中国节日-泼水节英语
The Water-Sprinkling Festival 泼水节The Water-Sprinkling Festival is the New Year，held from the 24th to 26th days of the sixth month, of the Dai calendar once a year，usually falling upon 14th to 16th of April. It is similar to Thailand's Songkran，three days of unbridled festivities in which everybody gets doused with water. The Water-Sprinkling Festival is the grandest ceremonial occasion for the Dai，the Deang and theAchang nationalities who believe in Theravada Buddhism. It is also known as the festival for bathing Lord Buddha. 泼水节是傣族的新年，在傣历的6月24日到26日举行，往，往在公历的4月14日到16日。它与泰国的泼水节相似，都是人人可以肆无忌惮相互泼水的三天节日。泼水节是傣族最盛大的庆典，傣族包括德昂族和阿昌族，都信仰小乘佛教。因此这一节日也被认为是佛祖沐浴的日子。The Water-Sprinkling Festival, New Year's Day by Dai calendar, will be celebrated in Xishuangbanna. As one of the regions that has the richest and the most varied biological species，it is often called "the kingdom of animals", "the kingdom of plants", and "the gene depository". Since the 1980s, Xishuangbanna has been active in the development and construction of the tourist industry, and it has now become a tourist region with good product system and convenient border facilities. Travel to and from Xishuangbanna has become very convenient, with scheduled flights between more than ten cities in China. 傣族人的新年泼水节，每年都在云南西双版纳自治州举行。西双版纳拥有丰富多样的物种资源，被称为“动物之国”、“植物王国”，以及“动植物基因库”。自从19世纪80年代以来，西双版纳已成为旅游产业发展与建设的活跃地点，而且也凭借自身良好的产业结构和便利的边境条件成为旅游区。目前，中国的十多个城市都已与西双版纳通航，旅行十分方便。Legends This custom originates from a sentimental legendary story. Long long ago, there lived a devil near where Dai people lived. The devil committed all kinds of evil deeds to the residents. Every year he would come to the villages and force a girl to be his woman. All people were angry with him. Yet，no one could do an贝hing to him，for the devil was very well self-protected. One year, however, the girl who had been taken as the devil's seventh woman, was so clever that she had an idea to prevent the evils. One night, she managed to please the devil and make him over drink. Then she succeeded in discovering his weakness when he was in a drowsy condition. She found out that the devil could only be subdued by twining his long hair round his neck. She called in the other six girls. They stealthily cut down some hair from the devil's head and bound his neck tightly with it. In a rush, the head fell onto the ground. But unexpectedly, the head began to emit fire so wildly that it seemed that the fire would soon become uncontrollable. The girls tried to put out the fire by sprinkling water at the head but it was useless. Then a girl accidentally touched the head. To their surprise，the fire was out. But when it was released，it started to burn again. To stop the devil from doing any harm，the girls had to hold the head in turn all the time. The holder was changed once a year. They all felt the devil's head was filthy. So when one girl was holding it, the others sprinkled water at her body, trying to wash away the filth. To commemorate the seven brave and kindhearted girls, the 24th to 26th days of the sixth month of the Dai calendar were set as the Water-Sprinkling Festival by their clansmen. The festival has been celebrated by generations of people and is now becoming more popular than ever. 注释：sentimental adj. 伤感的，让人动感情的subdue: v. 减弱，使柔和filth: n. 污秽，不洁的东西depository: 仓库，存放处传说：泼水节这一习俗来源于一个让人伤感的传奇故事。很久很久以前，在傣族人民生活的地方有一个魔鬼，对当地居民犯下了种种罪行。每年它都会到村庄去挑选一个女孩儿逼她为妻。由于魔鬼法力无边，人们都奈何不了它。 然而有一年，第七个被强迫的女孩）L非常聪明，终于想到了一个好主意来赶走魔鬼。在那一夜，她努力取悦魔鬼把他灌得酩配大醉。这时，她终于成功地发现了魔鬼酒醉后的弱点。她发现若将魔鬼的长发缠绕在它的脖颈上就能制服它。于是她叫来六个女孩儿，偷偷地剪下一些魔鬼的长发，然后将它们紧紧地勒在魔鬼的脖子上。匆忙间，魔鬼的头颅居然跌倒了地上，并出乎意料的喷出熊熊大火。火势极其凶猛，眼看马上就要难以控制。女孩儿们奋力往魔鬼的头颅上洒水，但是徒劳无功。这时一个女孩儿不小心碰到了头颅，让人惊讶的是大火居然就此熄灭。但是一旦女孩放开了头颅，它就又开始熊熊燃烧。为了不让魔鬼继续为非作歹，这些女孩）匕们就轮流抱住魔鬼的头颅，每年换一次班。人人都觉得魔鬼的头实在丑陋污秽，于是当一个女孩儿抱住头颅的时侯，其他的女孩儿就向她身上泼水，好把这些污秽冲刷干净。 为了纪念这七个勇敢善良的姑娘，每年傣历的6月24日到26日就被部落定为泼水节。现在这一代代庆祝的节日已经名扬四方。Tradition Water is the symbol of holiness, goodness and happiness. Dai people regard water as the god of life on which everything depends to live and grow. On the Water-Sprinkling Festival, people take part in the rowing dragon-boat race, launching Gaosheng (a kind of mini rocket) and releasing Kong Ming lanterns. Young boys and girls throw colorful pouches to each other for expressing their mutual love. Water sprinkling is the most exciting of all. People splash water onto each other as a symbol of benediction. The more water one is splashed with, the bigger benediction he receives. The first day of the festival is the day for seeing off the old and welcoming the new. On this day, the Dai people dip flowering branches in water and sprinkle the water on one another for blessing. The second day is devoted to splashing water on everyone, as a symbol of good luck and happiness. On the third day are held the "dropping the pouch" game and the "ascending high" competition. During the festival, the Dai people also hold boat races, dance the
