Dragon Boat Festival
端午節
Several thousand years ago, densely weedy lakes and hosts of poisonous snakes and insects characterize the south of China. But people born and brought up in this Yangtze River area had also built up a rich store of culture. And from these different cultural patterns, evolved many of the folk customs associated with the Dragon Boat Festival.
數千年前，雜草叢生的湖泊以及一大堆的毒蛇和毒蟲代表著中國南方的特色。但在這揚子江(長江)流域出生成長的人們也已建立起非常豐富的文化。從這些不同的文化模式中，發展出很多和端午節有關的民間習俗。
By two thousand five hundred years ago, the Dragon Boat Festival had gradually become one of China's traditional festivals, held each May the fifth, according to the lunar calendar. The Dragon Boat Festival is popular amongst most Chinese people, both those living at home in their native country and those overseas. But it is particularly celebrated in Zigui County and Huangshi City, Hubei Province, Miluo City in Hunan Province and Suzhou City in JiangSu Province.
兩千五百年前，端午節逐漸變成中國的傳統節慶，根據農曆，每年五月五日舉行。端午節在大多中國人之間是很普遍的，對那些生活在他們祖國家裡的和那些在海外的都一樣。但它在湖北省秭歸縣及黃石市、湖南省汨羅市和江蘇省蘇州市被特別地慶祝。
The colorful and the diversified folk customs involved in the Dragon Boat Festival have developed from older customs around this season, aimed at driving away evil. Chief amongst these were the elimination of diseases, the chasing away of the evil spirits and the warding off of natural disasters. The festival possesses an unique national spirit and abundant connotations, which have deep influence on the lives of Chinese people.
多采多姿又多元涉及端午節的民間習俗從較古老、大約在這個季節的習慣演變而來，目的是要驅邪。這些之中最主要的是消滅疾病、驅邪以及避開天災。這節慶擁有一項獨特的民族精神和豐富的內涵，那對中國人民的生活有著深遠的影響。
During the Dragon Boat Festival, people from different areas organize many folk custom activities. These include sacrifices made in memory of Chinese historical figures. The poet, Qu Yuan, is chiefly venerated around Zigui County in Hubei Province and Miluo City in Hunan Province. Meanwhile, the ancient hero, Wu Zixu is more honored in the areas to the south of the Yangtze River.
在端午節時，不同地區的人們組織許多民俗活動。這些包括紀念中國歷史人物的犧牲。詩人屈原，主要在湖北省秭歸縣和湖南省汨羅市受到景仰。同時，一位遠古的英雄，伍子胥在揚子江以南區域更受尊敬。
Sports competitions are held: spectacular and impressive dragon boat races held in Zigui County and Miluo City, as well as many other sites. In addition, various other competitive folk games and activities take place, such as shooting at willow wands and boat driving. Customs to ward off evil include hanging certain plants that lead to bringing luck, such as calamus or mugwort in the family home to escape bad luck.
舉行運動競賽：壯觀且讓人印象深刻的龍舟比賽在秭歸縣和汨羅市舉行，也在許多其他地點舉行。另外，舉行各式各樣其他的民俗競賽以及活動，像是射柳條、划船。避邪的習俗包括在家裡懸掛特定會帶來好運的植物，像是菖蒲或艾草，以逃脫厄運。
Eating customary Dragon Boat Festival fair: nearly everyone will eat sticky rice wrapped in corn leaves, known as Zongzi, and be drinking a potent local brew called realgar.
吃合乎習俗的端午節美食：幾乎人人都會吃包在玉米葉裡的糯米飯，眾所周知的粽子，還會喝一種叫做雄黃酒的在地烈酒。
Customs associated with health: bathing in orchid water, taking Chinese herbs and eliminating poisonous or bad elements, and so on.
健康有關的習俗：在蘭花水中沐浴、服用中國草藥以及消滅有毒或有害的元素，諸如此類。
Entertainment activities: amongst these are performing or watching typical operas and rowing dry dragon boats.
娛樂活動：這些包括表演或觀賞獨特的戲劇以及划旱船。
The customs of the Dragon Boat Festival in the hometown of the poet, Qu Yuan in Zigui County, Hubei Province are more detailed. Here, Dragon Boat Festival is held three times during the lunar month of May.
端午節的習俗在詩人屈原湖北省秭歸縣的家鄉更講究。在這裡，端午節在農曆五月舉行三次。
On May the fifth, locals hang out the calamus or mugwort and drink realgar alcohol to chase away evil. On the fifteenth, they hold a typical dragon boat competition. On the twenty-fifth, families and relatives gather together and carry out various activities to ward off illness and diseases.
在五月五日，當地人掛出菖蒲或艾草並飲用雄黃酒來驅邪。十五日，他們舉辦一場特別的龍舟競賽。在二十五日，家人和親戚們團聚在一起並從事許多活動來避開病痛。
In particular, farmers in Zigui County take part in a spontaneous literary poetic gathering, where they sing, recite and otherwise enjoy themselves. These folk customs have a history going back at least four hundred years.
尤其是，秭歸縣的農民們參與一場自發性的文學詩歌聚會，在那兒他們吟唱、朗誦要不就自得其樂。這些民間風俗有段至少往回追溯四百年的歷史。
The Dragon Boat Festival is an important symbolic event, which also allows ordinary Chinese people to commune with nature and the universe, and has become an indispensable part of the Chinese folk calendar.
端午節是個重要的象徵性活動，它也讓一般中國人和大自然以及宇宙融為一體，而且變成中國民俗曆不可或缺的一部分。
From the mysts of the past right-down to the modern day, it has afforded a special means of communication and dialogue between people and nature, and has always been a source of affection and good wishes for local people.
從過去的神話直至今日，它已經提供了一種人和大自然之間特殊的溝通對話方式，而且對當地人來說一直是個情感以及美好心願的來源。
This much loved celebration plays a unique role in helping to create a harmonious social environment and improving the relations between human beings and their natural environment. In this way, it has become an irreplaceable culture symbol of the Chinese nation.
這備受喜愛的慶典，在幫助創造和諧的社會環境以及改善人類和他們大自然環境間的關係上，扮演著一個獨特的角色。如此一來，它已成為一個中華民族無可替代的文化象徵。
The Dragon Boat Festival helps to forge a sense of fellowship, as well as fermenting local and national pride. In addition, it serves to enhance the coherence of social groups and sectors through strengthening of cultural identity. On December the fourteenth, 2007, the Dragon Boat Festival was declared a national holiday by the Chinese government.
端午節協助鍛鍊出一種同胞感，也醞釀地方以及民族的驕傲。另外，透過加強文化認同，它足以強化社會團體和部門的凝聚力。2007年十二月十四日，中國政府宣布端午節為國定假日。
The Chinese government has long placed great importance on protecting the folk customs of the Dragon Boat Festival. And in the coming years, the government will invest additional funding to support folk customs, traditional activities associated with the Dragon Boat Festival.
中國政府長久以來非常注重保護端午節民間習俗。在未來，政府會投資額外的經費贊助民間習俗、和端午節有關的傳統活動。
These efforts into strengthened study and protection of the Dragon Boat Festival can further publicize the cultural elements associated with it, while, at the same time, fully respecting the traditions and feelings of different interest groups, areas and communities towards this magnificent and unique celebration.
這些對端午節加強研究及保護的努力能夠進一步地宣揚和它有關的文化元素，同時，全然地尊重不同利益族群、區域及社群，對這高尚獨特的慶典的傳統和感受。
- 「建立、累積、打造」-Build Up
But people born and brought up in this Yangtze River area had also "built up" a rich store of culture.
但在這揚子江(長江)流域出生成長的人們也已建立起非常豐富的文化。 - 「根據」- According To
By 2,500 years ago, the Dragon Boat Festival had gradually become one of China's traditional festivals, held each May 5, according to the lunar calendar.
兩千五百年前，端午節逐漸變成中國的傳統節慶，根據農曆，每年五月五日舉行。 - 「避開、防止」- Ward Off
Chief amongst these were the elimination of diseases, the chasing away of the evil spirits and the "warding off" of natural disasters.
這些之中最主要的是消滅疾病、驅邪以及避開天災。 - 「紀念」- In Memory of
These include sacrifices made "in memory of" Chinese historical figures.
這些包括紀念中國歷史人物的犧牲。 - 「另外、此外」- In Addition
In addition, various other competitive folk games and activities take place, such as shooting at willow wands and boat driving.
另外，舉行各式各樣其他的民俗競賽以及活動，像是射柳條、划船。 - 「驅走、趕走」- Chase Away
On May the fifth, locals hang out the calamus or mugwort and drink realgar alcohol to "chase away" evil.
在五月五日，當地人掛出菖蒲或艾草並飲用雄黃酒來驅邪。 - 「從事、執行」- Carry Out
On the twenty-fifth, families and relatives gather together and "carry out" various activities to ward off illness and diseases.
在二十五日，家人和親戚們團聚在一起並從事許多活動來避開病痛。 - 「尤其是、特別是」- In Particular
"In particular", farmers in Zigui County take part in a spontaneous literary poetic gathering, where they sing, recite and otherwise enjoy themselves.
尤其是，秭歸縣的農民們參與一場自發性的文學詩歌聚會，在那兒他們吟唱、朗誦要不就自得其樂。 - 「參與、出席」- Take Part in
In particular, farmers in Zigui County take part in a spontaneous literary poetic gathering, where they sing, recite and otherwise enjoy themselves.
尤其是，秭歸縣的農民們參與一場自發性的文學詩歌聚會，在那兒他們吟唱、朗誦要不就自得其樂。
