芒种是二十四节气中的第九个节气,每年的6月5日左右为芒种。太阳到达黄经75°,这是一个反映农业物候现象的节气。
Grain in Ear is the ninth in the 24 Solar Terms and falls around the June 5th each year, when the sun reaches 75°celestial longitude. This is a term reflecting agricultural phenological phenomenon.
“芒”字是指大麦、小麦等有芒作物的种子已经成熟,需要及时抢收。“种”是指农作物需要播种。芒种节气是最适合播种有芒的谷类植物,比如晚谷、黍、稷等。芒种也是种植农作物时机的分界点,由于天气炎热,已经进入典型的夏季,农事种作都以这一时节为界,过了这一节气,农作物的成活率就越来越低。农谚“芒种忙忙种”、“芒种芒种,连收带种”说的就是这个道理。人们还用“芒种”的谐音“忙种”来形容这个农民朋友播种、下地最为繁忙的时节。
"芒(mang)" refers to the maturity of the seeds of such awned crops as barley and wheat, which need to be harvested in time. "种(zhong)" refers to the crops that need to be planted. The day of Grain in Ear is the high time to sow awned grains, such as broomcorn millet, millet and the like. It is also a dividing point for the time of sowing. Because of the hot weather, it is already summer at this moment and the day is the deadline for the sowing activities. After this day, there is little chance for crops to survive. The agricultural proverbs like "awned crops planted in a rush on the day of Grain in Ear" and "Grain in Ear means both harvest and plant" tell the same reason. People always use the homonym of "芒种(mang zhong) (Grain in Ear)" and "忙种(mang zhong) (planting in a rush)" in Chinese to tell that the days around Grain in Earth is the busiest time for farmers to sow and work in the fields.
另外,我国的端午节多在芒种日的前后,民间有“未食端午粽,破裘不可送”的说法。此话告诉人们,端午节没过,御寒的衣服不要脱去,以免受寒。
In addition, the Dragon Boat Festival is always around the day of Grain in Ear. There is a popular saying goes like this, "Before the Dragon Boat Festival when you eat your Zongzi, you should never send away your winter clothes", which asks people not to take off their heavy clothes to avoid getting cold until the day of Dragon Boat Festival.