A:Could you tell me something about the Mid-Autumn Festival? I find it also very interesting.
你能给我讲讲关于中秋节的事吗?我觉得它也很有趣。
B:OK. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is said that there is a beautiful goddess Chang'E on the moon who had eaten some sort of elixir and had to depart her husband. She is always expecting to see her husband again. So, later we have the traditional idea that when there is the full moon, it is time for the family members to come together.
好的。中秋节是农历的八月十五。据说有一位美丽的仙女名叫嫦娥,因为偷吃了长生不老药而不得不与她的丈夫分离,到了月球。她一直都在盼望能与丈夫重聚。所以后来我们就有了传统的概念:当出现满月时,就该是家人团聚的时候了。
A:So, I understand why people eat moon cakes on that day.
那我知道了,这就是人们在那天要吃月饼的原因。
B:You are right. In China, 'round' is an auspicious word. The moon cakes are in round shape.
你说得对。在中国,“圆”是个很吉利的字,所以月饼都是圆形的。
A:Is it official?
这个节日是不是法定假日?
B:It was not in the past. But from 2008, we can enjoy a three-day holiday for this festival.
原来不是。但是从2008年起,中秋节时人们可以享受三天的假期。