用英语讲中国故事——Qixi Festival, Cowherd and Weaver Girl 七夕 牛郎织女
七夕节，又称乞巧节、少女节或女儿节，也是我国的情人节。
The Qixi Festival, also known as the Qiqiao Festival, the Girls' Festival or the Daughter's Day, is also my country's Valentine's Day.
它有一个古老而美丽的传说——牛郎织女的故事。
It has an ancient and beautiful legend - the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.
这个故事不仅蕴含了深厚的文化内涵，也寄托了人们对忠贞不渝爱情的向往和赞美。
This story not only contains profound cultural connotations, but also expresses people's yearning and praise for loyal love.
相传天上有个织女星，还有一个牛郎星。
According to legend, there is a Weaver Girl in the sky and a Cowherd Star.
织女是天上的仙女，擅长织布，她织出的云锦美丽无双。
The Weaver Girl is a fairy in the sky who is good at weaving. The brocade she weaves is beautiful and unparalleled.
而牛郎勤劳善良，与一头老牛相依为命。
The Cowherd is hardworking and kind, and lives with an old cow.
织女也是王母娘娘的孙女，王母娘娘对织女的织布技艺十分赞赏。
The Weaver Girl is also the granddaughter of the Queen Mother, who admires the Weaver Girl's weaving skills very much.
然而，织女渴望人间的生活，常常偷下凡间游玩。
However, the Weaver Girl longs for human life and often sneaks down to the mortal world to play.
有一天，织女又偷偷来到凡间玩耍，然后在一个湖中洗澡。
One day, the Weaver Girl sneaked to the mortal world to play again, and then took a bath in a lake.
而牛郎就是在老牛的指点下，取走了在湖中洗澡的织女的衣裳，织女因此无法返回天庭，两人由此相识并相爱，最终结为夫妻。
It was under the guidance of the old cow that the cowherd took away the clothes of the Weaver Girl who was bathing in the lake. As a result, the Weaver Girl could not return to heaven. The two met and fell in love, and finally became husband and wife.
他们男耕女织，生下一儿一女，过上了幸福美满的生活。
They worked as farmers and weavers, gave birth to a son and a daughter, and lived a happy life.
然而，好景不长，王母娘娘得知此事后大怒，派遣天兵天将将织女捉回天庭。
However, the good times did not last long. When the Queen Mother learned about this, she was furious and sent heavenly soldiers to capture the Weaver Girl and bring her back to heaven.
牛郎在老牛的帮助下，用箩筐挑着儿女，披上牛皮追上天庭。
With the help of the old cow, the cowherd carried his children in a basket and covered himself with cowhide to catch up with the Weaver Girl.
眼看就要追上时，王母娘娘拔下金簪一划，顿时出现了一条波涛汹涌的天河（即银河），将牛郎和织女隔在两岸。
When they were about to catch up, the Queen Mother pulled out her golden hairpin and drew a line, and suddenly a turbulent Milky Way appeared, separating the cowherd and the Weaver Girl on both sides.
他们的深情感动了天界的喜鹊，无数喜鹊飞来为他们搭起一座鹊桥，使他们得以在每年的农历七月七日相会一次。
Their deep affection moved the magpies in heaven, and countless magpies flew to build a magpie bridge for them, allowing them to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
这一天，人间的牛郎和织女也会被赋予特别的意义，成为爱情和忠贞的象征。
On this day, the cowherd and the Weaver Girl in the world will also be given special meaning, becoming a symbol of love and loyalty.
七夕节不仅有动人的传说，还伴随着丰富多彩的风俗习惯，这些习俗大多与乞巧、祈福有关。
The Qixi Festival not only has moving legends, but also is accompanied by rich and colorful customs and habits, most of which are related to begging for dexterity and praying for blessings.
穿针乞巧：这是最早的乞巧方式，始于汉代，流传至后世。女子们比赛穿针引线，以祈求自己也能像织女一样心灵手巧。
Threading a needle to beg for dexterity: This is the earliest way to beg for dexterity, which began in the Han Dynasty and has been passed down to later generations. Women compete in threading a needle to pray that they can be as dexterous as the Weaver Girl.
喜蛛应巧：这也是一种较早的乞巧方式，起源于南北朝时期。人们将小蜘蛛放在盒子里，第二天观察蜘蛛网的疏密程度，以判断是否能得到巧。
Happy spiders should be clever: This is also an earlier way to beg for dexterity, which originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. People put small spiders in a box and observe the density of the spider web the next day to determine whether they can get dexterity.
投针验巧：这是明清时期盛行的乞巧风俗，是穿针乞巧的变体。女子们在中午时分将针投入水中，观察针在水中的影子形状，以判断是否能得到巧。
Throwing a needle to test dexterity: This is a popular custom of begging for dexterity in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and it is a variant of threading a needle to beg for dexterity. Women throw needles into the water at noon and observe the shape of the needle's shadow in the water to determine whether they can get dexterity.
吃巧果：七夕节的应节食品之一是巧果，它以油、面、糖、蜜为主要材料制作而成，形状多样，寓意着祈求智慧和灵巧。
Eating Qiaoguo: One of the seasonal foods of the Qixi Festival is Qiaoguo, which is made of oil, flour, sugar, and honey as the main materials. It has various shapes and implies praying for wisdom and dexterity.
除了多样的风俗习惯，当然还有很多优美的诗词歌赋。
In addition to the various customs and habits, there are of course many beautiful poems and songs.
自古以来，七夕节就是文人墨客抒发情感、吟咏爱情的绝佳时机。以下是一些经典的七夕节诗词：
Since ancient times, the Qixi Festival has been a great opportunity for literati to express their emotions and chant love. Here are some classic Qixi Festival poems:
《秋夕》（唐·杜牧）
银烛秋光冷画屏，轻罗小扇扑流萤。
天阶夜色凉如水，卧看牵牛织女星。
"An Autumn Night" (Tang Dynasty, Du Mu)
Autumn has chilled the painted screen in silver moonlight;
A silken fan is used to catch flitting firefly.
The steps seem steeped in water when cold grows the night.
She lies to watch two stars in love meet in the sky.
这首诗描绘了失意宫女在七夕之夜的孤独与凄凉。
This poem depicts the loneliness and desolation of a frustrated palace maid on the night of Qixi.
《鹊桥仙》（宋·秦观）
纤云弄巧，飞星传恨，银汉迢迢暗度。
金风玉露一相逢，便胜却人间无数。
柔情似水，佳期如梦，忍顾鹊桥归路。
两情若是久长时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。
"Magpie Bridge Fairy" (Song Dynasty, Qin Guan)
Clouds float like works of art,
Stars shoot with grief at heart.
Across the Milky Way the Cowherd meets the Maid.
When Autumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jade,
All the love scenes on earth, however many, fade.
Their tender love flows like a stream;
Their happy date seems but a dream.
How can they bear a separate homeward way?
If love between both sides can last for aye,
Why need they stay together night and day?
这首词赞美了牛郎织女坚贞不渝的爱情，同时也表达了作者对美好爱情的向往和追求。
This poem praises the steadfast love of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, and also expresses the author's yearning and pursuit for beautiful love.
所以七夕节不仅是一个庆祝爱情的节日，更是一个传承和弘扬中华优秀传统文化的重要载体。人们会在这一天祈求爱情的美满和幸福。
Therefore, the Chinese Valentine's Day is not only a festival to celebrate love, but also an important carrier for inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture. People will pray for the happiness and bliss of love on this day.