QiXiFestifalAndValentine’sDayFestivalQiXiFestifalfallsontheseventhdayoftheseventhmonthofthelunarcalendar.InChina,thisdayisalsoknownasTheBeggingFestival.七夕节在农历的七月七日,在中国,这一天又叫做“乞巧节”。Origin:RomanticlegendLong,longago,therewasanhonestandkind-heartedfellownamedNiuLang.Hisparentsdiedwhenhewasachild.Hewasbroughtupbyhisbrother.Laterhewasdrivenoutofhishomebyhissister-in-law.Sohelivedbyhimselfherdingcattleandfarming.很久很久以前,有一个诚实善良的男孩叫牛郎。他的父母他很小的时候就去世了。他的哥哥把他抚养长大,之后他被他的嫂子赶出家门。所以他靠放牧和种地生存。Oneday,afairyfromheavenZhiNvfellinlovewithhimandcamedownsecretly(偷偷地)toearthandmarriedhim.NiuLangfarmedinthefieldandZhiNvwoveathome.Theylivedahappylifeandgavebirthtoaboyandagirl.一天,一个来自天庭叫织女的仙女对他一见钟情并和他结婚了。牛郎在田里耕作,织女在家里织布。他们生了一对可爱的儿女,过着幸福的生活。Unfortunately(不幸的),theGodofHeavensoonfoundoutthefactandorderedtheQueenMotheroftheWesternHeavenstobringZhiNvback.Withthehelpofcattle,NiuLangflewtoheavenwithhissonanddaughter.Atthetimewhenhewasabouttocatchupwithhiswife,theQueenMothertookoffoneofhergoldhairpinsandmadeastroke.然而好景不长,天庭发现了他们并命令王母把织女带回天庭。在牛的帮助下,牛郎带着他的儿女飞向天庭。在他快要见到妻子的时候,王母用金簪划了一条线。Onebillowyriverappeared(出现)infrontofNiuLang.NiuLangandZhiNvwereseparated(分开)onthetwobanksforeverandcouldonlyfeeltheirtears.一条银河出现在牛郎面前。就这样,牛郎和织女被这条银河永远的分隔在两边,只能含泪相望。Theirloyalty(忠诚)tolovetouchedmagpies,sotensofthousandsofmagpiescametobuildabridgeforNiuLangandZhiNvtomeeteachother.TheQueenMotherwaseventually(终于)movedandallowedthemtomeeteachyearonthe7thofthe7thlunarmonth.HencetheirmeetingdatehasbeencalledQiXi.他们俩忠贞的爱情感动了喜鹊,所以成千上万的的喜鹊为他俩见面搭建了一座鹊桥。王母最终也被感动允许他们在每年农历的七月七日见面。因此他们见面的日子叫做“七夕”Evolution——CustomIntheevening,peoplesitoutdoorstoobservethestars.Chinesegrannieswouldsaythat,ifyoustandunderagrapevine,youcanprobably(也许)overhearwhatZhiNvandNiuLangaretalkingabout.Onthisnight,womenwearQiqiaoneedlesandpray(祷告)blessingactivities,displayvarious(各种各样的)furnitures(家具),appliances(用具).在当天傍晚,人们会坐在门外乘凉观星。老人们会说,如果你坐在葡萄藤下,你可以听到牛郎织女在说悄悄话。在这一天晚上,妇女们穿针乞巧,祈祷祝福的活动,陈列各式家具、用具。Onthatnight,unmarriedgirlsprayed(祷告)totheWeavingMaidstarforthespecialgift.WhenthestarVegawashighupinthesky,girlsperformedasmalltestbyplacinganeedleonthewater‘ssurface:Iftheneedledidnotsink,thegirlwasconsidered(考虑)tobereadytofindahusband.Onceayear,onthisday,girlscouldwishforanythingtheirheartsdesired.七夕之夜,未婚女子通常会向织女星乞巧,也会乞求姻缘。她们将一根针放在水面上,倘若针不下沉的话,她们就能得偿所愿。据说这一晚女孩子们能祈求任何心愿成真。NowadaysTodaysometraditionalcustomsarestillobservedinruralareasofChina,buthavebeenweakened(虚弱的)ordiluted(稀释)inurbancities.Inrecentyears,inparticularly(尤其),urbanyouthshavecelebrateditasValentine’sDayinChina.ThebusinessmenpushValentine’sDayforprofitssothatitismorepopularthanQiXi.今天一些传统的习俗仍然在中国的农村地区流传,但在城市被削弱或稀释了。特别是近年来,城市年轻人庆祝西方情人节。商人为盈利推行西方情人节,因此西方情人节比七夕更流行。NowadaysmoreandmoreChinesepeopleliketoobserve(庆祝)Valentine’sDay.However,thelegend(传说)ofNiuLangandZhiNvhastakenrootintheheartsofthepeople.Manycouplesbreakupbecauseofaquarrelandthedivorce(离婚)rateisincreasing(增进),sopeoplehopetoowntheloyal(忠诚的)love.现在越来越多的中国人喜欢过西方情人节,然而牛郎织女的传说在人民心中深深地扎了根,许多情侣因为吵架而分手并且离婚率越来越高,所以人们希望拥有像他们一样的爱情。1,WhenisQiXiFestival?七夕在什么时候?2,Alsoknownaswhatfestival?七夕又叫什么?3,Whoarethemaincharactersinthestory?谁是故事的主角?4,WhatdopeopledoatQiXiFestival?人们在七夕做什么?5,WhatotherChinesefestivalsdoyouknow?你还知道什么中国传统节日吗?