Major Cold, is at the end of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. The same as the Minor Cold, Major Cold is also a term that indicates the coldness of weather. It is Major Cold when the sun reaches 300° around January 20 of the Gregorian calendar.
大寒，是二十四节气之尾。同小寒一样，大寒也是表示天气寒冷程度的节气。每年公历1月20日前后太阳到达黄经300°时，即为大寒。
Climatic characteristics of Major Cold
大寒气候
During Major Cold, as the cold current moves southward, the weather becomes bitterly cold of the year in most areas of China. Some areas take on an extreme cold scene of a frozen and snow-covered land with gale, low temperature and snow cover unmelted.
大寒时节，寒潮南下频繁，是我国大部分地区一年中的寒冷时期。风大，低温，地面积雪不化，一些地区呈现出冰天雪地，天寒地冻的严寒景象。
Customs of Major Cold
大寒习俗
As the last solar term in the last month which is also called the "twelfth lunar month", although it is an idle agricultural season, every family is "busy" - busy with celebrating the New Year, which is the custom of "bringing in the New Year". The so-called Major Cold welcomes the New Year, that is, during the period from the Major Cold to the Lunar New Year, there will be a series of activities among the people. In summary, there are at least ten customs: "eating glutinous food", "having porridge", "drinking boldly", "tooth festival", "sweeping dust", "paste windows", "prepare sacrificial offerings", "hurried to get married", "go to market", "bathing", etc. In the old days, there was a "Kitchen God" on each stove. At the end of each year, the Kitchen God returns to the Heavenly Palace to report the morality of the family for a year to the Jade Emperor. The ritual of sending the god of the stove is called “song zao” or “ci zao”.
作为最后一个月“腊月”中的最后一个节气大寒，虽是农闲时节，但家家都在“忙”—忙过年，此即“大寒迎年”的风俗。所谓大寒迎年，就是大寒至农历新年这段时间，民间会有一系列活动，归纳起来至少有十大风俗，分别是：“食糯”，“喝粥”，“纵饮”，“做牙”，“扫尘”，“糊窗”，“蒸供”，“赶婚”，“赶集”，“洗浴”等。旧时，每家每户灶台上设有“灶王爷”神位。每年岁末，灶王爷都要回到天宫中，向玉帝报奏这家人一年的善恶。送灶神的仪式称为“送灶”或“辞灶”。
Poems of Major Cold
大寒诗词
The plum blossom springs in the corner of the wall, alone bloom in the frosty chill, seen from afar I know it is not snow, for a hint of the fragrance to come.
墙角数枝梅，凌寒独自开。遥知不是雪，为有暗香来。—王安石《梅花》
The old snow has not yet disappeared, and the new snow has covered the hut.
旧雪未及消，新雪又拥户。—邵雍《大寒吟》
Sports of Major Cold
大寒运动
As the saying goes, “If you exercise in winter, you will get sick less.” There is a saying that goes, “Dripping water freezes during Minor and Major Cold.” In various regions of China, Major Cold is the perfect time for winter sports such as skiing, ice skating and sledding.
俗话说：“冬季动一动，少闹一场病。”有谚云：“小寒大寒，滴水成冰。”在中国各地，大寒是开展冬季运动的最佳时机，如滑雪，滑冰和乘雪橇等。
The Major Cold is around corner, subsequently this winter is going to an end, the Spring is worth our expectation. No smog can cover the winter sun, and no gust of wind can keep it cold forever. I hold the firm belief that all good things may happen to you unexpectedly when the breeze flutters your face next Spring.
大寒至，冬将尽，春可期。“没有一场雾霾能够遮蔽冬阳，也没有一阵风能够永寄凛冽”。来年春风再起时，美好终会与你不期而遇。
Author: Yao Yu
Reviewer: Peng Qiurong
Date: January 20, 2023
