惊蛰话民俗：春雷初响大地回春

The word 惊蛰 has the meaning of awakening of hibernated insects. 惊 is startling, and 蛰 is hibernated (insects). The traditional Chinese farming culture said that during Jingzhe, thunderstorms will wake up the hibernated insects, which also means the weather is getting warm.

“惊蛰”意为“惊醒冬眠的昆虫”。中国传统农业文化传统中，惊蛰期间，雷雨增多，冬眠的虫类会被惊起，这也意味着天气会越来越暖。

On March 5 or 6 each year in China, people celebrate the Feast of Excited Insects. This celebration is a sign of the coming spring season, when the insects first awaken from their wintertime slumber. Everyone first notices the insects come forth from the woodpiles, rocks, and any other place where they might live.

在每年的3月5号或6号，中国传统文化迎来二十四节气的惊蛰。惊蛰标志着春天的到来，昆虫们从都冬眠的状态初次醒来。惊蛰开始，大家都会第一次注意到昆虫从柴堆里、石头下和其他地方冒出来。

People living in north China have the practice of placing blocks of ice upon dung heaps to stall the insects from ravaging their homes. There is the belief that the Chinese Dragon will call the insects forth to life from their sleep.

惊蛰这一天，住在中国北方的人们习惯把冰块放在粪堆上，防止昆虫在家中肆虐。北方人认为是中国的传统神兽麒麟将昆虫从沉睡中唤醒的。

During the spring time, homes may have the symbol of the dragon in the form of a statue, particularly one made of jade, or a painting of a dragon. In addition to being able to move the insects from their sleep, the Dragon also is capable of influencing the waters on earth, which also come to life after being frozen over from the winter time.

在春天，人们会在家里放上龙的标志，可能是龙形雕塑（尤其是玉雕的龙），也可能是一幅关于龙的画。麒麟除了能唤醒沉睡的昆虫，还能影响地球上的水源，麒麟一声长吼，江河湖海的水也从冬季的漫长冰封状态复苏重现生机。

In the southern part of China on the Feast of Excited Insects, women make paper images of the white tiger and display the image in a visible part of the house. The tiger is a symbol of good luck, keeping away noxious creatures at bay such as rats, snakes, and spiders. The white tiger also symbolizes harmony in the home, bringing peace for the spring season and new year ahead.

而在中国南方，妇女们会用纸扎出白虎，摆在家中显眼的地方。白虎象征着好运，能够赶走家中的老鼠、蛇或蝙蝠等讨厌的生物。白灰也象征着家庭和睦，为春季和新的一年带来宁静祥和的氛围。

China still observe this holiday, especially in agrarian, rural areas that tend to keep closer to the cycles of the seasons. Watching the insects come to life at the start of spring must be exciting, for it allows people to look forward to a prosperous growing season.

中国人还是很重视惊蛰节气，特别是在以农业生产为主的农村地区，与节气周期的关系似乎更为紧密。初春伊始，看着昆虫们纷纷活跃起来应该很让人兴奋，因为这意味着农作物在生长季节又会大获丰收。