暖暖的羊肉湯
Start of Winter, the 19th solar term of Chinese lunar Calender, is one of the traditional festival for Han Chinese. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 225°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around November 7 and ends around November 22.
立冬，是二十四節氣的第19個節氣，也是漢族傳統節日之一，作為干支歷戌月的結束以及亥月的起始;時間點在公曆每年11月7或8日，即太陽位於黃經225°。
The three pentads of Start of Winter
冬至三候
Pentad 1: Start of Winter begins and water begins to freeze.
Pentad 2: The earth begins to harden.
Pentad 3: Pheasants enter the water and become clams.
中國古代將立冬分為三候：“一候水始冰；二候地始凍；三候雉入大水為蜃。”
這樣的湯嚐嚐吧？
Customs
節氣習俗
China was a farming country in the past, so people would have a break on the day of Start of Winter after a busy year, cooking delicious food as a reward.
中國過去是個農耕社會，勞動了一年的人們，利用立冬這一天要休息一下，順便犒賞一家人一年來的辛苦。
Welcoming the winter in ancient times
迎冬
Before the Start of Winter, the ancient emperor would take a shower and have no more meat. On that day, the emperor would lead his officials to the suburbs and perform the ceremony of "welcoming the winter."
立冬前，古代皇帝會齋戒沐浴。在立冬那一天攜文武百官到郊區行“迎冬”之禮
Eating dumplings
吃餃子
A legend has it that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220), "Medical Saint" Zhang Zhongjing saved many people in Henan province from a typhoid epidemic and their ears from being frostbitten around Start of Winter. He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to dispel the cold and increase body heat. He wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape.
傳說在東漢末年，“醫聖”張仲景醫治好了河南民眾的傷寒病，他們的耳朵在立冬期間也沒有被凍傷。張仲景煮了羊肉、紅辣椒以及驅寒的草藥來增加身體熱量。他把這些材料包入麵皮裡，捏成了耳朵的形狀。
Since then, people have learned to make the food which became known as "dumpling". Today there is still a saying that goes "Eat dumplings on Start of Winter Day, or your ears will be frostbitten".
冬瓜排骨湯
從那以後，人們就學會了製作名為“餃子”的食物。現在還流傳著依據老話“立冬不端餃子碗，凍掉耳朵沒人管。”
In modern days, to celebrate the festival, some people choose to have swimming competitions in the icy rivers found in bitterly cold places like Harbin in Heilongjiang Province.
現在，立冬之日，一些人選擇在黑龍江哈爾濱等極冷的地方舉辦冬泳比賽來慶祝冬至。
Health Preservation
節氣養生
Start of Winter indicates the real arrival of winter. According to traditional Chinese medicine, health preservation in this period should focus on “nourishment and storage”. Sleeping early, getting up late, taking more nourishing food and food which enriches Yin are recommended.
立冬”節氣過後，就意味著今年的冬季正式來臨。從中醫養生的角度，起居調養應以“養藏”為主，建議早睡晚起，飲食上多吃滋陰的食物，可以開始適當進補。
圖片發自網路
QH 養生小貼士
立冬”節氣過後，就意味著今年的冬季正式來臨。從中醫養生的角度，起居調養應以“養藏”為主。寒冷的冬季是關節炎的高發季節，保護關節要從日常生活做起，尤其要注意以下幾點。
一、注意保暖
尤其是注意四肢末梢的保暖。這是因為四肢末梢血液迴圈差，對外界溫度變化敏感，因此在冬季外出時要戴上手套、帽子，穿保暖的棉鞋。有膝關節炎的患者最好戴上護膝，防止膝關節受涼。
圖片發自簡書
二、合理飲食
俗話說“三九補一冬，來年無病痛”，冬季也是進補的好時機，但要提醒大家的是，進補時，要使腸胃有個適應過程，最好先做引補。中老年人在膳食中注意多食含鈣食物，如牛奶、豆製品、蝦皮、海帶、核桃、土豆等，可增加鈣質攝入。另外，少吃辛辣刺激性食物以及生冷、油膩之物，多吃蔬菜水果，也有利於膝關節的保護。
三、重視“訊號”
當出現反覆膝蓋疼痛、酸脹，下樓腿疼時，或天氣變化時關節不舒服等症狀，應引起重視，這些都是關節疾病初期的訊號。早期的關節病經過對症治療、保護和鍛鍊，能夠緩解症狀、改善功能、延緩病程及矯正畸形。
紅棗蓮子湯
四、適當運動
許多關節炎患者在觀念上有個誤區，認為患了關節炎要多休息，少活動，才能保護好患病的膝關節，其實這對保護關節並不利。關節炎患者鍛鍊總的原則是“休息關節，鍛鍊肌肉”。在寒冷的冬季可以適當選擇室內運動，如做床上抬腿運動，用大腿帶動小腿，膝關節不彎曲，這種鍛鍊方式的好處是不受場地的限制。關節炎患者不適宜進行劇烈活動，如蹲馬步、蹲下起立、爬樓梯、登山等，這些活動會增加關節負荷，加劇關節的磨損。
圖片發自簡書
（本文僅作養生參考，不得用於商業廣告。特別鳴謝:中醫養生專家友情提供，關注本文，共享健康）
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