關於七夕節的英文介紹
關於七夕節的英文介紹
The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
With the help of celestial cattle, the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh).
Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220). Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD371-420) mention the festival, while records from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, special articles for the "Qi Xi" were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.
Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However, the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, in particular, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China. As a result, owners of flower shops, bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.
七夕吃雞原因
為了表達人們希望牛郎織女能天天過上美好幸福家庭生活的願望，在浙江金華一帶，七月七日家家都要殺一隻雞，意為這夜牛郎織女相會，若無公雞報曉，他們便能永遠不分開。
傳說中牛郎織女，每年只有在七夕，才得以鵲橋相會;而當雄雞報曉時，他們就不得不分開了。古時人們因為同情牛郎織女，有流行在七夕宰雞的風俗，以祈禱有情人永不分離。因此，七夕節，吃雞成為很多地方的一種傳統風俗。
在七夕，在城陽當地還有扣公雞的習俗。以前一到七夕節，城陽這邊有些人家就把自己家的大公雞從雞窩裡掏出來，用筐子扣在屋子裡，傳說是王母娘娘規定，天亮雞一叫，牛郎織女就得馬上分開，所以大家就認為，公雞換了生地方害怕，自然就不叫了，這樣牛郎織女在一塊的時間能長點。
七夕傳統習俗
舊時風俗，農曆七月七日夜(或七月六日夜)，穿著新衣的少女們在庭院向織女星乞求智巧，稱為「乞巧」。乞巧的方式大多是姑娘們穿針引線驗巧，做些小物品賽巧，擺上些瓜果乞巧。近代的穿針引線、蒸巧饃饃、烙巧果子、生巧芽以及用面塑、剪紙、彩繡等形式做成的裝飾品等亦是乞巧風俗的延伸。
「七夕」夜晚，年輕的婦女、姑娘要擺上事先準備好的時令水果，對著皎皎明月，朝天祭拜。她們還要舉行各種乞巧儀式，虔誠地乞求織女神賦予她們聰慧的巧手，祈求自己能夠得到美滿愛情的姻緣巧配。
在浙江一帶，很多人家晚上還會在打掃乾淨的庭院裡，擺上巧果、蓮蓬、白藕、紅菱等，家中親友圍坐在一起。
在福建地區，許多人在「七夕」節時都要準備節日食品，讓織女欣賞、品嚐，祈求她保佑來年瓜果豐收。大夥兒輪流在供桌前焚香祭拜，默禱心願。人們有的乞巧，有的乞子、乞壽、祈求愛情，等等。