24 Solar Terms:8 Things You May Not Know About Cold Dew

蒙甜甜

The traditional Chinese solar calendar di- vides the year into 24 solar terms. Cold Dew， the 17th solar term of the year， begins this year on Oct 8 and ends on Oct 23.

At this time， temperatures are much lower than during White Dew in most areas of China. The dew is greater and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe.

Here are eight things you should know about Cold Dew.

Foggy autumn

Temperatures drop significantly in Octo- ber. When the cold air encounters autumn rain， the abundant water vapor in the air soon reach- es saturation， and then it turns into misty rain or fog. When the humidity is high， there will be foggy regions formed in many areas of China.

Season for fishing

People always say that fishing in shallow water in autumn makes sense. That s because during the Cold Dew period， temperatures de- crease quickly and sunshine doesn treach deep water thoroughly. Fish swim to shallow water areas where the water temperature is relatively high.

Season for eating pomegranates

Pomegranates are ripe during Cold Dew. Pomegranates have been cherished for their ex- quisite beauty， flavor， color， and health benefits for centuries.

Seasonfordrinkingchrysanthemumwine

Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of?Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness， many re- gions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival （on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar）， which of- ten falls around Cold Dew. According to an- cient records， drinking wine made with chrysan- themums，poria cocos mushroom and pine oleo- resin grants people longlasting youth.

Season for eating hawthorns

There is a saying that goes“It is time to harvest hawthorn during Cold Dew.”Extracts of the berries have long been used in herbal medicine. The antioxidants in hawthorn are thought to boost heart health by strengthening bloodvessels and stimulating blood flow.

A great time for hiking

During Cold Dew， North China takes on a look of late autumn with white clouds， red leaves and early frost. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival， people often climb hills with cornels， a kind of plant. This custom aims to dispel evils， and originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty （AD25-220）.

Season for making kippers

People of the Dong ethnic group in west- ern Hunan province have the custom of making kippers during Cold Dew. It is said that kippers made on the day of Cold Dew with accessory foods， such as rice wine， salt， glutinous rice， pepper powder， paprika powder and ginger， are especially delicious.

Season for picking camellia seeds

Southern Hunan province is a famous area for producing tea seed oil. People are not al- lowed to go to the mountains to pick the seeds until Cold Dew comes around.

中國傳統二十四節氣的第17個節氣是寒露，今年的寒露從10月8日開始，10月23日結束。

寒露期間，中國大部分地區的氣溫會大幅降低。露水增多，氣溫更低，雨水減少。秋季作物即將成熟。

一起來了解一下關于寒露的8個小常識。

霧深露重

十月份氣溫會顯著下降。冷空氣來襲，下起秋雨時，空氣中豐沛的水汽很快達到飽和，將出現雨霧混合或者雨后大霧現象。濕度高時，中國的許多地區都將會出現白霧蒙蒙的景象。

捕魚季

人們總說，秋天在淺水才能釣到魚。這是因為在寒露時節，氣溫迅速下降，陽光無法穿透深水區。這時候魚兒就要游到水溫相對較高的淺水區。

吃石榴

寒露時節石榴熟了。數百年來石榴一直憑借豐美的果實、甘甜的味道、絢麗的顏色和極佳的養生功效而被人們所珍愛。

飲菊花酒

菊花是寒露的代表花卉。為了防止秋燥，中國很多地區都有飲用菊花酒的習俗。這是重陽節的一種傳統，重陽節通常在寒露前后。據古書記載，飲用菊花、茯苓菇和松脂制成的這種酒可以讓人青春永駐。

吃山楂

民間俗語云：“寒露收山楂”。很久以前，山楂提取物就被用在草藥中。山楂中的抗氧化成分據認為能夠活血通絡，促進心臟健康。

遠足

隨著寒露的到來，中國的北方呈現出深秋景象，白云紅葉，偶見早霜。在重陽節這天，人們往往會帶著茱萸去爬山。這一習俗起源于東漢時期，旨在辟邪消災。

做腌魚

湖南西部的侗族人有在寒露時節做腌魚的習俗。據說在寒露到來的那天，將腌魚配以黃酒、鹽、糯米、辣椒粉、花椒粉和生姜制作，味道會非常鮮美。

采摘油茶籽

湖南南部是油茶籽的著名產區。直到寒露時節人們才被允許進山采摘油茶籽。