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大寒 Dahan: literally means “major cold”
Dahan is the last solar term and the coldest term of a year. Dahan usually begins on around 20 January and ends on around 4 February.
「大寒」是二十四節氣的最後一個節氣，是一年中天氣最冷的時節。大寒通常在國曆1月20日至2月4日。
The coming of Dahan means the year is going to an end, and the New Year is about to come. People are busy cleaning up the house and redecorating the environment and the mood. People go to do the Lunar New Year shopping, which makes the street be full of the New Year atmosphere.
這個節氣的來臨，代表著一年即將要結束，再過不久就要過農曆新年了，所以這個時節的人們都忙著大掃除，讓環境及心情都除舊佈新一番。辦年貨的人潮隨著年關接近而熱絡起來，走在大街小巷，到處都可以感覺到新年的腳步正逐日趨近。
Zuo Ya (Holding Year-end Banquet) 做牙
According to the folk business custom, on every lunar 2nd and 16th, businessmen have to do “Zuo Ya”, which is to worship Fudezhengshen (the Earth God). 2nd February of lunar calendar is called “Tou Ya” (the first tooth), and 16th December of lunar calendar is called “ Wei Ya” (the last tooth). On the day of “Wei Ya”, many businesses will prepare abundant offerings to thank the Earth God, and send the offerings to their employees after worshiping. Many businesses, organizations, and agencies still keep the traditional custom of holding year-end banquet. They feast the employees, provide prizes for the lucky draw, and invite singers to perform at the banquet. At the day of Wei Ya, bosses will also give wages and year-end bonuses to the staff.
民間商家習俗，每逢農曆初二、十六這兩天都要「做牙」拜土地公，二月二日稱為頭牙，十二月十六日就稱為尾牙。在「尾牙」這天，商家們為了感謝土地公一年的照顧，都會準備豐富的祭品來酬謝土地公，而祭拜完的東西就會犒賞給員工們。在尾牙時多數企業、機關、學校、公家部門，保留了古時「牙祭」傳統，都會宴請員工，一些公司還會舉辦各類活動或進行抽獎、模仿秀、魔術、美女豔舞或者藝人獻唱等餘興節目。尾牙當天企業老闆也會對員工發放工資和年終獎金。
Merciless Chicken (Pink Slip) 無情雞
There is one more interesting custom of Wei Ya; if the employer decides not to keep hiring an employee in the coming year, they will serve the chicken's head to that employee as a hint that he or she might be dismissed. As a result, the chicken dish is called “Merciless Chicken”. However, the relationship between employers and their employees has slightly changed in recent years; the chicken head has been avoided in most of the Wei Ya banquet's menu.
尾牙還有一個有趣的習俗，倘若公司決定在新的一年解僱某位員工，在尾牙的宴會上，會把菜餚中雞的嘴指向他（或由老闆親自將一塊雞夾到某位員工的飯碗中），讓他有被開除的心理準備。所以尾牙的雞叫作「無情雞」。而近年來，由於勞工權益抬頭，勞資雙方都希望能關係和諧，所以「尾牙餐會」時，一般都會將「雞頭」朝上，甚至斬去「雞頭」，以免雞嘴指向任何一位員工。
Send-off 送神
24th December of lunar calendar is the send-off day. People have to send Zaoshen (the God of the kitchen) away on that day, and Zaoshen has to go back to Heaven to report to Yuhuangdadi (the Jade Emperor) about every deed of the family, which is the basis of the fate of the next year. As a result, every family will prepare offerings to send it off.
農曆十二月二十四日是送神日，這天要送灶神離開人間回上天向玉皇大帝稟報一家人這一年來所做所為，以定來年人們的吉凶禍福，因此家家戶戶會在這一天準備供品送神。
The best time of send-off is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Many people will get up at 11 and go to bed after send-off. It is said that sending Zaoshen away earlier can help him save a good position. The main sacrifices are animal sacrifices, fruits, sweet Tangyuan, Tiangao(sweet rice cake) , candies, wines, candles, and so on. The sweet food is especially important as it is believed that Zaoshen will say more good than bad words after eating its fill.
送神的時間最好在子時，所以一般多在農曆十二月二十四日當天子時起便先祭拜再去睡，傳說早點送灶神上天庭述職，也使灶神可以上天庭佔個好位子。供品主要是牲禮（三牲）、水果、甜湯圓、甜粿、糖果、酒、燭等。傳統上特別重視甜食類的供品，希望讓灶君吃飽甜頭，不會向玉帝打小報告、多說好話。
Dahan is the last solar term and the coldest term of a year. Dahan usually begins on around 20 January and ends on around 4 February.
「大寒」是二十四節氣的最後一個節氣，是一年中天氣最冷的時節。大寒通常在國曆1月20日至2月4日。
The coming of Dahan means the year is going to an end, and the New Year is about to come. People are busy cleaning up the house and redecorating the environment and the mood. People go to do the Lunar New Year shopping, which makes the street be full of the New Year atmosphere.
這個節氣的來臨，代表著一年即將要結束，再過不久就要過農曆新年了，所以這個時節的人們都忙著大掃除，讓環境及心情都除舊佈新一番。辦年貨的人潮隨著年關接近而熱絡起來，走在大街小巷，到處都可以感覺到新年的腳步正逐日趨近。
Zuo Ya (Holding Year-end Banquet) 做牙
According to the folk business custom, on every lunar 2nd and 16th, businessmen have to do “Zuo Ya”, which is to worship Fudezhengshen (the Earth God). 2nd February of lunar calendar is called “Tou Ya” (the first tooth), and 16th December of lunar calendar is called “ Wei Ya” (the last tooth). On the day of “Wei Ya”, many businesses will prepare abundant offerings to thank the Earth God, and send the offerings to their employees after worshiping. Many businesses, organizations, and agencies still keep the traditional custom of holding year-end banquet. They feast the employees, provide prizes for the lucky draw, and invite singers to perform at the banquet. At the day of Wei Ya, bosses will also give wages and year-end bonuses to the staff.
民間商家習俗，每逢農曆初二、十六這兩天都要「做牙」拜土地公，二月二日稱為頭牙，十二月十六日就稱為尾牙。在「尾牙」這天，商家們為了感謝土地公一年的照顧，都會準備豐富的祭品來酬謝土地公，而祭拜完的東西就會犒賞給員工們。在尾牙時多數企業、機關、學校、公家部門，保留了古時「牙祭」傳統，都會宴請員工，一些公司還會舉辦各類活動或進行抽獎、模仿秀、魔術、美女豔舞或者藝人獻唱等餘興節目。尾牙當天企業老闆也會對員工發放工資和年終獎金。
Merciless Chicken (Pink Slip) 無情雞
There is one more interesting custom of Wei Ya; if the employer decides not to keep hiring an employee in the coming year, they will serve the chicken's head to that employee as a hint that he or she might be dismissed. As a result, the chicken dish is called “Merciless Chicken”. However, the relationship between employers and their employees has slightly changed in recent years; the chicken head has been avoided in most of the Wei Ya banquet's menu.
尾牙還有一個有趣的習俗，倘若公司決定在新的一年解僱某位員工，在尾牙的宴會上，會把菜餚中雞的嘴指向他（或由老闆親自將一塊雞夾到某位員工的飯碗中），讓他有被開除的心理準備。所以尾牙的雞叫作「無情雞」。而近年來，由於勞工權益抬頭，勞資雙方都希望能關係和諧，所以「尾牙餐會」時，一般都會將「雞頭」朝上，甚至斬去「雞頭」，以免雞嘴指向任何一位員工。
Send-off 送神
24th December of lunar calendar is the send-off day. People have to send Zaoshen (the God of the kitchen) away on that day, and Zaoshen has to go back to Heaven to report to Yuhuangdadi (the Jade Emperor) about every deed of the family, which is the basis of the fate of the next year. As a result, every family will prepare offerings to send it off.
農曆十二月二十四日是送神日，這天要送灶神離開人間回上天向玉皇大帝稟報一家人這一年來所做所為，以定來年人們的吉凶禍福，因此家家戶戶會在這一天準備供品送神。
The best time of send-off is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Many people will get up at 11 and go to bed after send-off. It is said that sending Zaoshen away earlier can help him save a good position. The main sacrifices are animal sacrifices, fruits, sweet Tangyuan, Tiangao(sweet rice cake) , candies, wines, candles, and so on. The sweet food is especially important as it is believed that Zaoshen will say more good than bad words after eating its fill.
送神的時間最好在子時，所以一般多在農曆十二月二十四日當天子時起便先祭拜再去睡，傳說早點送灶神上天庭述職，也使灶神可以上天庭佔個好位子。供品主要是牲禮（三牲）、水果、甜湯圓、甜粿、糖果、酒、燭等。傳統上特別重視甜食類的供品，希望讓灶君吃飽甜頭，不會向玉帝打小報告、多說好話。
「大寒不寒，春分不暖」
If the day of Dahan is not cold, the chill will come later; the weather in Chunfen will be ice cold.
大寒這一天如果天氣不冷，那麼寒冷的天氣就會向後展延，來年的春分時節天氣就會十分寒冷。
If the day of Dahan is not cold, the chill will come later; the weather in Chunfen will be ice cold.
大寒這一天如果天氣不冷，那麼寒冷的天氣就會向後展延，來年的春分時節天氣就會十分寒冷。
In this term, the temperature between day and night has significant difference. People catch a cold easily. So try not to go outside in the morning and evening.
在「大寒」節氣應盡量避免在早晨和傍晚出門，因為一般晝夜溫差較大，人體容易受寒，引發疾病。
在「大寒」節氣應盡量避免在早晨和傍晚出門，因為一般晝夜溫差較大，人體容易受寒，引發疾病。
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahan_(solar_term)
http://www.mdnkids.com.tw/24seasons/winter3.htm
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%81%9A%E7%89%99
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weiya
http://kids.yam.com/edu9/social/social_general/essay/20050120152346_1.php
http://blog.xuite.net/f2268678/twblog/103121290-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3%E6%B0%91%E9%96%93%E7%BF%92%E4%BF%97%E9%80%81%E7%A5%9E%EF%BC%88%E8%BE%B2%E6%9B%86%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E6%9C%88%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%81%E5%9B%9B%E6%97%A5%EF%BC%89
http://iview.sina.com.tw/post/7417244
http://www.mdnkids.com.tw/24seasons/winter3.htm
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%81%9A%E7%89%99
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weiya
http://kids.yam.com/edu9/social/social_general/essay/20050120152346_1.php
http://blog.xuite.net/f2268678/twblog/103121290-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3%E6%B0%91%E9%96%93%E7%BF%92%E4%BF%97%E9%80%81%E7%A5%9E%EF%BC%88%E8%BE%B2%E6%9B%86%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E6%9C%88%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%81%E5%9B%9B%E6%97%A5%EF%BC%89
http://iview.sina.com.tw/post/7417244
