Flag Raising Ceremony Students’ Sharing 2026-1-22

Hayley and Sunny, students from Form 5 Bauhinia and Form 5 Delonix, respectively, shared some interesting information about Minor Cold (小寒) and Major Cold (大寒) of the 24th solar term. They also gave some tips on how we can endure such cold weather.

Written by Hayley TANG (Form 5) and Sunny XIE (Form 5)

Hayley: Good morning, Principal, Assistant Principals, teachers, and fellow schoolmates, we are the CLACH ambassadors. I am Hayley from Form 5 Bauhinia.

Sunny: 我是中五鳳凰社的 Sunny。

Hayley: Sunny, do you know why the temperature dropped suddenly starting from Tuesday evening?

Sunny: 我昨天在查看天氣預報的時候收到了，原來現在所屬的就是「小寒」和「大寒」的氣節！ 「小寒」和「大寒」同屬二十四節氣，通常是天氣溫度最低的時候。 Hayley 你知道小寒和大寒的區別嗎？

Hayley: Yes, Minor Cold is the twenty-third of the twenty-four solar terms, usually falling in early January each year. The word “minor” doesn’t mean it’s not cold, normally, it’s the coldest period of Winter.

Sunny: 沒錯，由於小寒前是冬至，小寒後又連接著春節，使得小寒相對默默無聞。但今年狀況特別，不是暖冬也非寒冬，由於氣候的劇烈波動，呈現出了「忽冷忽熱」的「澤火革」格局。

Hayley: The arrival of Minor Cold signifies the imminent arrival of cold air, preparing for the coldest period of the year. Because temperatures are relatively low during Minor Cold, immunity tends to be weaker. Furthermore, Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that "cold is a yin (陰) evil, easily injuring yang qi (陽氣)." The climate at this time is characterized by low temperatures, short days, and a combination of dampness and cold, so it's especially important to pay attention to blood circulation.

Sunny: 是的，小寒常常比大寒冷，可以說是整年最冷的節氣，有個「冷在三九」的說法，而這「三九天」正處小寒。Hayley. 你知道在小寒期間正確的養生方法是什麼嗎？

Hayley: Yes, there are some principles for exercising during the Minor cold season. First, always start exercising after sunrise, using sunlight to help the body's Yang qi rise. Exercise intensity should be moderate, and avoid excessive sweating, as this can deplete Yin fluids.

Sunny: 說得沒錯，而大寒是二十四節氣中的最後一個節氣。大寒可理解為寒冷程度達到高位，但同時也接近「轉暖」前的最後一段寒流期。今年大寒節氣自1月20日16時29分20秒開始，共約14.8天。大寒一過，又開始新的另一個輪迴，正所謂冬去春來。大寒節氣接近春節，充滿了喜悅和歡樂的氣氛。人們開始忙著除舊迎新，醃製年餚，準備年貨。

Hayley: In Southern China, some places have many important customs during the period from the Major Cold to the beginning of Spring, such as bridging farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, making preserved meats, and offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God and the year-end feast.

Sunny: 除了習俗，在大寒期間人體脾胃功能也相對較弱，若攝取過多冰品或寒性水果，如西瓜、梨子、哈密瓜等，容易影響消化，引發腹瀉、疲倦或手腳冰冷等不適的狀況。此時適合以溫熱為主，可選擇薑湯、紅豆湯、燉湯或熟食蔬菜，幫助暖胃並促進血液循環。

Hayley: In addition, avoiding exercising outdoors in the early morning , or switching to indoor exercise when it is cold helps keep you warm, prevent colds, and reduces the burden on the cardiovascular system.

Sunny:「大寒到頂端，日後天漸暖」。在這節氣的轉折中，大家要多關注天氣預報，記得多添衣物。我們今天的分享到此結束，謝謝大家的聆聽！

Hayley: This is the end of our sharing. Thank you!