Monthly Archives: February 2010
元宵节的起源及习俗
The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao. The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon. So the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China.
According to the Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate. At this time, people will try to solve the puzzles on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball) and get all their families united in the joyful atmosphere.
元宵节正月十五吃元宵的的习俗由来已久，元宵也叫“汤圆”、“圆子”。据说元宵象征合家团圆，吃元宵意味新的一年合家幸福、万事如意。
元宵节闹花灯的习俗起源于道教的“三元说”；正月十五日为上元节，七月十五日为中元节，十月十五日为下元节。主管上、中、下三元的分别为天、地、人三官，天官喜乐，故上元节要燃灯。元宵节的节期与节俗活动，是随历史的发展而延长、扩展的。就节期长短而言，汉代才一天，到唐代已为三天，宋代则长达五天，明代更是自初八点灯，一直到正月十七的夜里才落灯，整整十天。与春节相接，白昼为市，热闹非凡，夜间燃灯，蔚为壮观。特别是那精巧、多彩的灯火，更使其成为春节期间娱乐活动的高潮。至清代，又增加了舞龙、舞狮、跑旱船、踩高跷、扭秧歌等“百戏”内容，只是节期缩短为四到五天。 Continue reading
Half a Day 半日
Half a Day– Naguib Mahfous (埃及作家)
I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.
走在父亲身边，紧紧攀着他的右手。身上的衣裳全是崭新的：黑色的小皮鞋，绿色的校服，还有红色的帽子。这一切丝毫不能使我开心起来，因为，这是我被扔进学校的第 一天。
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英语成语故事：拔苗助长
To Pull up the Seedlings to Help Them Grow 拨苗助长
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冰壶姑娘摘铜不易–泪洒温哥华
当地时间2月26日，2010年温哥华冬奥会女子冰壶铜牌争夺战在温哥华奥林匹克中心结束，中国队12:6战胜瑞士队夺得铜牌。
第一次参加冬奥会的中国女子冰壶队今天在铜牌争夺战中以12比6逼使两届奥运会银牌得主瑞士队提前两局认输，加拿大籍主教练丹尼尔抑制不住内心的激动，赛后与球员们紧紧拥抱，一起流下了激动的泪水。