Things you need to know about Frost's Descent关于霜降,你需要知道这些事

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 24 and ends on Nov 7.

中国传统历法农历将全年分为二十四节气。霜降是二十四节气中的第18个节气，从10月24日始至11月7日终。

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. Here are the things you should know about Frost's Descent.

霜降是秋季的最后一个节气，这段时间气温骤降，开始降霜。关于霜降，你需要知道这些事儿。

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.

霜降节气吃柿子可帮助人们抵御寒冷、保护骨骼健康。农村流行这样一种说法：霜降不吃柿子，冬天嘴唇就会开裂。

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, quench¹ one's thirst and help one's digestion².

霜降节气前后还可以多吃一些苹果。中国有很多关于苹果益处的说法，例如“饭后一颗苹果，老年人也会像年轻人一样强壮，”西方也有类似的谚语：“一天一个苹果，医生远离我。”苹果可以润肺、解渴、助消化。

Eating pears

吃梨

The pear is another recommended fruit during Frost's Descent, which can promote the secretion³ of body liquids, clear away heat and reduce sputum.

霜降节气前后可以多吃些梨，促进体液的分泌、清热祛痰。

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.

在福建省南部和台湾流行这样一种习俗：霜降节气第一天吃鸭子。福建有这样一句俗话：“一年补透透，不如补霜降。”在那里，吃鸭是一种增重方式。

Eating chestnuts⁴

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.

霜降节气吃板栗非常滋补。板栗性温、味甜，可滋养脾胃、止咳化痰、促进血液循环。

Eating dates

吃红枣

The date is one of the fruits on the market during Frost's Descent. Nutritious⁵ with a great number of vitamins, dates can nourish the blood, decrease blood pressure, and improve one's immunity⁶. But eating too many could be harmful. Rotten dates can cause headaches and dizziness or even put people's lives in danger.

红枣是一种霜降节气的时令水果，既营养又富含多种维生素。红枣可滋养血液、降低血压、增强免疫力。但红枣也不宜多吃。烂枣会导致头痛和眩晕，甚至会危及生命。