七夕节

七夕节，又叫“乞巧节”，是中国传统的浪漫节日，庆祝时间为每年农历七月初七。

Qixi Festival, also known as "Qi Qiao Festival," is a traditional romantic holiday in China, celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar each year.

这个节日源于一个美丽的传说——牛郎织女的故事。

This festival originates from a beautiful legend—the story of Niulang and Zhinu.

传说中，织女是天上的仙女，而牛郎是一个普通的牧羊人，他们相爱并结为夫妻，但因天规被迫分离。

In the legend, Zhinu is a celestial maiden, while Niulang is an ordinary shepherd. They fall in love and marry, but are forced to be separated due to heavenly rules.

每年七月初七，天上的喜鹊会搭成一座桥，让牛郎和织女在银河上相会一次。

Every year on the seventh day of the seventh month, magpies in the sky build a bridge, allowing Niulang and Zhinu to meet once across the Milky Way.

这段凄美的爱情故事成了七夕节的由来。

This tragic love story became the origin of the Qixi Festival.

七夕节的传统习俗中，最具代表性的就是乞巧。

Among the traditional customs of the Qixi Festival, the most representative is the Qiqiao, or "asking for dexterity."

在古代，女孩们会在这一天向织女乞求巧手，希望自己能变得更加聪明能干，尤其是在刺绣、织布等手艺上。

In ancient times, girls would pray to Zhinu on this day for skilled hands, hoping to become more intelligent and capable, particularly in skills like embroidery and weaving.

这个习俗展示了中国古代女性对美好生活的向往，也反映了对技艺和智慧的尊重。

This custom showcases the longing of ancient Chinese women for a better life and reflects a respect for craftsmanship and wisdom.

至今，部分地区仍然会举办各种巧手比赛，年轻女孩会通过这些活动来展示自己的才艺。

To this day, some regions still hold various skill competitions, where young girls showcase their talents through these activities.

七夕节也是情侣们表达爱意的时刻。

The Qixi Festival is also a moment for couples to express their love.

随着时代的变迁，这个节日逐渐变成了类似于西方的“情人节”，情侣们会通过送礼物、约会等方式庆祝彼此的爱情。

With the passage of time, this festival has gradually transformed into something akin to Western Valentine's Day, where couples celebrate their love through gift-giving and dating.

一些地方还保留了“放河灯”的习俗，情侣们将写满祝福的纸灯放入河中，象征着爱情的美好与永恒。

In some places, the custom of "floating lanterns on rivers" is still preserved, where couples release paper lanterns filled with blessings into the water, symbolizing the beauty and eternity of love.

除了乞巧和送礼，七夕节也有着象征团圆的习俗。在一些地方，人们会进行拜织女的仪式，祈求婚姻幸福、美满。

In addition to Qiqiao and gift-giving, the Qixi Festival also includes customs symbolizing reunion. In some regions, people perform rituals to honor Zhinu, praying for happy and fulfilling marriages.

这个节日虽然起源于古代的爱情故事，但随着社会发展，它也逐渐融入了现代人的生活，成为了一个富有浪漫色彩的节日。

Although this festival originated from an ancient love story, it has gradually integrated into the lives of modern people, becoming a holiday rich in romance.

七夕节的意义超越了传统的文化框架，它承载着人们对美好生活的追求，无论是传统的乞巧活动，还是现代的情人庆祝，都传递着对爱与幸福的向往。

The significance of the Qixi Festival transcends traditional cultural frameworks; it embodies people's pursuit of a beautiful life. Whether through traditional Qiqiao activities or modern romantic celebrations, it conveys a longing for love and happiness.