立秋不是秋天 依然热成狗

"Autumn Tiger"

秋老虎

Although Start of Autumn indicates the beginning of autumn, hot weather will not come to an end. The period of hot days after Start of Autumn, usually lasting for 30 days, is called "Autumn Tiger" or "Indian Summer." Because of decreasing precipitation, it is even more sweltering during this period than during Major Heat (July 23-August 7).

虽然立秋意味着秋天的开始,但是炎热的天气却不会因此结束。立秋后的一段时间（一般是30天左右），依旧很热，有“秋季虎”之称。由于降水量减少,这段时间比大暑(从8月23日至7月7日)更加闷热。

Fleshing out in autumn

贴秋膘

On the first day of the Start of Autumn, usually people will weigh themselves and compare their weight to what it was at the Start of Summer. If one has lost weight during the summer, then at the beginning of autumn, he or she needs to flesh out by eating many different kinds of delicious food, especially meat.

民间流行在立秋这天以悬秤称人，将体重与立夏时对比来检验肥瘦，如果夏天瘦了，那么立秋的时候当然需要“补”，补的办法就是“贴秋膘”，吃各种各种的美食佳肴，当然首选吃肉。

Gathering crops

秋收

Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops. There is a saying: "If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest is expected."

立秋对农民来说，是非常重要的节气，因为这正是时候收庄稼的大好时节。有言曰：“立秋有雨样样收”。

Eating peaches

吃秋桃

In Hangzhou, people eat peaches on the Start of Autumn day. The peach stones are kept until New Year's Eve and thrown into the stove, burned into ash. People believed that in this way, plagues could be prevented for the whole year.

在杭州，立秋时人们吃秋桃的习俗，吃完要把核留起来，等到除夕这天，把桃核丢进火炉中烧成灰烬。他们认为这样做，就可以免除一年的瘟疫了。

Eating longans

吃龙眼

The Start of Autumn period is harvest time for Taiwan longan. People believe that eating longan will help their descendants become senior officials.

立秋节气是台湾龙眼的盛产期。人们相信吃了龙眼肉，子孙会做大官。

Eating dumplings

吃饺子

In Shandong province, people make dumplings during the Start of Autumn, and they call it "Eating the Autumn". On the day of Start of Autumn, senior members of the family will stand in the middle of the hall, worshiping a bowl of cereal, and praying for the harvest in autumn. Most of the families will eat dumplings together after Start of Autumn day.

在山东，立秋的风俗是包饺子，老百姓都称之为“咬秋”。立秋当天，年纪大的长者会站在堂屋正中，朝拜一个盛满五谷杂粮的碗，祈求“立秋”过后五谷丰登。大多数人家会在立秋时刻过后，一起吃饺。

Eating red beans

吃小赤豆

Starting from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279), people in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, have eaten red beans on Start of Autumn day. They take seven to 14 little beans, swallowing them with well water. When taking the beans, one must face west, it is said, so as not to get dysentery during the autumn.

从唐朝宋朝起，浙江义乌的老百姓就有在此日吃小赤豆的风俗。人们会取七至十四粒小赤豆，以井水吞服，并且服用时要面朝西，这样据说可以一秋不犯痢疾。

Eating gourds

吃瓜

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), people would put gourds outside for a day before the Start of Autumn, and eat them on Start of Autumn day to drive off the summer heat. Today people in Tianjing still keep this custom, believing that eating melons such as towel gourd, white gourd and bitter gourd can prevent diarrhea in autumn and the coming winter and spring.

清代(1644-1911)的时候，人们会在立秋的前一天将各种瓜放在庭院中晾一天，于立秋日吃下，这样可消除暑气。如今，在天津，人们仍然保持着这一习俗，他们认为立秋吃丝瓜、冬瓜和苦瓜，可有效地在接下来的秋、冬春季节里预防腹泻。

"Touching Autumn"

"摸秋”

There is the custom of "Touching Autumn" in the northern part of Yancheng, Jiangsu province. On the eve of Start of Autumn, people can touch and take for free all kinds of fruits as they like in private or public gardens, and the owners will not be angry, no matter how much they lose. Many gardeners even leave some mellow fruits in the field on purpose for the guests during the night.

江苏盐城的北部地区有“摸秋”的习俗。立秋当天，人们可以在私人或集体的瓜园中触摸并且免费摘取各种瓜果，俗称“摸秋”。而丢了“秋”的人家，无论丢多少，也不会恼怒。许多果农甚至在夜间把熟了的果实放在地上供来往的客人拾取。