Sep. 25 story of the Moon Festival

有鑿於發現自己對於中秋節的故事如此不熟悉, 翻閱了幾篇網路上的傳說版本, 最後仍選擇自小時候聽過的重拾記憶.. 並將之翻譯成英文, 若有機會再與同學朋友分享......

“The legend of the Moon Festival”

Long long time ago, in the old legendary ancient times, there were ten hot blazing suns up in the sky. It burned the soil into dry lands and made the ocean water drain till empty; people are dieing because of the drought.
Fortunately, a hero named Ho-I showed up. Sturdy as can be, he could draw a million kilo bow and shoot any savage beast. He has the heart that compassionates the people whom suffered greatly in the burning sun and decided to raise his bow and shoot down nine suns at once. Furthermore, Ho-I give the tenth and the last sun a warning, telling it to raise and set routinely as how it is now.

Henceforth, Ho-I’s name was widely spread in the world. Later he married a beautiful lady name Chun-Er and they lived happily together.

One day, Ho-I met a Taoist priest (Merlin) on his way to hunting. The Priest esteemed his bravery greatly and gave him a bottle of elixir in hoping this good man could be immoral to relieve the pain and help the people. He told him that if he took the whole bottle, he would flew up into the sky and become one of the goddess in the sky; and if he share it with someone else, then both of them will remain immoral on the earth.

After Ho-I went home, he told Chun-Er the story and had her keep it and hide it so no evil guy will take advantage of it. They promised each other that they will one day share the elixir together when both of them are too weak or when one of them is dieing.

Unfortunately, Ho-I’s apprentice Pon-Mon who had a devilish heart, over heard about the elixir and want to steal it from Ho-I. One day, when Ho-I is out in the woods, Pon-Mon dash back to his home, broke into Chun-Er’s room and force her to give the elixir to him. Chun-Er noticed his sinister thoughts, and can do nothing but took the whole bottle of elixir. At the moment she finished the last drop, she felt as light as a feather and levitated into the sky. Unknowing how high and how far she will fly, Chun-Er cling to the nearest plant—the moon in order to stay closer to his husband- Ho-I.

The day she flew up to the moon was 15th of August in lunar calendar when the moon is full. Thus, from that day on, Ho-I and the people gathers around on 15th of August (in lunar calendar) every year with fruits and sweets under the moon in memorial of her and to express their love to her.

As the story was passed on and on to the next generation and the next generations, people made 15th of August the Moon Festival, a day when family should get together in circle**, eat round-shape moon cake, representing the full happiness to be with all the beloved ones by the side.

**In Chinese, the word “circle” shared the same character with the word “consummate”.

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I hope you all like the story and enjoy and cherish the time you have with your family.
希望你們也還記得這個美麗的故事, 同時與家人共度了一個美好的中秋佳節.

Happy Moon Festival to you all :)
中秋節快樂!