月到中秋分外明:談談中秋節的起源與傳說
The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese characters above) is one of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese legends say that the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day. Based on the Gregorian calendar, this year's August Moon Festival will be held on September 12.
中秋節是中國人的傳統節日之一，每年農曆8月15日慶祝。傳說月亮在這一天最大最圓。根據推算，今年公曆9月12日爲中秋節。
The Mid-autumn Festival is often called the Women's Festival. The moon (Chinese character on right) symbolizes elegance and beauty. While Westerners worship the sun (yang or male) for its power, people in the Far East admire the moon. The moon is the 'yin' or female principle and it is a trusted friend. Chinese parents often name their daughters after the moon, in hope that they will be as lovely as the moon.
中秋節也被稱爲女人的節日，月（漢字部首）象徵着優雅與美麗。而西方人則崇尚太陽（陽剛或男性）的力量，東亞地區的人們則崇尚月亮。月亮代表“陰”或女性，並且被看做是可靠的朋友。中國的父母總喜歡以“月”爲女兒取名，爲的是希望她們像月亮一樣可愛。
The Moon FairyLady - 'Chang Er' 月亮仙子——嫦娥
In fact, many ancient August Moon folktales are about a moon maiden. On the 15th night of the 8th lunar moon, little children on earth can see a lady on the moon.
實際上，古代很多關於八月月圓的故事都跟一位月亮仙子有關。在陰曆8月15的晚上，小孩子都能看到月亮上有一位女子。
The story about the lady takes place around 2170 B.C. At that time, the earth had ten suns circling it, each taking its turn to illuminate to the earth. But one day all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved by a strong and tyrannical archer named Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns. One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However, his beautiful wife Chang E drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew all they way to the moon. Hou Yi loved his divinely beautiful wife so much, he refused to shoot down the moon.
這個故事發生在公元前2170年左右，那個時候，天上有十個太陽，它們輪流照亮地上。但有一天，十個太陽一同出現，他們發出的熱量燒焦了地上的作物。一位身強體壯、性格暴虐名叫后羿的弓箭手拯救了人間。他成功接連射落九個太陽。有一天，后羿偷了一位神仙的長生不老藥。而他美麗的妻子嫦娥爲了幫助人們脫離他暴虐的統治偷偷喝下了長生不老藥。喝下藥之後他發現自己飄浮起來並飛向了月亮。後裔十分愛他美若天仙的妻子，他不忍心將她從月亮上射落。
People believed that the lady was a god who lived in the moon that made the moon shine. Girls who wanted to be a beauty and have a handsome husband should worship the moon. And on this magical occasion, children who make wishes to the Lady on the Moon will find their dreams come true.
人們認爲嫦娥是住在月亮上的仙子，是她讓月亮發光的。女孩子如果想要變得漂亮並且有一位如意郎君都要供奉月亮。而中秋之時，孩子們都會向月亮仙子許願祈求他們能夠夢想成真。
