中秋——最富诗情画意的节日

Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival

一年一度秋风尽，又到团圆佳节时。中秋节(Mid-AutumnFestival)被喻为最富诗情画意的节日，其背后有着许许多多动人的传说。每逢此刻，五湖四海，相聚一堂；花好月圆，把酒言欢。中秋已过，让我们再次品上一盏回味悠长的文化民俗清茶吧。

Autumn. The air is light and summer`s humid heat is fading.Pomegranates in the courtyards are bursting their vermillion skins to show off their jeweledkernels. In the parks and gardens, chrysanthemums are on stand-by for their seasonal display.

秋天，空气使人神清气爽，夏季的湿热正渐渐退去。院子里，饱满的石榴撑破了朱红色的外衣，展示着宝石般的果粒。公园里、花圃中，迎来花期的菊花正含苞待放。

Stars are finally struggling through the cool dusk, and the moon will shine its brightest with Mid-Autumn around the corner. This is a time to celebrate both revolution and romance.

在凉爽的傍晚，星星终于探出夜幕，时值中秋来临，月亮也散发出前所未有的光华。这是一个庆贺历史革新以及浪漫传说的时刻。

There are many legends linked to Zhongqiujie or Mid-Autumn Festival, but the most commonlyquoted are about secret messages that galvanized a change of government, and a romantic, ifconvoluted, story of the archer Hou Yi and his wife Chang`e, the lady in the moon.

关于中秋节的由来，存在着许多传说，其中流传最广的，一段是朱元璋通过“月饼”来秘密传递信息，最终得以起义成功，改朝换代的故事；另外一段浪漫一点的，也要复杂一点，就是射手后羿与他那生活在月亮上的妻子嫦娥的故事。

Let`s talk about revolution first. Although the festival is long established in Chinese folklore, theeating of the mandatory moon cakes did not start until late, relative to culinary chronology. In1368, chaffing under the Mongolian yoke after 88 years, an adviser to rebel chief Zhu Yuanzhangcame up with a plot to send out rallying messages hidden in sweet pastries - much like fortunecookies.

让我们先来说说关于中秋节的革新吧。尽管这个节日在中国民间由来已久，但回顾饮食发展史，中秋吃月饼的习俗到很晚才形成。公元1368年，在蒙古人残暴执政88年后，义军首领朱元璋的军师想出了一个计策：将号召起义的信息藏入一种甜馅饼中——就像西餐里的占卜饼干一样。

Although there are no documented records to show how the rebels actually gathered, we cansafely say the way to a revolutionary heart, must have been through the stomach since ZhuYuanzhang successfully overthrew the Yuan emperors and founded the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644).

尽管召集起义的真实过程并无文献记录可查，但我们可以确定的是——想要抓住革命者的心，就要先抓住他们的胃（在革命起义中要想取得成功，就要审时度势，顺应民心），朱元璋由此成功地推翻了元朝统治，建立了大明王朝（1368年—1644年）。

Moon cakes are now sold in elaborate packaging that jack up the prices of the pastries tohundreds of yuan. All sorts of pastries and fillings imaginable are available, even moon cakes madefrom icecream and chocolate. In the south, the favorite traditional filling is lotus seed paste, whilenortherners like everything from red bean and date paste to ham and nuts.

今天，市面上在卖的月饼都包装精美，售价动辄数百元人民币。所有人们能够想到的口味，甚至夹着巧克力的冰激凌月饼，都应有尽有。在南方，人们喜欢莲蓉这种传统馅料；而在北方，各种馅料——从豆沙、枣泥到火腿、果仁，无不受到人们的喜爱。

A much earlier myth associated with the festival is the rather melancholic romance between thearcher Hou Yi and his wife, Chang`e. There many versions but here are the most commonthreads.

关于中秋节，还有另一个更为远久的的传说，那就是是发生在射手后羿和妻子嫦娥之间的凄美爱情故事。这个传说有许多版本，但我们这里提到的是其中最流传最广的一些。

In those times when gods and men had a less remote relationship,

10 blazing suns shonerelentlessly, scorching the earth. Hou Yi was a fine marksman, so he took his bow and arrows andshot down nine, wisely leaving one to bless the day.

在那个人神尚可相通的时代，10个炙热的太阳无情地灼烧着大地，后羿是一位神箭手，于是他用弓箭射下了9个太阳，明智地留下一个，让它在白天为人类造福。

For his great common sense, he was rewarded with an elixir for immortality enough for him and hiswife, whom he loved dearly. He kept the elixir in a box while he went hunting and told his wife notto open it. That was the last thing he should have said.

由于他的英明神武，后羿得到了长生不老的丹药，这些丹药足够他和他深爱的妻子嫦娥两个人服用。当他外出狩猎的时候，他把仙丹放在一个盒子里并且叮嘱嫦娥不要打开它。这也是他最不应该说的话。 Just like Pandora, Chang`e was into the box as soon as hubby was out of the door.Unfortunately, he came back unexpectedly and surprised her holding the elixir. In her panic,Chang`e drank it all up.

就像潘多拉一样，丈夫刚离开，嫦娥就迫不及待地打开了盒子。不巧地是，后羿突然返回家中，意外撞见妻子手拿仙丹的情景。嫦娥慌乱中服下了所有的仙丹。

The potion was so strong she started floating and didn`t stop till she reached the moon. And thereshe has remained since, looking down in eternal regret, accompanied only by a little rabbit shemanaged to grab on the way up.

丹药的药性如此强烈，她开始飘离地面，最后飞落在月亮上面。嫦娥俯瞰人间，心中懊悔不已。自此她就留在了那里，只有一只飞天时捉到的小兔子陪伴着她。

Both stories are often retold as people gather under the autumn moon, feasting on moon cakesand sipping fine tea. This is an occasion for the family to get together, second only to the LunarNew Year reunion dinner that every Chinese rushes home for.

每当中秋之夜，人们相聚一堂，共食月饼、品茶啜茗之时，这两个故事还是会被一再讲起。这是一个举家团圆的时刻，若要再次团聚，只有等到农历春节，大家奔波返家吃年夜饭的时候了。

The food on the table is seasonal, and often the main attraction is hairy crabs, which are at theirlargest and richest with roe during autumn. In Shanghai, only the best crabs from Yangcheng Lakeare eaten and gourmets and ostentatious gourmands alike willingly fork out more than 1,000 yuan($146) per kg each year for the authentic stuff.

中秋节日餐桌上的食物都是应季的，最受人们喜爱的当属大闸蟹，在秋季时大闸蟹个头最大，蟹黄最为肥美。在上海，人们只食用上等的阳澄湖大闸蟹，每年，美食家及阔绰的食客们为品尝最正宗的食材，不惜支付每千克1000多元的费用。

Moon cakes and crabs are not the only treats on the Mid-Autumn dining table. You also have thesweet pomelos.

中秋节的餐桌上不单单只有月饼和螃蟹。你还可以吃到蜜柚。

These huge citrus fruits are like gigantic grapefruits, but unlike pamplemousse, they are very sweetand the fruit sacs separate easily. They ripen about now and because they have beautifully goldenskin and a round rump, they are enjoyed for both their likeness to the lunar orb and their juicysweetness.

这种巨大的柑橘类水果很像大个头的西柚，但与其他柚子不同的是，它们的味道十分甜美，果肉粒粒分明。现在它们到了成熟的季节。金黄漂亮的果皮以及饱满圆润的曲线，蜜柚的外观像极了满月，果实又甜美多汁，这些都使它们颇受欢迎。

In the south, the taro harvest is ready. These are little yams, unlike the larger varieties and they aresimply boiled, peeled at table and dipped in caster sugar as a snack.

在南方，正值芋头丰收之际。芋头是一种小型薯类。不同于那些体形稍大的薯类，人们只是简单地将他们放在锅里煮熟，上桌后去皮，然后蘸着砂糖作为零食食用。

Another uniquely southern addition to the Mid-Autumn Festival is the strangely shaped watercaltrop.The fruit of an aquatic plant, they look like a black bull`s head with impressive horns. Thenut inside is snow-white a

nd when steamed and cracked is subtly sweet and quite delicious.

另一种南方独有的中秋美食就是形状古怪的菱角。一种水生植物的果实，看起来像一只长着骇人犄角的黑公牛的头部。里面的果仁呈雪白色，一旦蒸熟后，打开果壳，里面的果肉吃起来微甜，相当美味。 你OUT了吗？中秋吃月饼？

Pumpkin 南瓜

The tradition of eating pumpkin during the festival is followedby people living south of the Yangtze River. Poor families choseto eat pumpkin during the Mid-Autumn Festival in ancienttimes, as they couldn't afford mooncakes. The tradition hasbeen passed down, and eating pumpkin on the Mid-AutumnFestival night is believed to bring people good health. An interesting legend goes that: a very poorfamily: a couple with their daughter, lived at the foot of South Mountain. The old couples wereseriously sick for lack of food and clothes. The daughter found a oval-shaped melon one day whenshe was working in the fields on the South Mountain. She brought the melon home and cooked toserve to her dying parents. Surprisingly, her sick parents recovered after eating the melon.Because the melon was picked from the South Mountain, so it was named south melon ( theChinese name for pumpkin).

“八月半吃南瓜”的风俗是怎样来的呢？传说很久很久以前，南山脚住着一户穷苦人家，双亲年老，膝下只有一女，名叫黄花，美丽、聪明、善良、勤劳。那时连年灾荒，黄花的父母年老多病，加上缺衣少食，病在床上，奄奄一息。那天八月十五，黄花在南山杂草丛中，发现两只扁圆形野瓜。她采了回来，煮给父母吃。香喷喷、甜滋滋，两老吃了食欲大增，病体也好了。黄花姑娘就把瓜子种在地里，第二年果然生根发芽，长出许多圆圆的瓜来，因为这是从南山采来的，就叫南瓜。从此，每年八月十五那一天，江南家家户户流传着八月半吃老南瓜烧糯米饭的风俗。

River snails 田螺

Traditionally, river snails are an indispensable food for the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner forpeople in Guangzhou. River snails are usually cooked with medicinal herbs to dispel theirunpleasant odor. Eating river snails during the Mid-Autumn Festival is believed to help brighten theeyes.

清咸丰年间的《顺德县志》有记：“八月望日，尚芋食螺。”民间认为，中秋田螺，可以明目。中秋前后，是田螺空怀的时候，腹内无小螺，因此，肉质特别肥美。如今在广州，不少家庭在中秋期间都有炒田螺的习惯。通常，用中药材来去除田螺的异味。

Taro 芋头

Eating taro during the mid-autumn festival is believed to dispel to bad lack and bring good luckand wealth. The tradition began during the Qing Dynasty.

中秋食芋头，则寓意辟邪消灾，并有表示不信邪之意。清乾隆癸未年的《潮州府志》曰：“中秋玩月，剥芋头食之，谓之剥鬼皮。”剥鬼而食之，大有钟馗驱鬼的气概，可敬。

Drink wine fermented with osmanthus flower

桂花酒

Drinking wine fermented with osmanthus flowers has a long history in China. Chinese people beganto drink such wine over 2000 years ago. This wine may be preferred because the Mid-AutumnFestival is when the osmanthus flowers are in full bloom. Drinking the wine signifies family reunionsand a happy life.

中秋之夜，仰望着月中丹桂，闻着阵阵桂香，喝一杯桂花蜜酒，欢庆合家甜甜蜜蜜，已成为节日一种美的享受。桂花不仅可供观赏，而且还有食用价值。屈原的《九歌》中，便有“援骥斗兮酌桂浆”、“奠桂兮椒浆”的诗句。可见我国饮桂花酒的年代，已是相当久远了。

Duck 鸭子

People in East China’s Fujian Province have the tradition to cook duck with clocasia escalentaSchott, a kind of taro widely planted in the area during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Osmanthus Flowers Duck (salted and baked duck) is a must-eat food for people in East China’sJiangsu Province. This is the most famous dish of Nanjing, and has a history of over 2500 years.The dish features cris

p skin, tender meat and fat, but it is not greasy.

In West China’s Sichuan Province, people enjoy smoke baked duck. The prepared duck is put inthe baked censer and baked with smoke from flaming straw. The duck is cooked when it turnsbrown, and is then cooked with brine to add more flavor.

福建人有中秋吃鸭子的习俗，因此时正是鸭子最肥壮的季节。福建人用福建盛产的槟榔芋和鸭子一起烧，叫槟榔芋烧鸭，味道非常好。南京人中秋爱吃月饼外，必吃金陵名菜桂花鸭。“桂浆”，取名自屈原《楚辞·少司命》“援北方闭兮酌桂浆”。桂浆，一名糖桂花，中秋前后采摘，用糖及酸梅腌制而成。江南妇女手巧，把诗中的咏物变为桌上佳肴。四川人也在中秋节杀鸭子、吃麻饼、蜜饼等。在川西地区，烟熏鸭子是中秋节必备佳品

Happy Mid-autumn Festival 中秋快乐

Wish you and your family a happy Mid-autumn Festival

祝你和你的家人中秋快乐.

On the Mid-Autumn Day, may your life always be filled withhappy times and may all your wishes come true. Happy Mid-Autumn Day!

中秋佳节来临之际，愿你笑脸如鲜花常开！愿望个个如愿！中秋快乐！

Wish us a long life to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even thousands miles apart.

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟

A bright moon and stars twinkle and shine. Wishing you a merry mid-autumn day and a happy life. 皓月闪烁，星光闪耀，中秋佳节，美满快乐！

On the night of Mid-Autumn Day, a bright moon and shining stars bring my best wishes to you. .

中秋的夜晚我将明月和星星排成最美的祝福：中秋快乐！

Let the round moon accompany you and me. The bright moon will take my wishes and blessingsto you. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May the round moon bring you a happy family and asuccessful future.

让最圆的明月陪伴你和我，让明月传达我的心愿与祝福… 祝福中秋佳节快乐，月圆人圆事事圆满！

I am glad that you are with me on the full moon night. I want to whisper to you that Happy Mid-Autumn Day my dearest.

有月的夜晚，有你和我的夜晚，只想轻轻的向你道声，我的佳人祝你节日快乐！

No matter where you are from, regardless that we gather and leave, all those blessings are foreverlinked in my mind. I wish you success and only things beautiful!

无论天南海北，不论相聚与离别，有份祝福永远挂在我心中，祝你一切圆满美好！

The Mid-Autumn Day approaches. Although I am far from home, I have conviction in my mind. I wish my family happiness and blessings forever.

一年中秋又来到，远在他乡的我，心中只有一个信念－－祝家中的亲人们永远幸福安康！

The homesick feeling will be stronger during the traditional festival. I want to say that my heart will always be with you no matter where I am.

每逢佳节倍思亲，我想说，无论我身在何处，无论我人在何方，我的心永远和你们在一起！ The roundest moon can be seen in the autumn. It is time for reunions. I wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Day and a wonderful life.

月到是秋分外明，又是一年团圆日，祝你节日愉快，身体安康

Sweet cakes will be served with my blessings. Wish you a successful life and a bright future.

送上香甜的月饼，连同一颗祝福的心...愿你过的每一天都象十五的月亮一样成功 !

Wish you a perfect life just like the roundest moon in Mid-Autumn Day.

愿你的生活就象这十五的月亮一样，圆圆满满

Happy Mid-Autumn Day! Wish that you go well and have a successful and bright future.

中秋节快乐，万事如意，心想事成！

I want to make a toast. I Wish that the round moon take my best blessing to you. May you have a happy family and a bright future.

举杯仰天遥祝：月圆人圆花好，事顺业顺家兴。

I wish that your career and life, just like the round moon on Did-Autumn Day, be bright and perfect. 祝你的事业和生活像那中秋的圆月一样，亮亮堂堂，圆圆满满

On the night with blooming flowers and a full moon, I want to express my best wishes and blessings. May you have a sweet dream!

花好月圆人团圆，寄去相思和祝愿，幸福快乐好梦圆

The roundest moon can be seen on the Mid-Autumn Day. My dearest, I miss you so much. May the beautiful fairy bring my best wishes and blessings to you.

八月中秋月儿圆，对着嫦娥表思念，心中的人啊你可看见，嫦娥也在默默祝愿，愿你生活比蜜甜！ Tonight we start the season of white dew. The moon is just as bright as in my homeland. The round moon in the sky makes me feel homesick.

露从今夜白，月是故乡明。今夜月正圆，正是思乡时

Although I am not around you at this moment, my blessings and wishes will always be around you. Take care, my dearest.

虽然你我不能相聚，但我的思念和祝福伴随你走每一段路。亲爱的，保重！

I hope the round moon will bring my best wishes to you, my best friend.

月是中秋分外明，我把相思遥相寄！节日快乐，我的朋友

On this special day, I want to send you a light, faint scent to celebrate your colorful life. Happy Mid-Autumn Day, my best friend.

在这特别的日子里，送一份淡淡的清香，为你洒脱缤纷的祝福！远方的你，中秋节快乐！