盤點亞洲各地如何慶中秋 僅次於新年
Better known by its more imaginative moniker of the Mooncake Festival, for millions of Chinese across Asia the Mid-Autumn Festival is a big deal, second only to Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations。
中秋節綽號“月餅節”，在亞洲各地的華人眼中，中秋節是一個很盛大的節日，其重要性僅次於春節。
Throughout the continent, households celebrate in style in a variety of ways, with the releasing of sky lanterns, dragon dancing and the age old tradition of eating mountains of moon cakes. These ubiquitous bite-sized chunks of pastry are filled with everything from red bean paste, lotus seeds, almonds, egg yolk, minced meat, candied fruits or chocolate。
在亞洲，每個家庭慶祝中秋的方式各有千秋，有放孔明燈的，有舞龍的，還有流傳已久的吃月餅的傳統。在中秋佳節，這種小巧的點心隨處可見，其餡料從紅豆沙、蓮子、杏仁、蛋黃、肉末、果脯到巧克力，無所不包。
There are literally hundreds of varieties found throughout the region and in cosmopolitan areas such as Hong Kong and Shanghai, well-to-do folk can even munch on moon cakes of black truffle, caviar and foie gras。
亞洲各地的月餅多達數百種，而類似香港和上海這種國際大都市，有錢人家甚至能享用黑松露、魚子醬和鵝肝醬月餅。
Throughout continental Asia, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for families to reunite and spend time together. Celebrations kick off with a special meal at home, akin to a western Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner before everyone steps out together, often in traditional dress, to enjoy local festivities such as dancing, music and bright lantern displays. Each nation and region has its own peculiar customs for moon worship with many quaint customs still going strong。
在亞洲大陸的各個地方，中秋節都是一個家人團聚及相互陪伴的節日。慶祝活動往往從一桌特別的家宴開始，類似於西方的聖誕節或感恩節晚餐，之後全家人一起外出活動，通常都會身着傳統服飾，讓自己置身於當地的節日氛圍中，觀賞舞蹈、音樂以及漂亮的燈會。每個國家和地區都有各自獨特的拜月風俗，許多稀奇古怪的習俗在當地仍影響深遠。
Zhongqiu: the Chinese mainland's Mid-Autumn Festival
中國大陸的中秋節
In Chinese mainland the strong scent of incense wafts through the air and twinkling lanterns can be seen for miles around. Unsurprisingly it is in the rural heartland where the most colorful traditions still hold true。
在中國大陸，中秋那天，空氣中飄散着濃烈的薰香味道，隔着幾公里遠也可以看到空中閃爍的燈籠。不用意外，在農村中心地區，那些豐富多樣的傳統習俗仍被尊崇。
In parts of Southern China the full moon is time for a little romance. Masquerades are held at Festival time to pair up single guys and girls from neighboring villages with the quaint yet symbolic dropping of a handkerchief。
在中國南方的部分地區，月圓之夜被認爲是一個浪漫的時刻。節日當天會舉辦假面舞會，用丟手絹的方式撮合鄰村的單身男女，這看似不可思議卻極具象徵意味。
One of the most spectacular aspects of Mid-Autumn Festival is the building of huge bamboo and stone towers, often rising over 50 feet high, which are then set ablaze after dark in order to ensure a good harvest。
最壯觀的一種中秋慶祝活動是用竹子和石頭壘成巨塔，高度通常超過50英尺，等到天黑後再將巨塔點燃，以求來年的好收成。
Mid-Autumn celebrations in Hong Kong
香港的中秋慶祝活動
Hong Kong is arguably the best place of all to be for the Festival. The teeming city goes mad for moon cakes and the famous city skyline is even more dramatic among thousands of shimmering lanterns and the glow of the full moon。
香港也許是歡慶中秋的最佳地區。這座鬧市的人們瘋狂地愛着月餅，那閃閃發亮的燈籠和滿月的光輝讓這座著名城市的天際線顯得格外壯麗。
Seemingly every household in the city takes the kids up to Victoria Peak to see the cityscape and harbor view in all its glory. From here you can see a flotilla of boats ferrying couples around the harbor on romantic moonlight cruises. Throughout Kowloon there are special street markets, extravagant lantern processions (including the world’s largest structure made entirely of lanterns) and the famous fire dragon dances shows。
在香港，似乎家家戶戶都會帶着孩子到太平山頂觀賞城市全貌以及維港的華美夜景。在這裏你會看到一隊小艇載着佳偶們在浪漫的月光下徐行。整個九龍區遍佈着特別的街邊市場，還會上演華美的彩燈遊行(包括世界最大的造型燈)和著名的舞火龍表演。
Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore
新加坡的中秋節
Although not a designated public holiday in Singapore, the city celebrates in typically over-the-top fashion which is as ever, well stage-managed。
雖然中秋節並非新加坡的法定公共節假日，但這座城市的慶祝方式不僅極盡時尚，而且表演也很壯觀。
All the action takes place in Chinatown with an official opening ceremony and light up of shimmering lanterns. There are numerous troupes of lion dancers all jostling for position to the sound of deafening firecrackers and cheesy Mandarin pop songs。
在唐人街所有的慶祝活動都有一個正式的開幕儀式，並會點亮燈籠。許多舞獅表演隊和着震耳欲聾的鞭炮聲與並不正宗的國語流行歌曲，你來我往，你爭我奪。
This being Singapore, there is a huge moon-inspired street bazaar with the usual mix of tacky Chinese souvenirs and fabulous street food。
在新加坡還設有中秋主題大型夜市，可以買到一些廉價的中國紀念品和美味的街頭小吃。
Chuseok in South Korea
韓國的秋夕節
Falling on the same date as the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Chuseok is a big deal; hands down the most celebrated holiday on Korea’s calendar. For outsiders, it’s sometimes difficult to grasp the significance of this three-day event, as it is extremely family-oriented. If you have an in with a kind Korean family, this would be a great opportunity for an in depth look at Confucianism in action。
韓國的秋夕節是個大日子，正好與中國的中秋節在同一天；它毫無疑問是韓國最盛大的節日。由於該節日完全以家庭爲單位慶祝，因此外來者很難領會到這個爲期三天的節日的重要性。你若能與一個和善的韓國家庭同住，這幾天將是深入觀察儒家做派的絕佳機會。
Mooncake Festival in Taiwan
臺灣的中秋節
Due in part to the creeping westernization of Taiwan society, there is a modern trend of spending Mid-Autumn Festival with a barbecue and a few beers under the light of the full moon. It is usually a small family affair but some towns and villages do organize large scale versions where the whole community gets together under twinkling lanterns to eat mountains of sizzling meat and moon cakes。
某種程度上是因爲臺灣社會日漸西化，現在中秋節越來越流行在滿月下露天吃燒烤喝啤酒。雖然中秋節通常在小家庭裏慶祝，但有些城鎮或鄉村會組織大型燒烤活動，讓整個社區的人都聚到一起，大家在閃爍的燈籠下一邊大口吃烤肉，一邊品嚐月餅。
T琞 Trung Thu – Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
越南的中秋節
The Vietnamese version of Mid-Autumn Festival has taken on a life of its own, including its very own unique and bizarre legend. It recounts the story of a woman who accidentally urinated on a sacred banyan tree and for her sins was transported to the moon to be stranded there for eternity. During festivities in Vietnam, lion dances are the main attraction with small dance troupes performing on street corners or going from house to house collecting ‘good luck’ money in exchange for a private show。
越南版本的中秋節別具一格，尤其是那獨特而離奇的傳說。傳說一個女人無意中尿到了一棵神聖的榕樹上，因爲這個罪過她被遣送到月亮上，永生永世被困在那裏。越南過節期間，小舞蹈團的舞獅表演是最吸引人的，他們會在街角表演，或者一家一家收取紅包進行私人表演。
