小编出国八年了，今年终于得偿所愿回归故里，与家人团聚共享中秋佳节。此情此景是多么熟悉而又陌生，熟悉的是亲爱的家人们依旧在我身边，陌生的是对过去分别的八年光景不断追忆。终于不需要对着手机屏幕抒发思念，终于不需要隔着太平洋望着同一个月亮，终于可以在中秋的夜晚，能与家人吃同一盘菜，同一锅饭。
中秋是咱们中华民族的传统节日，但随着中国的文化在全世界不断地传播，外国人也开始慢慢了解到这个节日，就如我们当初刚听说在地球的另一端还有圣诞节一般。
在美国人眼中，中秋是奇幻的。本期阿尔法合伙人【精译】栏目将为大家分享美国人眼中的中秋节。
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls as early as September 8, which is late summer for south China; not even autumn! Its latest date of October 6 is still only early autumn for south China. Only in northChina, where there are short summers and long winters, is the festival aptly named climatically, but only for about half of the time. So why is it called "Mid-Autumn"?
最早的中秋节日期是9月8日，这是中国南方的夏末；甚至都还没到秋天！它最晚的日期是10月6日，是中国南方的初秋。只有在中国北方，那里有短暂的夏季和漫长的冬季，这是一个名副其实的气候变化的节日，但只有大约一半的时间。那为什么叫“中秋节”呢?
The Mid-Autumn Festival is always celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the middle of lunar month 8. The 7th, 8th, and 9th lunar months are classed as autumn. So actually it is the"mid-lunar-autumn" festival.
每年农历8月15日是农历8月中旬，人们总是庆祝中秋节。第七、八、九个月被定为秋季。所以实际上，这是“仲秋”节。
In Chinese beliefs, the roundness of the full moon means 'togetherness', thus the reunion moon is very special in Chinese culture. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year, which is a "full moon day".
在中国人的信仰中，满月的圆意味着“团聚”，因此团圆的月亮在中国文化中是非常特别的。每年农历8月15日是中秋节，一个“满月”的日子。
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the harvest moon is supposed to be at its brightest and fullest of the year. This festival also has an origin in moon worship.
在中秋节的夜晚，月亮应该是最亮最圆的。这个节日也起源于对月亮的崇拜。
It is generally believed that the moon is brightest in fall, which holds some truth, due to least cloudy skies on average. But it's no more likely to be a super moon than any other time of the year.
人们普遍认为，月亮在秋季最亮，这也有一定道理，因为平均下来，秋天天空中云层最少。但它不可能比一年中的任何时候都明亮。
Actually, the Mid-Autumn Festival does not always occur on the night of the full moon, which is contrary to popular belief. The Chinese lunar calendar does not coincide perfectly with the cycles of the moon. However, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month is always within two days of the harvest moon night.
事实上，中秋节并不总是在满月夜，这与人们的老观念正好相反。中国的农历与月亮的周期并不完全一致。然而，农历八月的第15天总是在满月的两天之内。
Migrant Chinese workers would always try to go home for Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now, many just go back for Chinese New Year as interest intraditional festivals is waning (moon pun coincidental).
中国的工人阶层总是会想回家过年和过中秋节。现在，随着人们对传统节日的兴趣逐渐减弱，许多人只会回家过中国新年。
The Mid-Autumn Festival is now joint third for public holiday allocation alongside Labor Day and three others.
中秋节现在是第三个公共假日，挨着劳动节和其他三个国定假日。
The cost of a mooncake is actually quite low, e.g. 4 yuan (approx. 1 USD) for one mooncake. But the beautiful, luxury packs are a higher price. Every year, star-rated hotels promote luxury tailor-made mooncakes, which are sometimes priced higher than 1,000 yuan (150 USD) for each box (usually 6 mooncakes, approx. 1 kg).
月饼的成本实际上很低，比如4元人民币（大约1美元）一个月饼。但包装华丽的月饼价格都很高。每年，星级酒店都会推出豪华定制的月饼，每盒售价都高于1000元(150美元)，通常里面有6个月饼，大约1公斤。
The luxury mooncakes are usually stuffed with luxury ingredients, such as shark fin, abalone, and bird's nest. Or they are packaged in a luxury box that is decorated with gold or silver. People like to buy them as presents for friends or families.
豪华的月饼通常都含有奢华成分，比如鱼翅、鲍鱼和燕窝。或者它们被包装在一个用金或银装饰的豪华盒子里。人们喜欢把它们作为礼物送给朋友或家人。
Every year, Chinese people will try to make a mooncake as big as possible to break the record.
每年，中国人都会尽量做一个大的月饼去打破纪录。
The largest mooncake was made in Shanghai in 2013. It weighed about 2,500 kg (5,500lb), with a diameter of about 2.5 meters. It was much bigger than a kingsize bed and heavier than a family car.
最大的月饼是2013年在上海制作而成的。它重约2500公斤(5500磅)，直径约2.5米。它比一个国王尺码的床（美国的特大号双人床）还要大得多，比一辆家用汽车还要重。
三天的中秋假期是很受欢迎的——火车票很快就会一售而空。
There will be a three-day holiday during the festival. Chinese people like to spend time with their families, or to travel outside their towns on a short trip. Train tickets are usually sold out quickly during the festival time and famous tourist spots are usually quite crowded.
节日期间将有三天的假期。中国人喜欢花时间和家人在一起，或者去享受一些短途旅行。在节日期间，火车票通常会卖得很快，而著名的旅游景点通常都相当拥挤。
In ancient times, the Mid-Autumn Festival was another Chinese "Valentine's Day", alongside the Double Seventh Festival (this usually falls in August). Single people used to pay homage to "the old man in the moon" — the god who unites people in marriage — and prayed for his help finding true love and getting married quickly. Couples enjoyed spending some romantic time together.
在古代，中秋节是中国除了七夕节(通常是在八月)以外的另一个“情人节”。单身的人过去常常向“月老”致敬，并为寻求他的帮助以快速寻找到真爱和婚姻而祈祷。情侣们喜欢在一起度过一些浪漫的时光。
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, it's very popular to appreciate the bright moon. Therefore, Chinese people like to find a place close to the moon in order to appreciate it fully, such as the roof, or a mountain top. Or some people like to go to the lakeside to enjoy a leisurely night with friends.
在中秋节期间，人们很喜欢欣赏明月。因此，中国人喜欢找一个靠近月亮的地方，以便充分欣赏它，如屋顶，或山顶。亦或者有些人喜欢跟朋友们一起在湖边享受一个悠闲的夜晚。
In traditional customs, people usually give mooncakes as gifts. But the Chinese youth tend to give lucky money — "digital red envelopes" — to friends or families via their phones. It's a fashionable activity to celebrate a festival.
在传统习俗中，人们通常送月饼作为礼物。但中国年轻人往往会通过手机给朋友或家人发“红包”——“数字红包”。这是一个庆祝节日的时尚活动。
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