Gather crops. [Photo/sipaphoto.com]
Gathering crops 收庄稼
Start of Autumn is a big solar term for farmers. It is time to gather crops. There is a saying: "If it rains on the day of the Start of Autumn, a good harvest is expected."
立秋对于农民而言是收庄稼的重要节气。俗话说：“立秋有雨样样收。”
A ripe peach. [Photo/sipaphoto.com]
Eating peaches 吃桃子
In Hangzhou, people eat peaches on the Start of Autumn day. The peach stones are kept until New Year's Eve and thrown into the stove, burned into ash. People believed that in this way, plagues could be prevented for the whole year.
杭州人立秋这天要吃桃。人们会把桃核保存到除夕夜，扔进炉子烧成灰。人们相信这样就能保佑接下来一年远离瘟疫。
Longans. [File photo]
Eating longans 吃龙眼
The Start of Autumn period is harvest time for Taiwan longan. People believe that eating longan will help their descendants become senior officials.
立秋是台湾省龙眼收获的季节。人们相信吃了龙眼肉，后代就会成为大官。
Colorful dumplings. [Photo/sipaphoto.com]
Eating dumplings 吃饺子
In Shandong province, people make dumplings during the Start of Autumn, and they call it "Eating the Autumn". On the day of Start of Autumn, senior members of the family will stand in the middle of the hall, worshiping a bowl of cereal, and praying for the harvest in autumn. Most of the families will eat dumplings together after Start of Autumn day.
在山东，立秋的风俗是包饺子，老百姓都称之为“咬秋”。立秋当天，年纪稍大的人会在堂屋正中供一只盛满五谷杂粮的碗，祈求立秋过后五谷丰登。而大多数人家会在立秋时刻过后，全家人围在一起吃饺子。
