立春是二十四节气里的第一个节气，立春意味着春天的到来。因“立”有“开始”之意，所以“立春”的英文表达为Start of Spring。

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

立春拉开了春天的帷幕，万物复苏，焕发勃勃生机。白天的时间变长，天气愈发暖和。

Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that everything turns green and full of vigor; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer.

Here are some things you should know about Start of Spring.

01

立春放风筝

- Flying a kite -

Spring is the best time to fly kites. Kite flying is a traditional folk activity with a history of more than two thousand years in China.

风筝可以帮助人们强身健体，预防疾病。它有助于促进血液循环，加速新陈代谢。在室外呼吸一下新鲜空气，可以排出体内沉积了一整个冬天的浊气。

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.

02

立春立鸡蛋

- Erecting the eggg a kite -

在中国，人们认为，在立春时把鸡蛋立起来是好运的象征。

In China, 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.

根据天文学家和物理学家的说法，把鸡蛋竖起来与时间无关，而是与力学有关。最重要的是把鸡蛋的重心移到鸡蛋的最下面。用这种方法，诀窍就是握着鸡蛋，直到蛋黄尽可能下沉。为此，人们应该选择一个大约4或5天的鸡蛋，蛋黄倾向于下沉。

According to astronomers and physicists, setting the egg upright has nothing to do with time, but with mechanics. The most important thing is to shift the egg's center of gravity to the lowest part of the egg. In this way, the trick is holding the egg until the yolk sinks as much as possible. For this, people should choose an egg about 4 or 5 days old, whose yolk is inclined to sink down.

03

立春咬春

- Biting the spring -

“生菜乍挑宜卷饼”，和冬至吃的饺子一样，立春也有专属节日食品——春饼、咬春萝卜、春卷和一些时令野菜，这种尝鲜活动被称为“咬春”。

在中国许多地区，人们在立春的时候遵循“咬春”的习俗，会吃春饼，春卷，或是几口胡萝卜。

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.

04

立春佩燕子

- Wearing fabric swallows -

在陕西的一些地区，佩燕子是一种习俗。每年立春，人们都喜欢在胸前佩戴一只彩色绸子制成的“燕子”。这一习俗起源于唐朝(618-907)。燕子是春天的使者，是繁荣和幸福的象征。

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.

05

立春迎春

- Welcoming spring -

举行隆重的迎春仪式是立春的重要活动，如打春牛、做春幡等。仪式在立春前一日进行，以热烈的气氛迎接春神的到来。

中国人早在3000年前就已开始在立春的第一天举行特别的盛典了。春神句芒掌管农业，人们为他制作贡品。到了清代（1644-1911），迎春庆典已成为重要的民俗活动。

People in China began holding a special ceremony on the first day of Start of Spring about 3,000 years ago. They made sacrifices to Gou Mang, the god of Spring, who is in charge of agriculture. By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), greeting spring had become an important folk activity.