中秋节Mid-Autumn Festival

Image Source: Google Images

Author: Cai Shaowei
Translated by: Cherry Hitkari

中秋节 Mid-Autmn Festival

中秋节是中国的第二大传统节日。全球华人每年农历的8月15日庆祝中秋节。中秋节始源于中国皇帝崇拜亮月以求丰收。

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second largest traditional festival in China. Chinese around the world celebrate it every year on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The Mid-Autumn Festival began when the Chinese emperor worshiped the bright moon for a good harvest.

关于中秋节还有个美丽的传说。话说在中国,嫦娥是一名倾国倾城的女神仙，她居住于月宫之中。玉兔又称月兔，同嫦娥一起居住在月球上，民间传说是嫦娥的宠物，是在月宫里负责捣药的仙兔。

There is a beautiful legend about the festival. In China, it is believed that the goddess Chang’e lives in the Moon Palace with Yutu or the Moon Rabbit. The folklore goes that Yutu is Chang’e’s pet and is responsible for making medicine in the Moon Palace.

中秋节有许多民俗活动。人们舞火龙火狮以庆中秋，很是热闹。月饼已经是中国南北各地过中秋节的必备习俗，中秋节这天人们都要吃月饼以示“团圆”。中秋节这天晚上，家人团聚一起赏月。据说此夜月球距地球最近，月亮最大最圆最亮，所以从古至今都有饮宴赏月的习俗。

Many folklore activities are associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. People perform the fire dragon and fire lion dances which are very lively. Moon cakes have become a must-have delicacy during the festival in various parts of North and South China. People eat moon cakes to show “reunion”. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone unites to admire the moon. It is said that the moon is the closest to the earth on this night, and hence, it is the largest, roundest and the brightest, so there has been a custom of feasting and admiring the moon since ancient times.

今年中秋节是在公历的9月21日。

This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 21 of the Gregorian calendar.