Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. It will last from Jan 6 to Jan 19, 2016. For most areas of China, it marks the start of the coldest days of the year. Many Chinese sayings use the weather and climate situation during Minor Cold to predict the weather in the following spring.

　　小寒，中國農歷傳統24節氣中的第23個節氣，今年小寒從1月6日持續到1月19日，小寒標志著開始進入一年中最寒冷的日子。很多中國諺語根據小寒的氣候特點和天氣情況來預示春季的天氣狀況。

　　Still, bitter cold can’t prevent people from enjoying their lives. Here are some things that help us stay warm during Minor Cold.

　　進入小寒，盡管開始一年中最冷的日子，但也無法阻擋人們享受生活，以下是小寒期間養生保暖的幾條貼士。

1.Stocking up for New Year

1.置辦年貨 準備過年

　　During Minor Cold, people always start stocking New Year goods, which include Spring Festival couplets, New Year pictures, paper-cuts for window decoration, fire crackers, incense and lanterns.

　　進入小寒年味漸濃，人們開始置辦年貨，準備過年，買春聯、年畫、窗花、炮仗、香火和燈籠等等。

2.Mutton hot pot, chestnuts and baked sweet potato

2.涮羊肉火鍋 吃栗子、烤地瓜

　　Mutton hot pot, chestnuts and baked sweet potato are three recommended foods for Minor Cold. According to traditional Chinese medicine theories, people need to eat food that contains more yang energy to prevent cold from harming their organs. The yang energy in the three types of food is strengthened through their method of cooking: boiling, stir frying and baking.

　　羊肉火鍋、栗子和烤地瓜是小寒三樣暖胃圣品，根據中醫傳統理論，為保護身體器官免受寒氣損傷，人們需要多吃陽性的食物。而這三種食物通過煮、炒、烤三種不同的做法能保留最大的陽性。

　　Beef, sesame, walnuts, almonds and raisins are also good choices for Minor Cold.

　　牛肉、芝麻、核桃、杏仁和葡萄干也是小寒不錯的驅寒選擇。

3.Eating Laba porridge

3.喝臘八粥

　　Another important traditional food for Minor Cold is Laba porridge. It is made from more than 20 kinds of nuts, cereals and dried fruits. Local people in Beijing often cook Laba porridge on the night of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month. After one night’s slow simmering, all the ingredients melt into the porridge in the morning of the eighth day, becoming a warm delicacy to enjoy on cold days.

　　飲食上，小寒節氣中還有一個重要的民俗就是吃臘八粥。臘八粥由20余種堅果、谷物和干果熬制。北京人通常在農歷臘月初七晚上煮臘八粥，經過一晚上小火慢熬，所有食材融入粥中，初八早上軟綿香滑的臘八粥就出鍋了，人們便可以在寒冷冬日享受這暖心佳肴。

4.Tasting Nanjing vegetable rice

4.品嘗南京蔬菜飯

　　People in Nanjing used to take Minor Cold quite seriously, and they still keep a custom of eating vegetable rice to celebrate this solar term. The rice is steamed with aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck that are all the specialties in Nanjing.

　　在南京，人們將小寒看作非常重要的節氣，直至如今，南京人還保留著在小寒吃蔬菜飯的習俗。蔬菜飯是用南京特產矮腳黃（一種綠葉蔬菜）、香腸、咸鴨蛋烹制。

5.Making Chinese traditional herbal medicine

5.制作中國傳統草藥

　　Minor Cold is also the busiest time for doctors and pharmacies of traditional Chinese medicine. Many people need them to prepare new medicines, which will be consumed before the Lunar New Year.

　　小寒同時也是中醫和中醫藥館最忙的時節，這時候他們要為人們準備過年前需要的草藥。