ARTICLE · 1059646
【中华优秀传统文化融入高中英语课堂系列】The Autumn Equinox 秋分 —— 英汉对照阅读材料
The Autumn Equinox falls around September 22nd to 24th every year and serves as the fourth solar term in autumn. On this day, day and night are nearly equal in length and the temperature becomes neither too hot nor too cold. Besides，the Autumn Equinox also splits autumn into two halves, sitting exactly in the middle between the Start of Autumn and the Start of Winter.
Clear natural signs can be noticed when the Autumn Equinox arrives. Thunder disappears as summer heat fades away. Little insects hide in holes and seal the openings with earth to avoid cold air. Rainfall reduces and water levels in rivers and wetlands gradually drop. Leaves turn golden and red while sweet‑smelling osmanthus flowers come out. All these changes remind people that cool autumn has truly arrived.
The Autumn Equinox marks an extremely busy farming period across most parts of China. Farmers carry out three major farm tasks: harvesting mature crops, ploughing the land and sowing new seeds. In northern China, local farmers plant winter wheat at this proper time. In southern areas, workers collect rice and prepare fields for rapeseed. Since 2018, our country has set the Autumn Equinox as Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival. It is the first national festival specially created for farmers. Different activities are held nationwide, such as fruit‑picking games and traditional skill shows, to celebrate good harvests and show respect for hard‑working farmers.
A set of interesting folk customs have been passed down for thousands of years for the Autumn Equinox. Standing eggs is the most famous game. People pick fresh smooth eggs and try to make them stand on flat tables. Its success mainly depends on egg shape and surface condition instead of solar energy. People in southern China eat wild amaranth and cook it with fish to make autumn soup for good health. These customs carry common people’s wishes for peace and happy life.
The Autumn Equinox carries deep cultural meaning beyond natural changes and farm work. It teaches people to seek balance in life. Nature slows down from summer’s energy while human beings finish old harvests and start new sowing work.
秋分一般在每年 9 月 22 日到 24 日到来，是秋天的第四个节气。在这一天，白天和黑夜的时长几乎相等，气温也不热也不冷。除了分开白天黑夜，秋分还把秋天平分成两半，正好处在立秋和立冬的中间。
秋分到来的时候，我们能看到很明显的自然信号。夏天的雷声慢慢消失；小虫子躲进洞穴，用泥土封住洞口抵御寒气；雨水变少，小河、湿地的水位慢慢下降。树叶变成金黄、火红，桂花也悄悄绽放，散发甜甜的香气。这些变化都告诉我们，凉爽的秋天真正来了。
秋分对于中国大部分地区来说，代表着十分忙碌的农忙时节。农民要完成三件重要农活：收割成熟庄稼、翻耕土地、播种新的种子。在中国北方，农民会在这个合适的时候播种冬小麦。南方的农民收割水稻，整理田地准备种油菜。从 2018 年开始，我国把秋分设立成中国农民丰收节，这是第一个专门为农民设立的国家级节日。全国各地会举办很多活动，比如采摘瓜果比赛、传统技艺展示，用来庆祝丰收，向辛勤劳作的农民表达敬意。
秋分还有流传几千年的有趣民间习俗。竖鸡蛋是最出名的游戏。人们挑选光滑的新鲜鸡蛋，试着把鸡蛋立在平整桌面上。鸡蛋能不能立起来主要看鸡蛋的形状和桌面情况，和节气本身的能量没有关系。中国南方的人们会采摘野苋菜，和鱼片一起煮成秋汤，祈求身体健康。这些习俗藏着老百姓期盼平安幸福生活的美好愿望。
除了自然变化和农事活动，秋分还有深厚的文化内涵。它教会人们在生活中寻找平衡。大自然褪去夏日的热烈，慢慢沉静下来；人类收获旧一季的果实，又播撒下新一季的种子。
Post-reading questions：
1. When does the Autumn Equinox usually come every year?
2. What farm work will northern Chinese farmers do during the Autumn Equinox?
3. What custom do local people in southern China have for the Autumn Equinox?
4. If you take part in Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival, what activity would you like to organize?
5. What lesson can you learn from the spirit of the Autumn Equinox for your daily life?
重要词块积累：
serve as 充当；作为
nearly equal in length 长度几乎相等
split autumn into two halves 将秋天平分为两半
sit exactly in the middle 恰好处于中间
natural signs 自然征兆
summer heat fades away 暑热消退
avoid cold air 抵御寒气
reduce rainfall 降雨量减少
gradually drop 逐渐下降
come out （花）开放
a busy farming period 农忙时节
sow new seeds 播种新种子
set…as… 将…… 设立为……
show respect for 向...表达敬意
pass down for thousands of years 流传数千年
depend on 取决于
carry common people’s wishes 承载普通人的愿望
seek balance in life 在生活中寻求平衡
finish old harvests 完成旧一季的收获
connect daily life closely with 把日常生活与…… 紧密联系
seasonal rules 季节规律
beyond natural changes 超越自然变化
remind people that ... 提醒人们...
（个人观点，仅供教学交流使用）
1. 文字内容由公开的二十四节气和民俗信息整理后自主撰写创作而成，并非直接引用任何出版物内容；
2.部分名词翻译参考《新世纪汉英大词典》；
3. 图片由豆包AI生成。