中秋节

Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival

China's Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunisolar month (see Mid-Autumn Festival Dates), which is in September or October.

Mid-Autumn Festival 2013 is on September 19. Chinese people will have a three-day holiday from September 19 to 21.

The festival is the second most important festival after the Spring Festival to Chinese people. Every year, when the festival comes people go home from every corner of the country and the world to meet their family and have dinner with them, admire the full moon and eat mooncakes.

Chinese people believe a full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and family reunion. On Mid-Autumn Festival night the moon is supposed to be the brightest and fullest, which is why the festival is also known as the"Day of Reunion" and the "Moon Festival"

“中秋节”是在农历八月十五这一天。

The Mid-Autumn Day is on the August 15th of the lunar calendar.

农历每月的十五日是我们看到月球最圆的那天。

The fifteenth of each month in the lunar calendar is the day of the full moon.

中秋节来临时正好在“秋分”前后。

Mid-Autumn Day falls during the autumn equinox.

这时候秋高气爽，天空能见度极高，因此月亮显得又圆又大，是一年中月色最好的时候。

During this time, the days are especially bright and crisp and the sky is very clear, which makes it the perfect time to appreciate the moon’s beauty.

中国人特别是诗人，对月亮有一种独特的情感。

The Chinese people, especially the poets, have a special emotion for the moon.

他们对月亮的深情，超过世界上任何一个民族，形成了一种独特的月亮情结。

The affections they hold may surpass those of any other nations in the world, forming a special moon sentiment.

看到月亮会触发他们的心弦，牵动他们的情思，勾起他们的遐想。

The sight of the moon can affect their emotions, and arouse their hopes and dreams for the future.

每当人们看到中秋月圆，这一合家团圆的象征，思乡之情就会油然而生。

The full moon on the Mid-Autumn Day reminds people of their families and triggers their longing for a family reunion.

分散在各地的孩子们都在这一夜回家团聚看望老人和亲友。

It is for sure a time for people to come home to see their parents and relatives.

赶不回来的也要打电话回家问候长辈亲人。

And those who can not make it home would call to send a regards.

在这样一个月圆的节日里，祭月、赏月是必不可少的一种中秋习俗。

During this full moon holiday, sacrificial offerings and moon-gazing are essential customs.

中秋之夜，大家准备丰盛的瓜果和月饼，把最圆的水果当作供品祭拜月亮，其它的留给全家人，边赏月，边聊天，边品尝。

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Day, people have fruits and moon cakes, the most round food is offered to the moon, while the rest is for the family to enjoy as they appreciate the moon’s beauty.

月饼最早是用在祭月典礼中的一种供品。

Originally the moon cake was used only for sacrificial offerings during the Moon Ceremony.

后来逐渐演变成了民间中秋节必不可少的象征性食品。

Later it gradually became a symbolic food of the Moon Festival.

它和中秋夜圆圆的月亮一样，代表着团圆。

It resembles the full moon on the night of the Mid-Autumn Day, representing reunion.

一家人祭月之后分食月饼，家里有多少人，就把月饼切成多少份，即使出门在外不能赶回家的亲人，也要算上，给他们留上一份，表示合家团圆。

After the entire family offers a sacrificial slice to the moon, they cut the rest in slices on the number of members of the family, including those family members who did not make it to the gathering.

而第一块月饼一定要先给家里最年长的人。

The first slice of the moon cake must be given to the most elderly of the family.

和中国的其它节日一样，中秋节也有一些自己的传说。

Like the other Chinese holidays, the Mid-Autumn Day has its own stories.

“嫦娥奔月”便是最著名的。

Among them “Chang’E and the Moon” is the most well known.

传说月亮上有一座美丽而寒冷的宫殿，里面住着一位美丽的仙女——嫦娥。

There lived a beautiful goddess named Chang’E in a very beautiful but cold palace on the moon.

月宫里，有一只可爱的玉兔陪伴她。

In the palace, a jade hare accompanies her.

月宫外，还有一棵桂花树和一个叫吴刚的伐树人。

And outside the palace, there was a sweet-scented osmanthus tree and a lumberjack called Wu Gang.

在中秋节晴朗的夜空里，如果你仔细观看，真的会隐约看到传说里的人和物呢。

If you look carefully at the moon on the mid autumn night, you might see the shadows of the figures in the story!

除了祭月、赏月外，中国各地还有许多自己的风俗和活动。

Besides sacrificial offerings and moon appreciation, different parts of China have different customs and activities for this festival.

在北方孩子的玩具里有一种玩偶叫“兔儿爷”。

In the north, there is a toy called “the rabbit master” which is popular among children.

就是由月亮上的玉兔演化过来的。

It is an adaptation of the jade hare on the moon.

南方有的地方，人们把柚子镂空，做成精致好看的柚子灯笼。

In the South, people hollow out the pomelo to make exquisite lanterns.

里面点上蜡烛，成为孩子们最喜爱的中秋玩具。

They light candles inside to make a favorite mid-autumn season toy.

在广东、香港，人们会在中秋举行舞“火龙”的表演。

In Guangdong and Hong Kong, people attend performances of mid-autumn dance “Fire Dragon”.

火龙的身上插满“长寿香”，在夜里大放光芒。

Incenses are lit and inserted along the fire dragon’s body to symbolize longevity, and to radiate brightness in the dark night.

而在浙江，人们中秋除了赏月，还要去观看一年一度受月球引力而产生的自然景观——“钱塘江大潮”。

In Zhejiang, besides watching the moon on the Mid-Autumn Day, people also watch the annual natural spectacle caused by the gravity of the moon, —“Qiantang River Tide”.

一些少数民族的青年男女会在中秋这天对歌传情。

For some minority groups in China, the Mid-Autumn Day is a time for the youths to flirt by singing songs to each other.

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

May the people live forever, and share the moon shine across vast distances together.