The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring (Chinese: 立春), the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb 4 and ends on Feb 19.
中國傳統的農曆把一年分為24個節氣，其中立春(Start of Spring)是第一個節氣，今年的立春從2月4日開始，至2月19日結束。
Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that everything turns green and full of vigor; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer.
立春揭開了春天的序幕。立春過後，萬事萬物都變成了綠色、充滿了生機和活力;人們能夠很清楚地觀察到白天變得越來越長、天氣變得越來越暖和。
Here are nine things you should know about Start of Spring.
以下是關於立春你應該知道的9件事。
Start of Spring and Spring Festival
一、立春曾經是春節?
As a solar term, Start of Spring had already entered people’s lives in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). At that time, there were eight solar terms. According to some experts, the 24 solar terms were used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), when the Start of Spring was set as the Spring Festival. In 1913, the first day of the first month of the lunar year was mandated as the Spring Festival.
作為一個節氣，春秋時期(公元前770年-公元前476年)人們就有了立春的說法。當時一年只有8個節氣。一些專家認為，24節氣第一次出現是在西漢(公元前206年-公元后24年)的書籍之中，當時人們把立春當做春節。直到1913年，農曆正月第一天才被定為春節。
Flying a kite
二、春好風箏高
Spring is the best season for kite-flying. A traditional folk activity, it has a history of more than 2,000 years. It can help build one’s health and prevent diseases. It also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and speeding up metabolism. A breath of fresh air outside can discharge the foul smell accumulated in winter.
春天是放風箏的最好季節。放風箏是一項民間傳統活動，已有2000多年歷史。放風箏可以強健身體、預防疾病。放風箏還有促進血液迴圈、加速新陳代謝的作用。在戶外呼吸一些新鮮空氣也可以排出冬天積累下來的濁氣。
Erecting the egg
三、雞蛋能立起來
In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of the Start of Spring, Spring Equinox day and Autumn Equinox day. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future.
在中國，據說在立春、春分和秋分第一天可以把雞蛋豎立起來。據說如果有人能在立春第一天把雞蛋豎著立起來，那他將來就會有好運氣。
According to astronomers and physicists, setting the egg upright has nothing to do with time, but with mechanics. The most important thing is to shift the egg’s center of gravity to the lowest part of the egg. In this way, the trick is holding the egg until the yolk sinks as much as possible. For this, people should choose an egg about 4 or 5 days old, whose yolk is inclined to sink down.
據天文學家和物理學界表示說，把雞蛋立起來和時間無關，但是和力學有關。最重要的是要把雞蛋的重心移到最低點。這樣，訣竅就是握住雞蛋，使得蛋黃儘可能的下沉。因此，人們應該選擇已經存放了4、5天的雞蛋，蛋黃會下沉得更多一些。
Wearing fabric swallows
四、佩戴五彩絲燕
Wearing fabric swallows is a custom in some regions in Shaanxi. Every Start of Spring, people like to wear a swallow made of colorful silk on their chests. The custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The swallow is a harbinger of spring and a symbol of prosperity and happiness.
胸前佩戴一隻織成的燕子是陝西一些地區的'習俗。每當立春，人們喜歡在胸前佩戴一隻用五彩絲織成的燕子。這個習俗起源於唐代(618-907)。燕子是一種報春鳥，是繁榮和幸福的象徵。
Biting the spring
五、咬春
In many parts of China, people observe the custom of "biting the spring" on the first day of Start of Spring. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls, or a few mouthfuls of carrots.
在中國許多地方，人們都遵守著立春第一天要“咬春”的習俗。人們會吃春餅和春捲，或者乾脆咬幾口蘿蔔。
Making a Spring Ox
六、立春做春牛
This custom in Shaanxi is practiced right before the Start of Spring. The local government hires some skilled artisans and gathers them to build the frame of an ox out of bamboo strips and the legs with wood. Then they paste some paper and paint onto it—and, voila! The image of an ox is complete. It is said that if more red and yellow paper is used, then there will be a good harvest that year; if black paper is pasted, then the year will be poor. When the paper ox is ready, there is a ritual to paint the eyes. After that, people will set up an altar for it and worship it.
陝西的習俗是要在立春之前就開始做春牛。當地政府會僱傭一些熟練的工匠，召集他們用竹條做出牛的骨架、用木頭做成牛的腿。然後他們就會糊上紙、刷上顏色。瞧，一頭“牛”就這樣做好了!據說如果多用紅色和黃色的紙，那年就會有個好收成;如果糊上了黑色的紙，那年的收成就會不好。當紙牛做好了之後，會有一個“做牛點睛”的儀式。在那之後，人們會給它修個祭壇，敬拜它。
Posting spring calligraphy and paintings
七、貼春聯春畫
The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one’s door in the spring first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring.
春天在門上貼春聯春畫的習俗第一次出現是在唐代(618-907)。人們會在立春第一天這麼做，以此來迎接春天、祈求好運。
Appreciating plum blossoms
八、賞梅好時節
Plums blossom from the 12th lunar month to the second month of the next year. The plum blossom, as it fights against the cold, is the most highly regarded. In China, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are praised as the four gentlemen of Chinese flowers.
梅花會從農曆臘月一直開到第二年二月。梅花因為能夠抵抗嚴寒，所以在中國最受重視。在中國，梅、蘭、竹、菊被譽為花中四君子。
Welcoming spring
九、迎春來到
People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity. In Beijing, government officials welcomed spring in the wild field near Dongzhimen (the east gate of Beijing).
大約3000年前，中國的人們會在立春第一天舉行一場特殊的儀式。人們會獻祭主管農業的春神句芒。在清朝(1644-1911)時期，迎春已經成為了一項重要的民俗活動。當時在北京，政府官員們會在東直門附近的野地裡歡迎春天到來。
