple after meals, even old men can be as strong as young men," just as the Western proverb goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples can moisten the lungs, quench one's thirst and help one's digestion.

霜降后的苹果糖度高，果肉也会变得更脆。在享受美味的同时，苹果具有的润肺、止咳、促消化的功能，也能帮助人们在秋季增强体质。中国有很多表达苹果益处的俗语，如“饭后一个果，老来赛小伙。”正如西方谚语所说：“饭后一个果，医生不找我。”

The pear is another recommended fruit during Frost's Descent, which can promote the secretion of body liquids, clear away heat and reduce sputum.

霜降期的另一种推荐水果是梨子。吃梨可促进体液分泌（利尿），清热化痰。

It's a custom to eat duck on the first day of Frost's Descent in south Fujian province and Taiwan. There is a saying in Fujian which goes, "Even nourishing all year is not as good as nourishing the human body on the first day of Frost's Descent." Eating duck is a way for people there to gain weight.

鸭肉性寒，味甘，具有滋阴补虚、清热润燥的效果。讲究秋季进补的福建省南部和台湾，有霜降当天吃鸭子的习俗。在福建有句俗语：“一年补透透，不如补霜降。”吃鸭子对当地人来说是一种“贴秋膘”的方式。

Eating chestnuts during Frost's Descent is beneficial for one's health. Chestnuts have a warm nature and sweet flavor, and are good for nourishing the spleen and stomach, invigorating the circulation of blood, relieving coughs and reducing sputum.

霜降时吃板栗，有益于身体健康。板栗性暖、味甘，对滋养脾胃、活血、止咳化痰有很好的功效。

The date is one of the fruits on the market during Frost's Descent. Nutritious with a great number of vitamins, dates can nourish the blood, decrease blood pressure, and improve one's immunity. But eating too many could be harmful. Rotten dates can cause headaches and dizziness or even put people's lives in danger.

枣富含维生素，有助于补血降压，增强免疫力。霜降时节正值新鲜的枣上市，此时须注意，不当的食用方式会对人体造成危害。食用过量的枣对身体不好。腐烂的枣会导致头痛、头昏，甚至使人陷入生命危险。

People in areas such as Daxin county in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region celebrate the first day of Frost's Descent. In the Frost's Descent Festival, the Zhuang people offer sacrifices, dance and sing folk songs. 

晚稻收割结束之后的霜降期间，劳作了一年的壮族乡民们趁着农闲的机会交朋结友、走亲串戚、对歌看戏。霜降节仪式上，壮族人会献上贡品，唱起民歌，翩翩起舞。