“但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。”马上就是中秋节啦，大家对这个传统的节日有多少认识呢？今天我们就一起边学英文边看看中秋节的相关知识吧！
The History of the Mid-Autumn Festival
中秋节的历史
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month in the Chinese Han calender. It is a traditional festival celebrated by Chinese and people from East Asia and Southeast Asia, especially those Overseas chinese.
每年农历八月十五日，是传统的中秋佳节。这时是一年秋季的中期，所以被称为中秋。然而庆祝中秋节的不只是中国人，还有来自东亚、东南亚的人民，尤其是旅居在外的华人华侨。
The festival has a long history. In ancient China, emperors followed the rite of offering sacrifices to the sun in spring and to the moon in autumn. Historical books of the Zhou Dynasty had had the word "Mid-Autumn". Later aristocrats and literary figures helped expand the ceremony to common people. They enjoyed the full, bright moon on that day, worshipped it and expressed their thoughts and feelings under it. By the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Mid-Autumn Festival had been fixed, which became even grander in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, it grew to be a major festival of China.
中秋节有悠久的历史，和其它传统节日一样，也是慢慢发展形成的，古代帝王有春天祭日，秋天祭月的礼制，早在《周礼》一书中，已有“中秋”一词的记载。后来贵族和文人学士也仿效起来，在中秋时节，对着天上又亮又圆一轮皓月，观赏祭拜，寄托情怀，这种习俗就这样传到民间，形成一个传统的活动，一直到了唐代，这种祭月的风俗更为人们重视，中秋节才成为固定的节日，《唐书·太宗记》记载有“八月十五中秋节”，这个节日盛行于宋朝，至明清时，已与元旦齐名，成为我国的主要节日之一。
The Meanings of the Festival
中秋节的意义
The festival celebrates three fundamental concepts which are closely tied to one another.
中秋节蕴含着三点意义，每个意义又都是息息相关的。
Gathering， such as family and friends coming together.
Thanksgiving, to give thanks for the harvest, or for harmonious unions.
Praying, such as for babies, a spouse, beauty, longevity, or for a good future.
第一，庆祝团圆，中秋是家人朋友欢聚的好日子。
第二，感恩，如同西方的感恩节，中秋也是感恩丰收或和谐美满生活的日子。
第三，祈祷，中秋节还是祝愿自己或亲朋好友收获爱情、孩子、美丽、长寿或美好未来的日子。
The Customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival
中秋节的习俗
There are a lot of customs during the festival, though some are different from others in different areas, there are still something in common.
中秋节有许多习俗，不同地区中间也许会有不同，但是有一些习俗却是大致相同的。
Enjoying the full moon and moon worship. The Mid-Autumn moon has traditionally been a choice occasion to celebrate marriages. Girls would pray to Chang'e or the Moon Lord to help fulfill their romantic wishes.
Eating mooncakes. Making and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of this festival. In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and unity. Thus, the sharing and eating of round mooncakes among family members during the week of the festival signify the completeness and unity of families.
第一，赏月、拜月。中秋节自古以来就是人们祈求姻缘的好日子，那天，未婚女子会向嫦娥或月老祈祷，以求得一个如意郎君。
第二，吃月饼。 分享月饼是中秋节的传统特色活动之一。在中国文化中，圆形代表着完整和统一。因此，中秋这天吃圆圆的月饼也有祝愿家庭和和美美、团团圆圆之意。
Poetry Appreciation
诗歌赏析
下面，我们来欣赏一首大家耳熟能详的中秋古诗，苏轼的《水调歌头明月几时有》。
明月几时有？把酒问青天。
不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。
我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。
起舞弄清影，何似在人间？
转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。
不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
The Midautumn Festival
Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody"
How long will the full moon appear?
Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.
I do not know what time of the year
It would be tonight in the palace on high.
Riding the wind, there I would fly,
Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be
Too high and cold for me.
I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.
On high as on earth, would it be as gay?
The moon goes round the mansions red
Through gauze-draped window soft to shed
Her light upon the sleepless bed.
Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?
Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;
The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.
There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.
So let us wish that man
Will live long as he can!
Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.
(by Xu Yuanchong)
《水调歌头》有众多译本，本文选编的是著名翻译家许渊冲老先生的翻译。许老先生一向强调以诗译诗，十分注重诗歌的“音美”、“形美”、和“意美”。品一品，读起来是不是朗朗上口呢？
Music Appreciation
音乐赏析
最后，给大家带来王菲的一首老歌——《水调歌头》，歌词改编自上述苏轼的古诗。曲风为古香古色，旋律优美动人。
好了，今天的中秋特辑就要告一段落了，敬请期待下期精彩内容。在此，微译学国际教育祝各位学生与家长幸福美满，团团圆圆，中秋快乐！
标签： #英语手抄报中秋节内容
