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端午节的“前世今生”
端午节，又称为五五节，因为端午节是在农历的五月五日，是三个重要的中国节庆之一，其它两个分别是中秋节和农历新年。
这个节日的由来是古代中国有一位博学多闻的官吏屈原，他是一位爱民而且又受到尊崇的官吏，但是由于一位充满嫉妒的官吏陷害，从此在朝廷中被皇帝所冷落。由于无法获得皇帝的重视，屈原在忧郁的情况下投汨罗江自尽。
由于对屈原的爱戴，汨罗江畔的居民匆忙的划船在江内寻找屈原，并且将米丢入汨罗江中，以平息汨罗江中的蛟龙。即使他们当时并没有找到屈原，但是他们的行为，直到今天在端午节的时候，仍然被人们传颂纪念着。
Officially on falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon
Boat Festival is also known as Double Fifth Day. While many stories regarding
its origin abound, the most popular and widely accepted version regards Qu Yuan,
a minister during the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC)
Legend of the Dragon Boat Festival's Origin
端午节起源的传说
At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the area we now know as China had fallen
into a state of fragmentation and conflict. While the Zhou dynasty had ruled for
several centuries, several other states, originally feudal domains, tried to
carve out their own kingdoms. The state of Qin would eventually emerge the
victor and unify all of China under one rule for the first time in history。
Qu Yuan served as minister to the Zhou Emperor. A wise and articulate man,
he was loved by the common people. He did much to fight against the rampant
corruption that plagued the court-- thereby earning the envy and fear of other
officials. Therefore, when he urged the emperor to avoid conflict with the Qin
Kingdom, the officials pressured the Emperor to have him removed from service.
In exile, he traveled, taught and wrote for several years. Hearing that the Zhou
had been defeated by the Qin, he fell into despair and threw himself into the
Milou River. His last poem reads:
Many a heavy sigh I have in my despair, Grieving that I was born in such an
unlucky time. I yoked a team of jade dragons to a phoenix chariot, And waited
for the wind to come, to sour up on my journey As he was so loved by the people,
fishermen rushed out in long boats, beating drums to scare the fish away, and
throwing zong zi into the water to feed braver fish so that they would not eat
Qu Yuan's body。
The Modern Dragon Boat Festival
现代端午节
Starting from that time to this day, people commemorate Qu Yuan through
Dragon Boat Races, eating zong zi, and several other activities, on the
anniversary of his death: the fifth day of the fifth lunar month。
Dragon Boat races are the most exciting part of the festival, drawing
crowds of spectators. Dragon Boats are generally brightly painted and decorated
canoes. Ranging anywhere from 40 to 100 feet in length, their heads are shaped
like open-mouthed dragons, while the sterns end with a scaly tail. Depending on
the length, up to 80 rowers can power the boat. A drummer and flag-catcher stand
at the front of the boat. Before a dragon boat enters competition, it must be
"brought to life" by painting the eyes in a sacred ceremony. Races can have any
number of boats competing, with the winner being the first team to grab a flag
at the end of the course. Annual races take place all over China, Hong Kong,
Macao, Taiwan, and other overseas Chinese communities。
Zong Zi
粽子
The traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival, Zong zi is a glutinous
rice ball, with a filling, wrapped in corn leaves. The fillings can be egg,
beans, dates, fruits, sweet potato, walnuts, mushrooms, meat, or a combination
of them. They are generally steamed。
Talisman and Charms
符咒
Another aspect of the Double Fifth Day is the timing: at the beginning of
summer, when diseases are likely to strike, people also wear talisman to fend
off evil spirits. They may hang the picture of Zhong Kui, guardian against evil
spirits, on the door of their homes, as well. Adults may drink Xiong Huang Wine,
and children carry fragrant silk pouches, all of which can prevent evil. It is
said that if you can balance a raw egg on its end at exactly noon on Double
Fifth Day, the rest of the year will be lucky。 |
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发表于 2016-7-10 17:31:11