《旅游英语》课件-Double Seventh Festival

DoubleSeventhFestival旅游英语课程组QixiortheDoubleSeventhFestival,onthe7thdayofthe7thlunarmonth,isatraditionalfestivalfullofromance.ItistheonlyChinesefestivaldevotedtolove,andthussomeimescalledChineseValentine'sDay.GeneralSurveyContentsIOriginIICustomsIIIFamousPoemsITheFestivaltoPleadforSkillsActually,inancientChina,Qixiwasnotonlyaspecialdayforlovers,butalsoforgirls.AsearlyastheHanDynasty,girlsbegantocelebratetheDoubleSeventhFestivalinChina.Whatwasbehindtheircelebrationwastheirdesireforthemasteryofknitting,cooking,andhomemaking,eachofwhichwasamusttobeafairladyatthattime.Asaresult,girlswouldmaketables,lightcandles,andpresentfruitsintheircourtyardinthehopeofbeingblessedwiththeseskillsfromtheWeaverGirl.Sothefestivalisalsoknownas“TheFestivaltoPleadforSkills”.Althoughlaterthefestivalbecameassociatedwithalovestory,theseactivitiessurvived.IAlovestoryAsanyChinesegrandmotherwilltellyou,theancientcelebrationoftruelovedatesbackcenturieswhenZhinü("theweavergirl”,thestarVega)fellinlovewithayoungfarmernamedNiulang(“thecowherd”,thestarAltair).Sadly,thereisaclassiccomplication-ourheroineisthedaughteroftheQueenMotheroftheWest!Eventhoughthelawstrictlyforbidsrelationshipsbetweenmortalsandimmortals,therebelliousyoungcouplefallinloveandeventuallymarryanyway.Uponthediscoveryoftheirrelationship,theQueenMotheroftheWestforcesZhinütoreturntoheaven,nevertoseeNiulangagain.IAlovestorySteadfastandtrue,Niulangrefusestogiveup.HefliestoZhinü'sside(withthehelpofamagicox)onlytohavetheQueenMotheroftheWeststepinonceagain.Shescratchesawideriverintheskytoseparatethetwoloversforever(thusformingtheMilkyWay,whichseparatesAltairandVega).AndthereZhinüandNiulangremain,separatedfor364daysoftheyear---exceptforChineseValenine'sDay-whentheQueenMotheroftheWesttakespityonthembysendingaflockofmagpiestobridgethegapbetweentheloversandreunitethem.IICustomsQixiisafestivalthatfeaturesmanycharacteristictraditions.Yetthesetraditionsaregradualllydyingout.Agirlwillbemoreattractivetoasuitorifshehastalentsofonekindoranotherinadditiontobeingbeautiful.Inthepast,needleworkwasnecessaryaspartofgirl’sdowry.SincetheWeaverGirlisalsoanexcellentseamstress,onthedoubleseventhinancientChina,girlswouldholdweavingandneedleworkcompetitionstoseewhohadthebesthandsandthebrightestmind,bothprerequisitesformakingagoodwifeandmotheratthattime.DoingNeedleworkIntheeveningofthatday,peoplesatoutdoorstoobservethestars.Chinesegrannieswouldsaythat,ifyoustoodunderagrapevine,youcouldprobablyoverheartheWeavingMaidandtheCowherd'sconversation.Ifyouwereluckyenough,theywouldgoontellingyou,youcouldhearthecryingoftheWeaverGirl.

OverhearingtheGirlCryingGirlswouldalsoputupcolorful"shrines"madeofpaper,freshfruit,flowersandincenseasatributetotheWeaverGirlandtheCowherd.InsomepartsofShandongProvince(inEastChina),youngwomenwouldofferfruitandpastriestoprayforabrightmind.Ifspiderswereseenweavingwebsonsacrificialobjects,itwasbelievedtheWeaverGirlwasgivingapositivereplytotheprayers.PayingTributestotheWeav