中国四大传统节日英文介绍

中国四大传统节日：春节，中秋节，端午节，清明节元宵节TheLanternFestival(元宵节)isthelastdayoftheChineseNewYearcelebration.Thisdayisforthelastmomentforsettingofffireworks,thelastexcuseforeatingabigfeastandthelastchanceforfamilygettingtogetherbeforethe“年”celebrationsareover.(LaternFestivalisalsoatraditionaltimeofcelebrationforforeignerswholiveinChina).TheLanternFestival,the15thofthefirstmonthofthelunarcalendar,isthefirstfullmoonoftheyear.CelebrationsandtraditionsonthisdaydatebacktotheWesternHanDynasty.Traditionsforthisfestival:asthenameindicates,hangingandlookingatlanternsisthemaintradition.Lanternsofvariousshapesandsizesaredisplayedontrees,oralongriverbanks.ParentsoftentaketheirchildrentoLanternFairsandsometimesluckykidsevengetaminitoylantern.Anothertraditionisguessinglanternriddles.Theseareriddlesthatarehungonlanternsforpeopletoshootdownandsolve.Theriddlesareusuallyshort,wise,andsometimeshumorous.TheanswertoariddlecanbeaChinesecharacter,afamousperson'sname,aplacenameoraproverb.Thistraditionhasbecomeapopulargamewithseriousstayingpowerevenassocialdevelopmentchangesothertraditions.Otherthanthat,themostimportantthingtodotodayistoeatsweetdumplings.InnorthernChina,sweetdumplingsmadeofglutinousriceflourarecalled“元宵”whileinsouthernparttheyarecalled“汤圆”.Typicalsweetdumplingsarefilledwithblacksesamesauce,sweetenedbeanpaste,orhawthorn.Making“元宵”todayislikeagameoranactivity,soit'sseldomdonewithoutareasonandagroupoffriendsorfamilypresenttohelpout.端午节TheDragonBoatFestival,alsocalledtheDuanwuFestival,iscelebratedonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthaccordingtotheChinesecalendar.Forthousandsofyears,thefestivalhasbeenmarkedbyeatingzongzi(glutinousrice（糯米）wrappedtoformapyramidusingbambooorreedleaves)andracingdragonboats.Thefestivalisbestknownforitsdragon-boatraces,especiallyinthesouthernprovinceswheretherearemanyriversandlakes.Thisregatta（赛舟会）commemoratesthedeathofQuYuan,anhonestministerwhoissaidtohavecommittedsuicidebydrowninghimselfinariver.QuwasaministeroftheStateofChusituatedinpresent-dayHunanandHubeiprovinces,duringtheWarringStatesPeriod(475-221BC)（战国时期）.Hewasupright,loyalandhighlyesteemedforhiswisecounselthatbroughtpeaceandprosperitytothestate.However,whenadishonestandcorruptprincevilifiedQu,hewasdisgracedanddismissedfromoffice.Realizingthatthecountrywasnowinthehandsofevilandcorruptofficials,QugrabbedalargestoneandleaptintotheMiluoRiveronthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.Nearbyfishermenrushedovertotryandsavehimbutwereunabletoevenrecoverhisbody.Thereafter,thestatedeclinedandwaseventuallyconqueredbytheStateofQin.ThepeopleofChuwhomournedthedeathofQuthrewriceintotherivertofeedhisghosteveryyearonthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.Butoneyear,thespiritofQuappearedandtoldthemournersthatahugereptile（爬行动物）intheriverhadstolentherice.Thespiritthenadvisedthemtowrapthericeinsilkandbinditwithfivedifferent-coloredthreadsbeforetossingitintotheriver.DuringtheDuanwuFestival,aglutinousricepuddingcalledzongziiseatentosymbolizethericeofferingstoQu.Ingredientssuchasbeans,lotusseeds（莲子）,chestnuts（栗子）,porkfatandthegoldenyolkofasaltedduckeggareoftenaddedtotheglutinousrice.Thepuddingisthenwrappedwithbambooleaves,boundwithakindofraffiaandboiledinsaltwaterforhours.Thedragon-boatracessymbolizethemanyattemptstorescueandrecoverQu'sbody.Atypicaldragonboatrangesfrom50-100feetinlength,withabeamofabout5.5feet,accommodatingtwopaddlersseatedsidebyside.Awoodendragonheadisattachedatthebow,andadragontailatthestern（船尾）.Abannerhoistedonapoleisalsofastenedatthesternandthehullisdecoratedwithred,greenandbluescalesedgedingold.Inthecenteroftheboatisacanopiedshrinebehindwhichthedrummers,gong（铜锣）beatersandcymbal（铙钹）playersareseatedtosetthepaceforthepaddlers.Therearealsomenpositionedatthebowtosetofffirecrackers,tossriceintothewaterandpretendtobelookingforQu.Allofthenoiseandpageantrycreatesanatmosphereofgaietyandexcitementfortheparticipantsandspectatorsalike.Theracesareheldamongdifferentclans,villagesandorganizations,andthewinnersareawardedmedals,banners,jugsofwineandfestivemeals.清明节QingMingisatimetorememberthedeadandthedearlydeparted.Moreimportant,itisaperiodtohonourandtopayrespecttoone'sdeceasedancestorsandfamilymembers.Becauseitreinforcestheethicoffilialpiety,QingMingisamajorChinesefestival.Literallymeaningclear(Qing)andbright(Ming),thisChinesefestivalfallsinearlyspring,onthe106thdayafterthewintersolstice.Itisaspringfestival,anditisanoccasionforthewholefamilytoleavethehomeandtosweepthegravesoftheirforebears.Chinesebeingpracticalpeoplethissweepingofthegravesisgivenanextendedperiod,thatis,10daysbeforeandafterQingMingday.Amongsomedialectgroupsawholemonthisallocated.清明节是一个纪念祖先的节日。主要的纪念仪式是扫墓，扫墓是慎终追远、郭亲睦邻及行孝的具体表现；基于上述意义，清明节因此成为华人的重要节日。清明节是在仲春和暮春之交，也就是冬至后的106天。扫墓活动通常是在清明节的前十天或后十天。有些地域的人士的扫墓活动长达一个月。ORIGIN（起源）QingMingispopularlyassociatedwithJieZiZhui,wholivedinShanxiprovincein600B.C.LegendhasitthatJiesavedhisstarvinglord'slifebyservingapieceofhisownleg.Whenthelordsucceededinbecomingtherulerofasmallprincipality,heinvitedhisfaithfulfollowertojoinhim.However,Jiedeclinedhisinvitation,preferringtoleadahermit'slifewithhismotherinthem