惊蛰，古称“启蛰”，是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第三个节气。蛰，是指动物入冬蛰伏土中的冬眠状态。惊蛰，即天上的雷声惊醒了沉睡的万物，所以惊蛰的英文表达为Awakening of Insects 。

　　这，是一个有声音的节气。 As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name alludes to the fact that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities.作为农历年中的第三个节气，惊蛰的名字暗指冬眠的动物在春雷中苏醒，大地开始恢复生机。此时是春季农业活动的关键时期。lunar year：农历年allude to：暗指，提及，暗示惊蛰有哪些气候特征和习俗呢？一起来看看吧。

　　春雷初鸣

　　划过天空的春雷可以说是惊蛰节气最典型的表现了，民间南方有“惊蛰始雷”的说法。有道是“微雨众卉新，一雷惊蛰始”（韦应物《观田家》），这里的“惊蛰”便是在指示：是雷声震醒了冬眠中的动物。

　　An old Chinese saying goes: "If the first spring thunder crashes before the Awakening of Insects solar term, there will be abnormal weather that year." The Awakening of Insects falls after the end of winter and before the beginning of spring. Wind during this period is an important factor in weather forecasting.中国有句古话：“未过惊蛰先打雷，四十九天云不开。” 惊蛰往往介于冬末春初之间。惊蛰期间的风也是预测后期天气的一个重要依据。 

　　春耕

　　惊蛰节气的到来预示着气温的升高和降雨量的增多，这个时期对农民来说是极其重要的，它被视为农忙的开端。 During this period, most parts of China experience the quickest rise in temperatures, with the average level reaching above 10 degrees Celsius, and there is a marked increase in sunshine, which provides good natural conditions for farming. Old Chinese sayings such as "once the Awakening of Insects comes, spring ploughing never rests" reveal the importance of this term to farmers.惊蛰期间，中国的大部分地区经历着最快速的升温，平均温度超过10摄氏度，日照明显增强，这为农耕创造了良好的自然条件。古语云："过了惊蛰节，春耕不能歇"，讲的就是惊蛰对农民的意义。

　　祭白虎

　　在中国古代民间传说中，白虎是一种带来争议和是非的生物，它们在惊蛰期间开始出没狩猎，有时不免会咬人。据说，那些被白虎咬伤的人，将会遭遇对他们带来阻碍和厄运的恶人。所以在惊蛰期间，人们会祭祀白虎以求自保。 When practicing this old custom, people draw the white tiger on paper, and then smear pig's blood and pork on its mouth. This means the tiger is fed so that it would not bite people, avoiding bad luck and conflict.在践行这一古老习俗时，人们会在纸上画上白虎，然后将猪血和肉涂在白虎的嘴上。这意味着白虎已经被喂饱，所以它不会再咬人了，从而避开厄运和冲突。 

　　钓鱼

　　惊蛰前后，动物们都结束了冬眠，鱼儿也一样。它们会从深水区游到浅水区觅食和繁殖。此时正值钓鱼的好时机。

　　Fishing can provide mental and physical relaxation, especially for people living in the city. Driving to the suburbs, fishing in a lake, bathing in the sunlight, enjoying the singing birds, fragrant flowers and waving willows make for a perfect weekend in spring.钓鱼可以带来身心上的放松，尤其是对居住在城市里的人而言。驱车郊外，于湖边垂钓，沐浴在阳光下，聆听着鸟儿的清唱，芬芳的花朵、浮动的柳枝编织成一个完美的春日周末。 

　　吃梨

　　乍暖还寒时，喉咙干痒，咳嗽的频率也高了起来。这种情况下，来一个清甜爽口的梨子是个不错的选择。

　　Eating pears around the Awakening of Insects is a widely-practiced custom in China. As the weather gets warmer and the air becomes dry, people tend to feel their mouths are parched and tongues dry, which can cause colds or coughs. A pear is sweet, juicy and cold, moistening the lungs to arrest a cough. 惊蛰吃梨是一项在中国广为流传的习俗。因为天气转暖，空气变得更加干了，人们感到口干舌燥，这会造成感冒或咳嗽。而梨子甘甜、多汁、清凉，能起到止咳润肺的效果。

来源：中国日报双语新闻