 The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. 中国传统农历将一年分为24个节气， Grain Buds, the 8th solar term of a year, begins on May 21 this year and ends on June 5. 其中小满是一年中第8个节气。今年的小满从5月21日开始，至6月5日结束。
It means that the seeds from the grain are becoming full but are not ripe. 小满意指谷物开始饱满，但是还未成熟的这段日子。 1、吃鱼虾 Eating fish and shrimp During the Grain Buds period, the summer harvest is about to begin. 小满时节，夏收即将开始。 A saying about rain during this time mentions,'A heavy rainfall makes the river full.' 一句讲小满夏雨的古话说道：“小满江河满”。
Because of the great increase in rainfall, rivers are full of water, which makes fish and shrimp big and fat. 由于降雨量激增，河流都被灌满了水，使得鱼虾又大又肥。 This is a good time to eat fish and shrimp. It is also harvest season for fishermen. 小满是吃鱼虾的好时节， 也是渔民们丰收的季节。 2、吃苦菜 Eating herb of common sow thistle Grain Buds is a season for eating the herb of the common sow thistle, which is one of the earliest edible potherbs in China. 小满还要吃苦菜，这种菜是中国最早的可食用野菜之一。 It tastes a little bitter and tart, but also sweet. 苦菜尝起来有点苦酸、略带甜味。 It has the function of cooling the blood and detoxifying the body. 具有清热解毒的功效。 It can be made into different types of dishes. 可被做成各种不同的菜肴。
People in Ningxia like to eat it blended with salt, vinegar, peppers or garlic. 宁夏人喜爱凉拌苦菜，佐以盐、醋、胡椒和大蒜。 It tastes savoury and helps people feel refreshed. 尝起来口感清新、令人神清气爽。 Some people boil the herb in water and then squeeze out the juice, which can be used to make soup. 有人则喜爱把苦菜淖水、榨出汁液，然后用来做汤。 3、祭蚕神 Celebrating silkworm deity's birthday Silkworm rearing is a traditional byproduct for people in regions south of the Yangtze River. 养蚕是江南人的传统副业。 During the Grain Buds season, silkworms have cocooned. 小满时节，桑蚕已经结成了茧。
People begin to cook cocoons and prepare the spinning wheel for reeling silk. 人们开始煮茧缫丝。 People in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces regard this season as the birthday of the silkworm deity. 认为小满是蚕神的诞辰。 Those who engaged in the silk industry thanked the deity by offering sacrifices and staging performances. 会为其提供祭品、组织祭祀表演。 They pray to the deity for blessings and a boom season for the silk business. 人们会祈求蚕神保佑丝绸生意繁荣发展。 |
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