Saint Valentine's Day全英文版
七夕情人节
The Chinese Valentine’s Day
姓名：李孟 班级：13 学号：[**************]
七夕情人节指的是农历七月的第七个夜晚，这个节日是汉代传统的民间节日。七夕的晚上不仅仅是传说中的“牛郎”和“织女”一年一度相会的夜晚，同时也是为编制姑娘们祈求心灵手巧的好机会。因此，七夕节又叫“乞巧节”，“女儿节”。尽管七夕节不如其它节日那般流行，但是在中国，男女老少都对节日背后的故事相当熟悉。
The Double Seventh Festival refers to the seventh night of the seventh lunar month. It is a traditional folk festival of the Han people. This night is not only the time when the legendary Cowherd and the Girl Weaver are supposed to have an annual meeting, but also a good opportunity for women to pray for the Girl Weaver for the purpose of seeking dexterity. Therefore, this festival is also named “Maiden ’s Day”, “ Daughter ’s Day”. The day is not as well-known as many other Chinese festivals. But almost everyone in China, young or old, is very familiar with the story behind it.
七夕节的传说
The legend of the Chinese valentine's day
很久以前，有一个放牛娃名叫牛郎，父母早亡，只好跟着哥哥嫂嫂度日。然而，哥哥嫂子为人狠毒，经常虐待他。他们逼牛郎干苦活，不让他吃饱睡好，最后又把他赶出了家门，牛郎除了身上的衣服和一头老水牛外，一无所有。
Once upon a time, there lived a poor cowherd, Niu Lang, whose parents had died long before. He had to live together with his elder brother. Unfortunately, his brother and his sister-in -law were very mean and often treated any very badly. They would not give him enough food to eat, and made him work so hard that he hardly had time to sleep. Finally, they kicked him of their home. All he had in the world were the clothes on his back and an old ox.
牛郎在山边搭了间茅草屋，辛勤开垦，在岩石地上挖出了一片菜园，他常常饥肠辘辘，劳累不堪，但把老水牛照顾得好好的。一日，牛突然说话了，它告诉牛郎说自己前身是天上的金牛星，由于违反了天条把粮食种子撒到了人间，天帝将它贬到人间以示惩罚。老牛说，过几天，天上的仙女会下凡到离茅草屋不远的圣池里游泳，其中有一个勤劳善良、美丽贤惠的姑娘，名叫织女。织女是天宫中王母娘娘的外孙女，如果牛郎能趁仙女洗澡的时候把织女的衣服拿走，她就会留下来作他的妻子。
Niu Lang built a small thatched cottage on the side of a mountain. He cut and dug and sweat until he had made a vegetable garden out of the rocky soil. He was
often tired and hungry, but always found time to take good care of his old ox. One day, the old ox suddenly began to speak to him. It said that it used to be Taurus, the Golden-Ox Star, in the sky and had been banished by the Lord of Heaven to this world as punishment for its violation of heavenly rule by spreading grain seeds to this world. The old ox told Niu Lang that the goddesses of Heaven would take a bath in a sacred pond not far from his cottage a few days later. Among them was a beautiful, virtuous and industrious girl whose name is Zhi Nv, the Girl Weaver. Zhi Nv was a granddaughter of the King of the Heavenly Kingdom. If the Cowherd took the advantage of their bath in the pond to take away her clothes, she would stay and become his wife.
到了那天，牛郎藏在高大的芦苇丛里等着。老牛说的话显灵了，仙女们很快就到了，她们脱掉丝袍跳进水里。牛郎偷偷地爬出来，拿起织女的衣服跑开了。仙女们吓着了，赶快上岸，穿起衣服跑开了，把织女一个人留在后头。牛郎跑回来，把衣服还给了织女，他对织女一见钟情。两人相对而视，织女对牛郎说要做他的妻子。
When the day came, Niu Lang hid in the tall reeds by the pond and waited for the young goddesses. They soon came, just as the ox said they would. They took off their silk robes and jumped into the clear water. Niu Lang crept out of his hiding place, picked up Zhi Nv’s clothes and ran away. Her companions were so frightened that they jumped out , dressed as quickly as they could and flew away, leaving the Girl Weaver behind. Niu Lang returned and gave her back her clothes. He had adored her from the first sight he saw her. They looked into each other’s eyes. The Girle Weaver told the poor Cowherd that she would be his wife.
两人结婚后，牛郎耕田种地，织女纺线织衣，恩恩爱爱。织女成了远近的名人，她心灵手巧，养蚕纺纱，编锦织缎，样样精通。三年后，侄女生了对龙凤胎，男孩儿叫“金哥”，女孩儿叫“玉妹”。小两口日子过得幸福美满，牛郎织女满以为能够终身相守，白头到老。
After their marriage, the Cowherd ploughed and the Girl Weaver wove and they loved each other. The Girl Weaver became famous far and near for her dexterity in raising silkworms, reeling and weaving exquisite silks and satins. Three years later, Zhi Nv gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. They named the boy “ Brother Gold ” and the girl“Sister Jade”. The couple were overjoyed with the additions to their family and believed that they would remain a devoted couple to the end of their lives.
一天，牛快死了，临死前说对小两口说，将它的皮剥下来放好，有朝一日，披上它，就可飞上天去。牛死后，牛郎心疼地剥下牛皮，小心翼翼地收藏起来。
One day, the ox was dying. Before it closed its eyes for the last time, it told the young couple to skin him and keep its hide after its death. It also told them that its hide would enable a man to fly even to Heaven. After the old ox died, the young couple reluctantly skinned it and stored it with meticulous care.
这时候，玉皇大帝和王母娘娘听说孙女到了人间，还结婚生子，非常生气，遂下令天神尽快把织女捉回来。
Meanwhile, the King and Queen of Heaven found out that their granddaughter had gone to the world of Man and taken a husband. They flew into a temper. They ordered a god to bring the Girl Weaver back as soon as possible.
一日，牛郎从地里回来看见孩子们坐在地上哭，忙到织布机前看，没人。孩子说，有个老太太把妈妈抓走了。牛郎记起了老牛对他说的话，他把孩子放到两个箩筐里，披上牛皮，挑起箩筐，突然，他轻如浮云，飞向天空。眼看快追上了，王母娘娘听到了小孩的哭声，她朝后一望，从头上取下金簪，在身后划了一道，天空中立马出现一条奔腾的河，这条河就叫天河。天河太宽，河水湍急，牛郎飞不过去，只能看着织女飞走，父子三人哭得揪心裂胆，天帝见此情景，大为感动，遂允许牛郎织女每年农历七月初七在天河上鹊桥相会。
Niu Lang came back from the field one day to find his two children sitting on the ground and crying. He found the seat at the loom empty. The two children told him that an old lady had just taken their mother away. Niu Lang remembered what the old ox had told him, he carried his two children in two baskets on a pole and put on the magic hide. Immediately, he got as light as a cloud and flew up into the sky. He had almost caught up with the Queen and his wife when the Queen heard the crying of his children. Looking back, she pulled off a gold clasp from her hair and drew a line behind her. A raging torrent immediately appeared in the sky. This is the so-called River of Heaven. The Cowherd and his children could not get past this wide and swollen river. Heartbroken, he and his children could only look and weep bitterly. Moved by their mournful crying, the King of Heaven decided to allow the separated couple to meet on a bridge of magpies on the seventh night of the seventh Lunar month each year.
这对可怜的夫妻变成了星星，牛郎变成了牵牛星，织女成了织女星，把他们分开的河就是银河。
The poor couple each became a star, the Cowherd, Altair and the Girl Wever, Vega. The wide river that kept them apart is known as the Milky Way.
这个悲楚动人的故事一代代相传。据说，七月初七那天，喜鹊很少，因为他们都要飞到银河上为牛郎织女搭起约会的桥。由于牛郎和织女在上面站的时间太长了，次日，这些忠实的喜鹊头都变秃了。
This sad love story has passed from generation to generation. It is well known that very few magpies are seen on the Double-Seventh Day. This is because they all fly to the Milky Way to form a bridge for the meeting of the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver. And the next day the magpies’ heads are bald because the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver walked and stood too long on the heads of their loyal feathered friends.
在中国，许多人把“七夕节”当成本族的情人节。
The Double-Seventh Day in China is considered by many the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
七夕乞巧，这个节日起源于汉代，东晋葛洪的《西京杂记》有“汉彩女常以七月七日穿七孔针于开襟楼，人俱习之”的记载，这便是我们于古代文献中所见到的最早的关于乞巧的记载。后来的唐宋诗词中，妇女乞巧也被屡屡提及，唐朝王建有诗说“阑珊星斗缀珠光，七夕宫娥乞巧忙”。据《开元天宝遗事》载：唐太宗与妃子每逢七夕在清宫夜宴，宫女们各自乞巧，这一习俗在民间也经久不衰，代代延续。
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 banquet of 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.
直到今日，七夕仍是一个富有浪漫色彩传统节日。但不少习俗活动已弱化或消失，惟有象征忠贞爱情的牛郎织女的传说，一直流传民间。
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 Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people.
A Well-known poem
我们熟知的一首诗歌鹊桥仙
鹊桥仙
宋·秦观
纤云弄巧
飞星传恨
银汉迢迢暗度
金风玉露一相逢
便胜却人间无数
柔情似水
佳期如梦
忍顾鹊桥归路
两情若是久长时
又岂在朝朝暮暮
One of the most famous poems about the legend was written by Qin Guan of in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge
by Qin Guan
Among the beautiful clouds,
Over the heavenly river,
Crosses the weaving maiden.
A night of rendezvous,
Across the autumn sky.
Surpasses joy on earth.
Moments of tender love and dream,
So sad to leave the magpie bridge.
Eternal love between us two,
Shall withstand the time apart.
《鹊桥仙》原是为咏牛郎、织女的爱情故事而创作的乐曲。本词的内容也正是咏此神话。 "Magpie Fairies" was a music created originally to extol Niu Lang and Zhi Nv ’s love story. The contents of this poem is also chant this myth.
借牛郎织女的故事，以超人间的方式表现人间的悲欢离合，古已有之，如《古诗十九首》中的“迢迢牵牛星”，曹丕的《燕歌行》，李商隐的《辛未七夕》等等。宋代的欧阳修、柳永、苏轼、张先等人也曾吟咏这一题材，虽然遣辞造句各异，却都因袭了“欢娱苦短”的传统主题，格调哀婉、凄楚。相形之下，秦观此词堪称独出机杼，立意高远。 The mean of using the story of Niu Lang and Zhi Nv to show human ’s joys and sorrows existed since ancient times. Ou Yangxiu, Liu Yong and Su Shi, Zhang Xian in Song Dynasty, who also chant this theme. Though diction and syntax are different, they all had inherited a "pleasure too short" traditional themes . In contrast, Qin ’s poem is of great significance and meaning with distinct characteristics.
上片写佳期相会的盛况，“织云弄巧”二句为牛郎织女每年一度的聚会渲染气氛，用墨经济，笔触轻盈。“银汉”句写牛郎织女渡河赴会推进情节。“金风玉露”二句由叙述转为议论，表达作者的爱情理想：他们虽然难得见面，却心心相印、息息相通，而一旦得以聚会，在那清凉的秋风白露中，他们对诉衷肠，互吐心音，是那样富有诗情画意！这岂不远远胜过尘世间那些长相厮守却貌合神离的夫妻？ 下片则是写依依惜别之情。“柔情似水”，就眼前取景，形容牛郎织女缠绵此情，犹如天河中的悠悠流水。“佳期如梦”，既点出了欢会的短暂，又真实地揭示了他们久别重逢后那种如梦似幻的心境。“忍顾鹊桥归路”，写牛郎织女临别前的依恋与怅惘。不说“忍踏”而说“忍顾”，意思更为深曲：看犹未忍，遑论其他？“两情若是”二句对牛郎织女致以深情的慰勉：只要两情至死不渝，又何必贪求卿卿我我的朝欢暮乐？这一惊世骇俗、震聋发聩之笔，使全词升华到新的思想高度。 显然，作者否定的是朝欢暮乐的庸俗生活，歌颂的是天长地久的忠贞爱情。在他的精心提炼和巧妙构思下，古老的题材化为闪光的笔墨，迸发出耀眼的思想火花，从而使所有平庸的言情之作黯然失色。 Obviously, Qin are negative towards vulgar life, praise forever loyal love. His carefully refined and ingenious idea, the ancient theme into flash pen and ink, burst out of dazzling spark of thought, so that all a mediocre romance for eclipsed.
这首词将抒情、写景、议论融为一体。意境新颖，设想奇巧，独辟蹊径。写得自然流畅而又婉约蕴藉，余味隽永。
与西方传说中的爱情故事相比，牛朗和织女的故事似乎不强烈或充满激情。爱并不消除或破坏他们之间的障碍。他们只是在河岸上耐心等待，相信他们的爱情能承受他们分开的时间。 Compared with love stories in Western legends, the story of Niu Lang and Zhi Nv seems not as intense or passionate. Love doesn't kill or break up the barrier between them. They just wait patiently on the riverbank, believing that their love can withstand their time apart.
这是信仰和情感联系，而不是身体的吸引力和愿望，在许多其他中国民间故事，关于爱情的故事，都强调这一点。
只有少数的中国民间爱情故事，可以发现男女主人公的外观的描述。
It is faith and emotional liaison instead of physical attraction and desire that is emphasized in the story as well as in many other Chinese folktales about love.
In only a few Chinese folk love stories can be found a description of the physical appearances of the hero and heroine.
在“梁山伯与祝英台”故事中，女主角打扮成一个男孩上学并且爱上一个同学。之后，他们以同学关系一起生活了多年，男主角没有丝毫发现他最好的朋友其实是一个女孩！
In the "Butterfly Lovers", the heroine, dressed as a boy to attend school, falls in love with a classmate. After they have lived together as classmates for years, the hero did not have the slightest clue that his best friend is actually a girl!
Chinese Ceremonies 七夕节习俗及影响
农历七月初七是中国关于爱情的农历节日
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the only Chinese festival devoted to love in the Lunar calendar. 现在，一些传统习俗仍然在中国农村保留，但在城市已经渐渐被人们遗忘。近年来，一些城市的年轻人也开始庆祝七夕节，
Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. In recent years, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China.
Folk Customs on the Double Seventh Day
1.Ingenuity test by floating needle（投针验巧） 投针验巧是一种常见的节日习俗。放一些水在容器中，并把它留在露天，直到它是覆盖了一层灰尘。然后蒙上了针状或薄的稻草上看到这个模式的影子在底部，从而为测试自己的聪明才智。
2.Pleading for Skills by Threading a Needle(穿针乞巧) 为了恳求技能，穿针乞巧是最长期的方法。它测试的速度在月光下穿针。这是说，在比赛中所用的针的汉代七孔针或9尾针的元代。随着越来越多的孔比普通针，也相当难以处理。
3.Cobweb as the Determinant（喜蛛应巧）
恳求织布技能是另一种常见的在节日的习俗，大家把一只蜘蛛到一个小盒，等待，直到第二天早上，看是否有蜘蛛网，如果有的话，它看如何起来。 用最圆最网状蛛网之一将是赢家。
Pleading for skills with cobweb is another common custom in the festival, in which everybody puts a spider into a locket and waits until the next morning to see if there is cobweb and if any, how it looks.
The one with a most round cobweb of the most mesh will be the winner.4.Qiaoguo(巧果)
Qiaoguo （Fried Thin Pastes）is in different shapes with the materials mostly being oil, flour, sugar and honey.
The deft hands will nip them into all shapes related to the legend of the Festival.
The melons and fruits used on the day are usually carved into the shapes of flowers and birds, or carved with patterns in relief on the melon peel, which are therefore called “carved melons”
巧果有不同的形状，材料大多是油，面粉，糖和蜂蜜。 灵巧的双手将把它们做成各种形状节也与这一传说有关。
当天使用的瓜果，通常被雕刻成花鸟。
5.Others
中国的女孩会在七夕节那天准备水果，甜瓜和熏香供奉给织女，祈祷获得天衣无缝的裁缝技巧，找到一位心满意足的老公。
Unlike St. Valentine''s Day in Western countries there is not so much emphasis on giving chocolates, flowers and kisses. Instead, Chinese girls prepare fruits, melons and incense as offerings to Zhi Nv, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands. 到了那天晚上，人们坐在户外观察星星。外婆和奶奶就会告诉你，如果你站在一个葡萄藤下，你或许可以偷听牛郎织女谈话的内容。 In the evening, people sit outdoors to observe the stars. Chinese grannies would say that, if you stand under a grapevine, you can probably overhear what Zhi Nv and Niu Lang are talking about.