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穀雨 Guyu: literally means “grain rain”
Guyu, the last solar term of spring, indicates the abundant rainfalls are good for grain crops. It usually begins on around April 20 and ends on around May 5.
穀雨是春天的最後一個節氣，豐沛的雨水滋養著作物。通常在國曆4月20日至5月5日。
During Guyu solar term, there is plentiful rainfall, relatively higher temperature and more frequent gloomy and drizzling days. The workers of the silkworm are busy nipping the leaves of mulberry to feed the silkworm; the farmers of plum are busy with harvesting plums, which can be processed into preserved fruits and Umeshu (a Japanese liqueur made from steeping ume fruits in alcohol and sugar); and the grower of tea are collecting sprouts to make the high-quality spring tea.
穀雨的雨水豐富，有利各種作物的生長，也讓農業生產工作進入繁忙的時期，像是桑樹開始冒出青翠的綠葉，養蠶人家要忙著採桑養蠶；此時也正逢梅子採收的時節，採收後的梅子會被製成如梅酒、梅茶和蜜餞等可口的加工品；茶農也忙著採收新芽，製作一年之中品質最好的春茶。
Guyu, the last solar term of spring, indicates the abundant rainfalls are good for grain crops. It usually begins on around April 20 and ends on around May 5.
穀雨是春天的最後一個節氣，豐沛的雨水滋養著作物。通常在國曆4月20日至5月5日。
During Guyu solar term, there is plentiful rainfall, relatively higher temperature and more frequent gloomy and drizzling days. The workers of the silkworm are busy nipping the leaves of mulberry to feed the silkworm; the farmers of plum are busy with harvesting plums, which can be processed into preserved fruits and Umeshu (a Japanese liqueur made from steeping ume fruits in alcohol and sugar); and the grower of tea are collecting sprouts to make the high-quality spring tea.
穀雨的雨水豐富，有利各種作物的生長，也讓農業生產工作進入繁忙的時期，像是桑樹開始冒出青翠的綠葉，養蠶人家要忙著採桑養蠶；此時也正逢梅子採收的時節，採收後的梅子會被製成如梅酒、梅茶和蜜餞等可口的加工品；茶農也忙著採收新芽，製作一年之中品質最好的春茶。
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April and May are in tung blossom. When tung trees come to full blossom, white flowers cover the mountains and look as if it snowed in spring. 四月和五月也正是油桐花盛開的時節，油桐花盛開時，雪白的花瓣布滿整座山，就像是春天的雪一般漂亮。 Photo: Tung blossom |
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Mazu Pilgrimage Activity 媽祖遶境
March 23 rd of lunar calendar is the birthday of Mazu (the Goddess of the Sea and the most popular deity in Taiwan). To celebrate her birthday, people will hold many activies. One of the most popular one is the annual eight-day Mazu Holy Pilgrimage from Zhenlan Temple in Dajia to Fengtian Temple in Xingang. The core procession comprises a series of palanquins that ferry Mazu and other senior Taoist deities 300km through rice fields and small villages. The roads lined with believers who kneel to allow Mazu’s palanquin to pass over them for luck. In addition, Chaotian Temple in Beigang is also very popular. 「迎媽祖」是臺灣一項重要的民俗活動。農曆三月二十三日是媽祖的生日。每年一到這個時候，為了慶祝媽祖的生日，台灣各地都會舉辦媽祖繞境、迎神和進香等慶典活動，希望能為全民消災、祈福。其中最有名的便是大甲鎮瀾宮的繞境進香活動，她從台中大甲鎮瀾宮一直繞境到嘉義新港奉天宮，長達三百公里遠的距離，沿途經過許多小村莊。信徒們在路上排成一列等著鑽神轎腳，以求好運。除此之外，北港朝天宮也是非常有名的媽祖廟之一。 Photo 1: Chaotian Temple Mazu Pilgrimage in Beigang, Yunlin County Photo 2: One of Mazu's two guardian generals known as "Shunfeng Er" (With-the-Wind Ear) |
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「穀雨補老母」
In order to show solicitude for mother, children should present vermicelli with pork leg, which represent longevity and good luck, to their mothers.
表示體恤母親平時的辛苦，兒女要準備豬腳麵線幫母親進補。
In order to show solicitude for mother, children should present vermicelli with pork leg, which represent longevity and good luck, to their mothers.
表示體恤母親平時的辛苦，兒女要準備豬腳麵線幫母親進補。
In this term, people sometimes have spring fever, which means one feels dizziness, irritability, and headaches in spring. As a result, people should go to bed early and get up early. Besides, people with allergic constitution should beware of and take precautions against pollen disease.
此時節，人們很容易產生「春困」，也就是說在春天會感到頭暈目眩宜、精神不佳，宜早睡早起。此外，過敏的人要注意花粉症的發生。
此時節，人們很容易產生「春困」，也就是說在春天會感到頭暈目眩宜、精神不佳，宜早睡早起。此外，過敏的人要注意花粉症的發生。
