1 . Summer is a time to look forward to because there is no school to get you down.     1     . You just need to stay active, occupied, and have an open mind.

●Read if you feel bored

Subscribe to a magazine or comic if you don’t like books. Choose whatever age-appropriate book that interests you and start reading. You can read anywhere. In your backyard or on your balcony, on your bed, or out by the lake.     2     .

●Get caught up on schoolwork.

Not all of us are straight “A” students. Take this time to go to the library and review material for the next year in advance.     3     . No need to rush or stress out. It’s just important not to forget anything you learned in the past year over the summer.

●Travel.

    4     , start packing now! Can’t afford to travel far? No problem! Do some exploring in your own city. Go on a road trip with your friends and family. Find out what’s on the other side of that lake. Be creative!

●     5    

If summers are hot where you live, you can go to the beach with your family or friends. Also, some water parks have great discounts at times during the summer. But be careful, if there’s a heat wave outside, you’d better stay out of the sum, or even go indoors.

2 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, begins this year on Dec 7 and ends on Dec 20.     1    . Here are five things you should know.

Snowy winter

    2    , breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, “A timely snow promises a good harvest”. As the snow covers the ground, the low winter temperature kills pests.

Appreciating plum blossoms

Plum blossoms usually flower in mid-to-late December in some southern cities of China, and sometimes bloom even earlier. The plum blossom is admired in Chinese culture for its toughness during severe winters.

Eating lamb

Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.     3    . People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup or stewed lamb soup with their families and friends.

Eating porridge

Hot porridge could help warm you and nourish (滋养) your body in cold weather. In China, it’s customary to eat red bean porridge on the first day of Major Snow.     4    , such as wheat porridge, sesame porridge, radish porridge, walnut porridge and tuckahoe porridge.

Preventing lung illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of lung illness, which can be prevented by properly drinking water. During Major Snow, it’s drier and colder, so people should drink more water. But you should not drink too much water at once.     5    .

3 . Lixia, the Beginning of Summer

Lixia, also called the Beginning of Summer, is the 7th out of the 24 solar terms in China, which happens usually on May 5, 6 or 7.    1     People used to regard the day as the start of significant increase of temperature and thunderstorms. This day also marks the beginning of the peak season for the growth of plants. Lixia is not an official day that is celebrated by the public. It is just a sign to show the coming of hot summer so as to let people pay attention to keep away from hot weather.

Lixia egg is one of the typical foods. People use black tea leaves or walnut shells to boil eggs till they turn dark red.     2    , therefore, eating red eggs on this day symbolizes a kind of protection of heart and also provides people with enough strength to survive the coming hot summer days. Children usually hang nettings over their neck and put eggs in the netting. Playing with eggs can help children stay away from summer fever.     3    , which was very popular in the old days. People use red, yellow, black, green beans and peas, together with sticky rice to make a bowl of five-color rice. This color-rich rice will bring people good harvests in the summer.

Weighing people is traditional custom which dates from the Three Kingdoms Period.     4    , if the child was heavier than the previous year, it meant the child was becoming healthier and parents wouldn't have any worries for the hot summer.

After Lixia, the temperature is gradually rising and hot weather can be strain on your heart. As a result, people may easily feel tired during summer days. Having good rests becomes very important. Do not take up violent sports but do some slow activities.     5    . Besides, eating more fruits and vegetables and less hot and dry food can help tonify（滋补）your liver and kidneys.