The Great Heat, one of the Chinese twenty-four solar terms, falls between July 22nd and 24th each year, marking the hottest period of the year. During this time, the sun blazes fiercely, the earth feels like an oven, and the incessant chirping of cicadas fills the air, making it the most sweltering season. The arrival of the Great Heat signifies the peak of the "dog days of summer," entering the hottest phase.
大暑，中国传统二十四节气之一，位于每年公历7月22日至24日之间，是一年中最热的时节。此时，阳光炽烈，大地如烤，蝉鸣聒噪，正是酷暑难耐之际。大暑的到来，标志着进入了“三伏天”的最炎热阶段。
In ancient times, the Great Heat was seen as a sign of a bountiful harvest, and people would hold various rituals to pray for favorable weather and abundant crops. In the south, there is a tradition of making mung bean soup and drinking herbal tea, both refreshing and cooling. In the north, eating cold noodles and applying ginger patches are common practices, symbolizing the dispelling of heat and disease. Nowadays, people prefer to go to the beach, swimming pools, or enjoy the coolness of air-conditioned rooms, but traditional customs are still preserved in festive celebrations.
在古代，大暑被视为丰收的预兆，人们会举行各种祭祀活动，祈求风调雨顺，五谷丰登。南方有煮绿豆汤、喝凉茶的习俗，既解渴又消暑；北方则流行吃凉面、贴伏姜，寓意消热避病。现代人们更喜欢去海边、泳池，或在空调房中享受清凉，但传统习俗依然保留在节日的庆祝中。
The Great Heat is not only a natural phenomenon but also an integral part of people's lives. It reminds us to cherish nature's gifts and to adjust our bodies and minds to safely endure the summer.
大暑不仅是自然界的一个节气，也是人们生活的一部分。它提醒我们珍惜自然的馈赠，同时也要懂得调适身心，平安度夏。