一、中秋节是什么？What is Mid-Autumn Festival?
Mid-Autumn Festival means family reunion and peace. The festival is celebrated when the moon is believed to be the biggest and fullest. To the Chinese, a full moon is a symbol of prosperity, happiness, and family reunion.
中秋节意味着团聚、平安。人们觉得，中秋节的月亮最大、最圆。满月象征着繁荣、幸福和团圆。
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the moon worship Festival, celebrated on August 15 of the lunar calendar every year. Since ancient times, the Mid-Autumn Festival has folk customs such as sacrificing the moon, appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes, playing lanterns, appreciating osmanthus, drinking osmanthus wine and so on. The Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes reunion of people like the full moon. In order to place the feeling of missing hometown and relatives, and pray for harvest and happiness, it has become a colorful and precious cultural heritage.
中秋节，又称拜月节，在每年的农历八月十五庆祝。中秋节自古便有祭月、赏月、吃月饼、玩花灯、赏桂花、饮桂花酒等民俗，流传至今，经久不息。中秋节以月之圆兆人之团圆，为寄托思念故乡，思念亲人之情，祈盼丰收、幸福，成为丰富多彩、弥足珍贵的文化遗产。
二、中秋节起源 The origin of the Mid Autumn Festival
Why do we celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? The festival was originated from the moon worship to celebrate the harvest in autumn season about 3,000 years ago.
我们为什么要庆祝中秋节?中秋节起源于大约3000年前，人们为了庆祝秋收而拜月。
The Mid Autumn Festival originated in ancient times, popularized in the Han Dynasty, shaped in the early Tang Dynasty and prevailed after the Song Dynasty. The Mid Autumn Festival is a traditional cultural festival popular in China and the Chinese areas of the world. The Mid Autumn Festival, the Spring Festival, the Qingming Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival are known as the four traditional festivals in China.
中秋节起源于上古时代，普及于汉代，定型于唐朝初年，盛行于宋朝以后。中秋节是流行于中国及世界华人地区的传统文化节日。中秋节与春节、清明节、端午节并称为中国四大传统节日。
三、怎么过中秋？ How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn？
Many traditional and meaningful celebrations are held in most households in China, and neighboring countries. The main traditions and celebrations include eating mooncakes, having dinner with family, gazing at and worshipping the moon, and lighting lanterns.
大部分中国家庭以及中国的邻国都会举行许多传统的庆祝活动，主要庆祝方式包括吃月饼，吃团圆饭，赏月和点灯笼。
（文/苏迎龙，图/苏迎龙，编辑/苏秀娟，审核/王俊华）
