传统节日介绍：中秋节的传说和起源

In this legend, three fairy sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men and begged for something to eat from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give the old men, but the rabbit, empty-handed, offered his own flesh instead by jumping into a blazing fire to cook himself. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's sacrifice that they let him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."
传说中，三味仙人将自己变成可怜的老人向一只狐狸、猴子和兔子乞讨吃的，狐狸和猴子都将自己的食物分给了仙人，只有兔子自己跳入了火坑而将自己的肉献出来，先人们被兔子的牺牲所感动，于是将兔子留在了月宫，这只兔子后来变成了玉兔。

Families get together to eat mooncakes and celebrate the end of the harvest season on this day. Scholars write poems about the moon. This night is also made for romantic rendezvous. Friendships are made and renewed. No wonder the August Moon Festival has a special meaning to all who believe in the mystical powers of the moon.
每到这一天，亲人都会欢聚一堂吃月饼并庆祝丰收。文人们也写了很多跟月亮有关的诗。这个夜晚也是浪漫约会的好时刻。新朋旧友也因此相聚，难怪中秋节对于那些相信月亮神秘力量的人来说有着特殊意义。

When did this festival first begin? No exact date can be found in historical documents, but scholars assume that it is related to 2 customs in China.
中秋节最早是于什么时候庆祝的？目前古籍资料上还没有找到确切时间，但学者们认为他跟中国的两个习俗有关。

The first custom concerns farmers. China is an agricultural country, and farming is closely related to the seasons. In ancient times, farmers worshipped the Earth God to pray for a good harvest, when they sowed the seeds in spring. This was known as spring worship. During autumn, farmers also worshipped the Earth God to thank him for giving them a good harvest. This was known as autumn reward. Since the 15'" month of the 8th month is the time when rice paddies are harvested, some people believe that the Mid Autumn Festival came from the autumn reward ritual.
第一个习俗是关于农民的，中国是一个农业大国，而农业跟季节息息相关。在古代，农民们春天撒种播种时会向土地之神祈祷丰收。这就是著名的春日祭祀。到了秋天，人们会再次祭祀土地之神，感谢他给予人们丰收，这就是著名的秋日祭祀，因为阴历8月15日是水稻成熟之时，所以有些人认为中秋节是从秋日祭祀仪式演变而来的。

The second custom concerns worship of the moon. According to astronomy, the Mid Autumn Festival occurs at the autumn equinox. At this time, the sunlight shines vertically on the equator, equally dividing the day and night in both the southern and northern hemispheres. The moon appears in the evening with gentle winds and light clouds. This is the best time to watch the moon. People later made this day, the day to worship the moon.
第二个习俗与祭祀月亮有关。根据天文学，中秋节是秋分之时。在这个时候，太阳直射赤道，南北半球昼夜平分。月亮在晚上出现，云淡风轻，是观月的最佳时机。后来人们就把这一天定为祭祀月亮的日子。