2006年5月20日，七夕節(jié)被國務(wù)院列入第一批國家非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)名錄?，F(xiàn)在又被認(rèn)為是“中國情人節(jié)”。我們應(yīng)該如何向外國友人介紹這么一個既重要又浪漫的中國傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日呢？現(xiàn)在就一起來學(xué)習(xí)下吧。

七夕節(jié)在農(nóng)歷七月初七。

The Qixi Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

這個節(jié)日是為慶祝牛郎織女每年一度的相會。

The festival celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl.

七夕在中國就相當(dāng)于西方的情人節(jié)。

The Qixi Festival is to China what Valentine’s Day is to the West.

牛郎是個善良的牧牛人。

Niulang was a cowherd with a kind heart.

他和哥嫂住在一起，但他們待他不好還把他趕出了家門。

He lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law， but they treated him badly and threw him out.

一天，一位“老者”把牛郎引至一頭來自天庭的病牛處。

One day， an “old man” guided him to a sick ox from Heaven.

牛郎悉心照料公牛，它很快就恢復(fù)健康了。

Niulang cared for the ox， and soon it recovered.

牛把牛郎介紹給來自天庭的仙女——織女。

The ox introduced Niulang to a fairy from Heaven—Zhinü.

他倆相愛并結(jié)了婚，有了兩個小孩，過著幸福的生活。

The two fell in love， were married， and had a happy life with two children.

但是玉皇大帝知道了織女的事情，把她召回天庭。

But the King of Heaven heard of Zhinü’s deeds and called her back to Heaven.

牛也把牛郎和兩個孩子送上天去追隨他的妻子，孩子的母親。

The ox flew Niulang and the two children to Heaven as well， to chase their wife and mother.

他們因此被銀河分隔兩岸。

And so they were 1）banished to opposite sides of the Silver River—the Milky Way.

一群喜鵲搭成橋讓這對愛人重聚一天。

A flock of 2）magpies forms a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day.

但當(dāng)他們快要追上的時候，王母娘娘在牛郎和織女之間劃下了一條河。

But just before they caught her， the Queen of Heaven created a river between them.

王母娘娘允許他們每年見一次面。

The Queen allows them to meet once a year.

依據(jù)傳統(tǒng)，許多女孩會向織女祈求熟練的縫紉編織手藝。

Traditionally， many girls pray to Zhinü for a skillful hand in sewing or weaving.

她們也會祈求牛郎織女般的愛情！

They also pray for a love like Zhinü and Niulang’s！