Double Seventh Festival 七夕节

今天就是中国传统的七夕节啦，下面让我一起来了解一下我们七夕的起源和传说，并学习其中的英语单词和用法吧！

七夕被称为中国的情人节：Chinese Valentine's Day，通常又叫做Double Seventh Festival.

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.
农历7月7号,是中国传统的节日七夕节。是一个充满浪漫色彩的节日，它通常在阳历八月。　

　
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.

七夕节是在盛夏时，天气温暖，草木繁盛。在晚上，当天空点缀着星星，人们可以看到银河横跨南北。在每一个河岸边，都是一颗明亮的星星，从远处看对方。他们是牛郎和织女星，并且他们有一个美丽的爱情故事，被一代一代传下来。

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. Thecowhand 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.

很久，很久以前，有一个诚实善良的人叫牛郎（牛郎星）。他的父母当他是个孩子的时候去世了。后来他被嫂子赶出了家。所以他一个人生活，自己放牧和耕作。一天，天上的仙女织女（织女星）爱上他，秘密的来到地球，并嫁给了他。牛郎耕种，织女在家里织布。他们过着幸福的生活，生了一个男孩和一个女孩。不幸的是，天上的神已将很快发现事实命令西方天太后把织女带回天上。

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).

在老牛的帮助下，牛郎带着他的儿子和女儿飞到天堂。当他正要赶上他的妻子时，太后摘下她的一个黄金发夹挥舞一下。一个汹涌的河流出现在牛郎的前面，牛郎和织女被永远分离两岸，只能感到彼此的泪水。他们的忠贞爱情感动了喜鹊，使成千上万的喜鹊来为牛郎和织女建造一座桥。女王母亲最终被感动了，允许他们在每年的农历正月第七天相见。因此他们的会议日期已经被称为七夕节。

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 banquetof 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.

学者们证实庆祝七夕起源于汉朝（206 BC-AD220）。从东晋历史文献（AD371-420）提到的节日，而从唐朝（618-907）描绘记载太宗皇帝和他的妃嫔盛大晚宴来庆祝此节。在宋（960-1279）和元（1279-1368）时期，在市场上出售庆祝七夕节的特定物品。熙熙攘攘的市场证明了这个节日的重要意义。

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 Maidhas 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.

今天，一些传统习俗在中国农村还在传承着，但已被城市削弱或淡化了。然而，牛郎和织女的传说已经在人们心中生根。近年来，特别是，城市青年把它作为中国的情人节来庆祝。因此这一天，花卉商店，酒吧和商店都充满了喜悦，因为他们出售的商品都跟爱情有关。

学习到这里你是不是掌握了很多知识呢。祝大家七夕节快乐，Happy Chinese Valentine's Day!