Better known by its nickname of the Mooncake Festival, for millions of Chinese across Asia, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a big deal, second only to Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.
在亞洲各地的華人眼中,中秋節的重要性僅次于農歷春節。其“月餅節”的綽號更是廣為人知。
Throughout Asia, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in a variety of ways, with the releasing of sky lanterns, dragon dancing and the tradition of eating mooncakes. These small round-shaped cakes are everywhere, which are filled with everything from red bean paste, lotus seeds, almonds, egg yolk, minced meat to candied fruits.
在亞洲,每個家庭慶祝中秋的方式各有千秋,有放孔明燈的,有舞龍的,還有流傳已久的吃月餅的傳統。這種烘烤的小圓餅隨處可見,其餡料從紅豆沙、蓮子、杏仁、蛋黃、肉末、到果脯無所不包。
There are even hundreds of varieties of mooncakes found throughout cosmopolitan areas such as Hong Kong and Shanghai. Some families can even have mooncakes of black truffle, caviar and foie gras.
亞洲各地的月餅多達數百種,而類似香港和上海這種國際大都市,有的人家甚至能享用黑松露、魚子醬和鵝肝醬月餅。
中秋節是家人團聚相守的節日。慶祝活動往往從一桌特別的家宴開始,類似于西方的圣誕節或感恩節晚餐。用餐之后全家人一起外出活動,通常都會身著傳統服飾,讓自己置身于當地的節日氛圍中,觀賞舞蹈、音樂以及漂亮的燈會。
Each nation and region has its own special customs for moon worship with many traditional customs still going on and on.
每個國家和地區都有各自獨特的拜月風俗,許多地方特有的習俗仍影響連綿。
Most of all, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for families to reunite and spend time together. Celebrations start off with a special meal at home, like Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner in western countries. After the meal, everyone steps out together, often in traditional dress, to enjoy local festivities such as dancing, music and bright lantern displays.