惊蛰，古称“启蛰”，是二十四节气中的第三个节气，标志着仲春时节的开始。春雷始响，冬眠的蛰虫被雷惊醒，万物开始复苏，迎来了繁花似锦。

蛰，是指动物入冬蛰伏土中的冬眠状态。惊蛰，即天上的雷声惊醒了沉睡的万物，所以惊蛰的英文表达为 Awakening of Insects 。

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Awakening of Insects (Chinese: 惊蛰) falls on Mar. 6th this year.

中国传统农历将一年分为24个节气。今年的惊蛰是在3月6日。

Awakening of Insects signals a rise in temperature and rainfall. As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name alludes to the fact that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. 

惊蛰的到来，预示着气温的升高和降雨量的增加。作为农历的第三个节气，顾名思义，惊蛰意味着冬眠的动物被春雷唤醒，大地上万物复苏。此时中国大部分地区进入了春耕的季节。

节气特征

An old Chinese saying goes: "If the first spring thunder crashes before the Awakening of Insects solar term, there will be abnormal weather that year." The Awakening of Insects falls after the end of winter and before the beginning of spring. Wind during this period is an important factor in weather forecasting.

中国有句古话：“未过惊蛰先打雷，四十九天云不开。” 惊蛰往往介于冬末春初之间。惊蛰期间的风也是预测后期天气的一个重要依据。

During this period, most parts of China experience the quickest rise in temperatures, with the average level reaching above 10 degrees Celsius, and there is a marked increase in sunshine, which provides good natural conditions for farming. Old Chinese sayings such as "once the Awakening of Insects comes, spring ploughing never rests" reveal the importance of this term to farmers.

惊蛰期间，中国的大部分地区经历着最快速的升温，平均温度超过10摄氏度，日照明显增强，这为农耕创造了良好的自然条件。古谚说“过了惊蛰节，春耕不能歇”，显示了这个节气对农民的重要性。

惊蛰习俗

1. 祭白虎

According to ancient Chinese folklore, a white tiger is the creature that brings quarrels and disputes.

根据中国古代民间传说，白虎是会引起争吵和纠纷的生物。

When practicing this old custom, people draw the white tiger on paper, and then smear pig's blood and pork on its mouth. This means the tiger is fed so that it would not bite people, avoiding bad luck and conflict.

祭白虎，就是画一只白虎在纸上，再在它的嘴上涂猪血或者猪油，意思是让它吃饱后不再咬人，避免坏运气和是非矛盾。

【生词】

folklore /ˈfoʊklɔːr/ n. 民俗

quarrel /ˈkwɑːrəlz/ n/v 口角；争吵

dispute /dɪˈspjuːt/ n/v  争论；纠纷；辩论

smear /smɪr/ v. 胡乱涂抹

2. 惊蛰吃梨

Eating pears around the Awakening of Insects is a widely-practiced custom in China. 

我国民间素有惊蛰吃梨的习俗。

As the weather gets warmer and the air becomes dry, people tend to feel their mouths are parched and tongues dry, which can cause colds or coughs. A pear is sweet, juicy and cold, moistening the lungs to arrest a cough. Therefore, pears are highly recommended during the Awakening of Insects.

随着天气变暖，天气比较干，人们很容易口干舌燥，容易因此患上感冒或咳嗽。梨味甘、多汁、性寒，有润肺止咳的功效。因此，惊蛰时节应多吃梨。

【生词】

parched /pɑːrtʃt/ adj. 干渴的；晒干的

arrest /əˈrest/ v. 逮捕；阻止

惊蛰至，大地回春，那些熬过了冬天的生灵们，终将在轰鸣的雷声中迎来新生！愿所有美好与春天一起醒来~