雅思阅读：七夕情人节的由来（双语）

 Long， long ago， there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang （Cowhand）。 His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day， a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu （Weaver Maid） fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately， the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
　　　
　　相传在很早以前，南阳城西牛家庄里有个聪明。忠厚的小伙子，父母早亡，只好跟着哥哥嫂子度日，嫂子马氏为人狠毒，经常虐待他，逼他干很多的活，一天，天上的织女和诸仙女一起下凡游戏，在河里洗澡，牛郎在老牛的帮助下认识了织女，二人互生情意，后来织女便偷偷下凡，来到人间，做了牛郎的妻子。男耕女织，情深意重，他们生了一男一女两个孩子，一家人生活得很幸福。但是好景不长，这事很快便让天帝知道，王母娘娘亲自下凡来，强行把织女带回天上，恩爱夫妻被拆散。
　　　
　　With the help of celestial cattle， the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife， the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies， so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called “Qi Xi” （Double Seventh）。
　　　
　　牛郎上天无路，还是老牛告诉牛郎，在它死后，可以用它的皮做成鞋，穿着就可以上天。牛郎按照老牛的话做了，穿上牛皮做的鞋，拉着自己的儿女，一起腾云驾雾上天去追织女，眼见就要追到了，岂知王母娘娘拔下头上的金簪一挥，一道波涛汹涌的天河就出现了，牛郎和织女被隔在两岸，只能相对哭泣流泪。他们的忠贞爱情感动了喜鹊，千万只喜鹊飞来，搭成鹊桥，让牛郎织女走上鹊桥相会，王母娘娘对此也无奈，只好允许两人在每年七月七日于鹊桥相会。

Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty （206 BC-AD220）。 Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty （AD371-420） mention the festival， while records from the Tang Dynasty （618-907） depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song （960-1279） and Yuan （1279-1368） dynasties， special articles for the “Qi Xi” were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.
　　　
　　七夕乞巧，这个节日起源于汉代，东晋葛洪的《西京杂记》有“汉彩女常以七月七日穿七孔针于开襟楼，人俱习之”的记载，这便是我们于古代文献中所见到的最早的关于乞巧的记载。后来的唐宋诗词中，妇女乞巧也被屡屡提及，唐朝王建有诗说“阑珊星斗缀珠光，七夕宫娥乞巧忙”。据《开元天宝遗事》载：唐太宗与妃子每逢七夕在清宫夜宴，宫女们各自乞巧，这一习俗在民间也经久不衰，代代延续。
　　　
　　Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China， but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However， the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years， in particular， urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China. As a result， owners of flower shops， bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.
　　　
　　直到今日，七夕仍是一个富有浪漫色彩传统节日。但不少习俗活动已弱化或消失，惟有象征忠贞爱情的牛郎织女的传说，一直流传民间。

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