“二十四节气”是中华文明悠久历史的重要组成部分。在国际气象界，二十四节气被誉为“中国的第五大发明”。2016年11月30日，二十四节气被正式列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录。

俗话说，一年之计在于春。立春节在传统文化和农业生产中承担着团聚、祈求丰收的美好寓意。

作为二十四节气之首，立春节的到来意味着严冬的结束。此时柳萌黄枝，水泛新绿，万物生长的春季已经到来。因“立”有“开始”之意，所以“立春”的英文表达为Start of Spring，是不是很贴切？此外，我们还可以用Spring Begins来指“立春”

After that everything turns green and becomes full of vigor. People clearly can notice that daytime becomes longer and the weather gets warmer.

立春节后，植物转绿，焕发勃勃生机。人们可以清楚地注意到白天的时间变得更长，天气也愈发温暖了。

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar cycles. Start of Spring (Chinese: 立春), the first solar cycle of the year, begins this year on Feb 4 and ends on Feb 18.

传统的中国农历将一年分为24个节气，“立春”是一年中的第一个节气。今年的“立春”节气从2月4日始，到18日结束。

Start of Spring：" lifts the curtain of Spring". After everything turns green and full of vigour; people clearly see the daytime becoming longer and the weather becoming warmer.

“立春”拉开了春季的帷幕。此后万物复苏，充满勃勃生机。人们也能明显感觉到白天开始变长，天气回暖。

立春和春节

立春是中国民间重要的传统节日之一。“立”是“开始”的意思，作为24节气之一，“立春”从春秋时期就走进了人们的生活。那时，一年分为8个节气。据专家所说，24节气首次出现在史书上是在西汉，当时“立春”被定为春节。1913年，农历元月首日才被定为春节（Spring Festival）。

立春习俗

Flying a kite

放风筝

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.

春天是放风筝的最好季节。放风筝是一项民间传统活动，已有2000多年历史。放风筝可以强健身体、预防疾病。放风筝还有促进血液循环、加速新陈代谢的作用。在户外呼吸一些新鲜空气也可以排出冬天积累下来的浊气。

Erecting the egg

立鸡蛋

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 .

在中国，据说在立春、春分和秋分第一天可以把鸡蛋竖立起来。据说如果有人能在立春第一天把鸡蛋竖着立起来，那他将来就会有好运气。

据科学家说，竖鸡蛋和时间没有关系，只与力学有关。关键是把鸡蛋的重心移到最低点，握住鸡蛋，尽量让蛋黄下沉。还要挑选已经下了四五天，蛋黄容易下沉的鸡蛋。

Wearing fabric swallows

佩燕子

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.　

胸前佩戴一只织成的燕子是陕西一些地区的习俗。每当立春，人们喜欢在胸前佩戴一只用五彩丝织成的燕子。这个习俗起源于唐代(618-907)。燕子是一种报春鸟，是繁荣和幸福的象征。

Biting the spring

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.

在中国许多地方，人们都遵守着立春第一天要“咬春”的习俗。人们会吃春饼和春卷，或者干脆咬几口萝卜。

Making a Spring Ox

糊春牛

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.

陕西的习俗是要在立春之前就开始做春牛。当地政府会雇佣一些熟练的工匠，召集他们用竹条做出牛的骨架、用木头做成牛的腿。然后他们就会糊上纸、刷上颜色。瞧，一头“牛”就这样做好了!据说如果多用红色和黄色的纸，那年就会有个好收成;如果糊上了黑色的纸，那年的收成就会不好。当纸牛做好了之后，会有一个“做牛点睛”的仪式。在那之后，人们会给它修个祭坛，敬拜它。

A paper-cut of the Chinese character "spring"

剪春花 贴春字

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.

春天在门上贴春联春画的习俗第一次出现是在唐代(618-907)。人们会在立春第一天这么做，以此来迎接春天、祈求好运。

Appreciating plum blossoms

赏梅

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.

梅花会从农历腊月一直开到第二年二月。梅花因为能够抵抗严寒，所以在中国最受重视。在中国，梅、兰、竹、菊被誉为花中四君子。

Welcoming spring

拜春

三千年前，中国人就开始举行迎春仪式了。人们拜祭主宰农业的春神“句芒”（拼音为gou mang）。清朝时，“拜春”成为重要的民间活动。明清时京兆尹和各府衙官员，都必须去“东郊”的东直门外五里的“春场”去迎春。

24节气

The 24 Solar Terms

关于春天的名句

今冬雨水足来春果满枝。

After a rainy winter follows fruitful spring .

孤燕不报春。

One swallow does not make a spring .

一年之计在于春。

A year's plan starts with spring.

一花独放不是春,百花齐放春满园。

A single flower does not make a spring .

如果冬天来了, 春天还会远吗?

If Winter comes, can spring be far behind?

四月将勃勃生机注入万物。——莎士比亚

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything." ——William Shakespeare

在春天，在最美丽的结婚季节，鸟儿唱着...甜蜜的恋人喜欢春天。——莎士比亚

"In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, when birds do sing ... sweet lovers love the spring." ——William Shakespeare

所谓春天，就是即使鞋子灌满泥巴，仍然想吹口哨。——道格.拉森

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." ——Doug Larson