每逢新春佳節，吃餃子(dumplings)已經成為中國的習俗。究其原因，首先是因為餃子形如金元寶(gold ingot)，人們在春節吃餃子取“招財進寶"之意;二是餃子有餡，便于人們把各種吉祥的東西包到餡里，以寄托人們對新的一年的祈望。 人們常常將花生、棗和栗子等包進焰里。吃到花生的人將健康長壽，吃到棗和栗子的人將早生貴子。餃子因所包的餡和制作方法不同而種類繁多。即使是同一種水餃，亦有不同的吃法。

　　【參考譯文】

　　It's a Chinese custom to cat dumplings during the Spring Festival. The first reason for it is that dumplings are shaped like gold ingots. People eat dumplings during the Spring Festival, wishing to bring in wealth and treasures. The second reason is that dumplings are stuffed with fillings, allowing people to put a variety of auspicious things into it, and in this way people pin their hopes for the next year. People often put peanuts, Chinese dates and chestnuts inside the dumplings. Those who eat peanuts will be healthy and live a long life; those who eat Chinese dates and chestnuts will have a baby soon. There are a wide variety of dumplings due to their diverse fillings inside and different methods of making. Even dumplings of the same kind have different ways of eating.

　　清明節(the Tomb-Sweeping Day),又稱“寒食節”，是中國人祭祀祖先最重要的節日。清明節源于周朝，有2000多年的歷史。清明是中國24節氣(24 solar terms) 之一，它預示著春天的來I寒食節是人們為祖先掃墓、吃冷食的節日。清明與寒 食節相連，因此二者后來漸漸地成為一個節日，掃墓和吃冷食成了清明的習俗。 清明成了富有文化含義、意義重大的紀念節日。從古時起，就有很多有關清明的藝術作品和詩作。其中，唐代詩人杜牧寫的《清明》家喻戶曉。

　　【參考譯文】

　　Tomb-Sweeping Day, also known as “Cold Food Festival' is the most important festival for Chinese people to offer sacrifices to ancestors. It sprang from the Zhou Dynasty, with a history of over 2,000 years. Qingming is one of the 24 solar terms in China, showing the coming of spring. Cold Food Festival is a day when people sweep the ancestors' tombs and eat cold food. Qingming was close to Cold Food Festival, so later on they gradually became one festival, and sweeping tombs and eating cold food turned into the customs of Qingming. Qingming has evolved into a culture-rich and meaningful remembrance day. Since the ancient times, there have been a lot of works of art and poems about Qingming. Of these, the Tomb-Sweeping Day composed by the poet Du Mu in the Tang Dynasty is a household name.

　　農歷八月十五站中國傳統的中秋節(the Mid-Autumn Festival)。這是繼中國農 歷新年之后最重要的節日。人們堅信，農歷八月十五的月亮比其他月份的更圓更亮。滿月象征著重聚和團圓。因此中秋節是家人聚在一起的日子，也被稱為“團圓節”。一般說來，吃月餅、賞月是中秋節的常見傳統。此外，中國不同地區及各個 少數民族有不同的中秋節習俗。中國有很多關于月亮的傳說。月亮上的神仙嫦娥 (Chang'e)、吳剛和玉兔(the Jade Rabbit)的故事至今仍在流傳。

　　【參考譯文】

　　The 15th day of lunar August is the traditionalChinese Mid-Autumn Festival, the most importantfestival after the Chinese Lunar New Year. The moonon the night of the 15th day of lunar August isbelieved to be much fiiller and brighter than that inthe other months. A foil moon is a symbol of reunion. So the Mid-Autumn Festival is alsocalled the “Reunion Festival' a time for family members to get together. Generally speaking,eating moon cakes and enjoying the moon are common traditions on the festival. In addition,the customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival vary in different parts and ethnic groups of China.There are lots of Chinese legends about the moon. The story of Goddess Chang'e，Wu Gangand the Jade Rabbit living on the moon is still popular today.