The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Frost’s Descent, the 18th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct 23 and ends on Nov 7.
中国传统的农历把一年分成二十四节气。霜降是一年中第十八个节气，从每年的10月23日开始到11月7日结束。
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.
霜降是秋天的最后一个节气，这期间的气温比以前变得更冷，开始出现初霜。
Here are eight things you should know about Frost’s Descent.
下面有8件关于霜降时节你应该知道的事情。
Frosty autumn
秋寒
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.
地面附近的水气冷凝成白色冰晶，形成了霜。在霜降期间，开始出现霜冻。但在黄河下游的地区，最早在十月下旬或十一月上旬才出现霜冻。伴随着霜降的到临，万物充满了晚秋的气息。
Eating persimmons
吃柿子
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.
霜降时期吃柿子能帮助人们抵御寒冷，保护好骨骼。在农村，人们认为霜降不吃柿子，嘴唇会干裂。
Eating apples
吃苹果
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.
霜降期间，苹果是一种值得推荐的水果。在中国有很多说法表达苹果的益处，如“饭后一苹果，老人如小伙，”正如西方谚语所说的，“一天一苹果，医生远离我”。苹果还可以润肺、止渴、帮助消化。
Eating pears
吃梨
The pear is another recommended fruit during Frost’s Descent, which can promote the secretion of body liquids, clear away heat and reduce sputum.
梨是霜降期间另一推荐水果，可以促进体内分泌液体，清热化痰。
Eating duck
吃鸭子
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.
在福建南部和台湾，霜降第一天的习俗是吃鸭肉。在福建有一句话说：“即使是一年都很有营养的人在霜降的第一天也会没有营养。”吃鸭子是人们贴秋膘的一种方法。
Eating chestnuts
吃板栗
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.
在霜降期间吃板栗有益身体健康。板栗性温味甜，营养丰富，能很好地健脾养胃，活血，止咳化痰。
Eating dates
吃枣
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.
大枣是霜降期间市场上的水果之一。富含维生素的大枣能滋养血液，降低血压，提高人的免疫力，但吃太多对身体有害。腐烂的大枣还会造成头疼眩晕，严重甚至会有生命危险。
Frost’s Descent Festival
霜降节
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. With a history of more than 360 years, the festival is to commemorate Cen Yuyin, a heroine in battles against foreign aggression.
广西壮族自治区大新县的人们会庆祝霜降的第一天。在霜降节上，壮族人民会祭祀、跳舞和唱民歌。这个节日有360多年的历史，是为了纪念民族女英雄岑玉音反抗外来侵略。
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