The beginning of summer, is the seventh solar term in the 24 solar terms, the first solar term of summer. After the beginning of summer, sunshine increases, gradually heating up and thunderstorms appear more frequently. The beginning of summer is an important solar term marking the beginning of peak season. At the beginning of summer, everything flourishes.
立夏，是二十四节气中的第七个节气，也是夏季的第一个节气。入夏后，日照增加，气温逐渐升高，雷暴出现频率增加。立夏是一个重要的节气，标志着旺季的开始，夏初万物繁盛。
In addition to the brief introduction of this solar term, we can learn more detailed information about the Xia, in Erya is called "ying", which means winning in English, and the word “xia” take its "full", "surplus" meaning. Therefore, the beginning of summer is an important solar term marking the beginning of peak season.
除了对这个节气的简要介绍外，我们还可以了解到更多关于夏节的详细信息，“夏”在尔雅被称为“赢”，在英语中有“赢”的意思，而“夏”一词则取其“满”、“盈”的意思。立夏是一个重要的节气，标志着旺季的开始。
In the custom of the beginning of summer in the south of the Yangtze River, there is the so-called "see three new", which is to eat some fresh and tender food grown in this season. In Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there is a custom of "to taste new things at the beginning of summer". There is a proverb in Suzhou that goes, "See three new things at the beginning of summer" , "Three new" refers to newly ripe cherries, green plums and wheat. People firstly worship their ancestors with the "three new", and then they taste the food. Besides, people in many places in south China will mix red beans, yellow beans, black beans, green beans, mung beans and other five-color beans to cook white rice into "five-color rice", commonly known as "the beginning of summer rice". After eating "the beginning of summer rice", there is also the custom of weighing people after lunch at the beginning of summer. A large wooden scale was hung at the entrance of the village or at the gate of the platform, and a bench was hung from the hook of the scale. In this way, people pray to God to bring them good luck.
在江南立夏的习俗中，有所谓“见三新”，就是吃一些这个季节生长的鲜嫩的食物。在江浙一带，有“初夏尝新鲜”的习俗。苏州有句谚语叫“立夏见三新”，“三新”指的是新熟的樱桃、青梅和小麦。人们首先用“三新”祭拜祖先，然后品尝食物。此外，中国南方许多地方的人们还会将红豆、黄豆、黑豆、四季豆、绿豆等五色豆混合在一起，将白米煮成“五色饭”，俗称“立夏饭”。吃过“立夏饭”后，还有立夏午饭后称人体重的习俗。村口或月台门口挂着一个大的木秤，秤的钩上挂着一条长凳。通过这种方式，人们祈求上帝给他们带来好运。
The beginning of summer falls in May, which has many memorable days including Labour Day and the May 4th Youth Day. After enjoying the five-day holiday, you can have a great refreshment and go on to relish the beginning of the hot summer, the warm sunshine and the cold ice-cream.
立夏在五月，这一年有许多值得纪念的日子，包括劳动节和五四青年节。在享受了五天的假期后，你可以吃上一顿美味的茶点，继续享受炎炎夏日的开始，温暖的阳光和冰凉的冰淇淋。
Date: May 5, 2023
