“雨水”到 拜丈人 拉保保[1]

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Rain Water (Chinese: 雨水) this year starts on Feb 19 and ends on Mar 5.

传统的中国农历将一年分为24节气。今年的“雨水”从2月19日开始，至3月5日结束。

Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again.

“雨水”节气的到来预示着降雨增加，气温回升。万物复苏，充满生机；冰面解冻，大雁北飞；绿树萌新芽。

Here are five things you may not know about Rain Water.

下面就给大家讲讲“雨水”节气你可能不知道的五件事。

No.1 Water as precious as oil 春雨贵如油

According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil. In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall.

中国有谚语曰：春雨贵如油。在北方，春旱常发生，春季降水仅占全年平均降水量的10%到15%。

Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period for irrigation when the day gets warmer and rainfall increases.

因此，人们认为“雨水”节气是灌溉的关键时期，此时天气回暖，降雨增多。

No.2 Return of cold spell 倒春寒

Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in the late spring that often happen during Rain Water period. The fast increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather. It is strongly advised not to take off the thick coats too early and to keep warm, especially elderly and children.

“雨水”节气中，为应对晚春时节经常发生的“倒春寒”，人们需要格外注意身体。降雨使空气湿度迅速增加，这会导致气温变低，天气潮湿。强烈建议不要过早脱下厚外套，并注意保暖，特别是老人和儿童。

No.3 Visit to in-laws 拜丈人

One of the main customs during Rain Water is husbands visiting their in-laws and giving gifts. According to the tradition, gifts are usually two cane chairs winded with four meters of red belt, which symbolizes good health and longevity. Another typical gift is a pot of cooked dish that contains pig’s knuckles stewed with soya and kelp, by which the son-in-law expresses his respect and gratitude.

雨水节气的一大风俗就是女婿拜丈人，送礼物，送节的礼品则通常是两把藤椅，上面缠着一丈二尺长的红带，这称为“接寿”，意思是祝岳父岳母长命百岁。还有一种典型的礼品被称作“罐罐肉”，即用砂锅炖了猪脚、雪山大豆、海带，以对他们的养育之恩表示感谢和敬意。

No.4 Finding godfather 拉保保

Another old custom is to find a godfather for little kids. Rainfall brings vitality to the earth; therefore people in the past believed that this practice would give their kids healthy and safe growth.

雨水这天在民间还有一项特具风趣的活动叫“拉保保”（保保是干爹的意思），取“雨露滋润易生长”之意。

The custom can be traced back to the health services of the past when many children’s diseases could not be cured at all. Therefore, parents wanted a godfather to shower their blessings and good luck on their children. This old practice was popular in Sichuan area.

旧时医疗健康条件较差，很多儿童疾病不易治愈。因此家长给孩子“拉保保”，希望儿女顺利健康成长，这在四川非常流行。

No.5 Nutritious porridge 养生粥

The wet and damp weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.

中医认为，在雨水时节，空气湿润，人脾胃弱。因此，来一碗养生粥调养脾胃吧。

People in Beijing often eat porridge cooked with rehmannia glutinosa libosch, a kind of Chinese herb medicine, to resist cold and wet weather and eliminate heat from the blood. It is also good for people with constipation, arthritis and headaches.

雨水时节，北京人常喝地黄粥，祛除寒湿和燥热。对患有便秘、关节炎和头痛的人来说也有调养作用。