中秋月餅Autumn Festival Moon Cake

肚子餓了吧？ 要不要吃冰淇淋？Are you hungry?  Would you like to eat ice cream?

好哇。 我要—-的。OK. I’d like one —— Continue reading

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北港媽祖廟的建築外觀真是古色古香。
The architectural appearance of Beigang Mazu Temple is really antique.
是啊，廟裡的進香客這麼多，人擠人很難慢慢欣賞這裡的建築之美。
Yes, there are so many pilgrims in the temple, it is difficult to slowly appreciate the beauty of the architecture here.
媽祖為什麼這麼受人敬仰呢？
Why do people revere Mazu so much?
因為臺灣靠海為生的漁民多，而媽祖正是漁民的守護神。
In Taiwan they are a large number of freshmen Fishman who rely on the sea for a living. Mazu is the guardian god goddess of fisherman
聽說每年都有許多人到這兒來進香。
I’ve heard that each year a very large number of people come here to worship Mazu.
媽祖生日的進香活動規模很大，非常壯觀。 Every year or Mazu‘s birthday huge crowds come to burn incense and the worship Mazu.
這種民俗活動一定很有意思。
These folk activities must be fascinating.
當然，不過花費也是很可觀。
Of course they are, but they spend a lot of money on these activities each year
由此可見媽祖在人們心目中的地位。
From this we can see that Mazu occupies very important position in people’s hearts
是啊！ 媽祖一直是人們平安的守護神。
Yes, she does! Mazu symbolizes peace and security in people’s heart.

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大中Ta-Chung，那座廟宇就是著名的北港媽祖廟

That is the famous Mazu Temple of Peifang

媽祖廟金碧輝煌，香火鼎盛

It’s really a magnificent temple。 It attracts a lot of worshipers.

當然喽，媽祖是一位非常受人民敬仰的神明

Of course! People deeply revere the goddess Mazu.

爸，不是有位陳叔叔要做我們的嚮導嗎？

Dad, didn’t you say that Uncle Chen would be our guide?

那位高高瘦瘦戴眼鏡的就是陳叔叔。

That tall, thin man with glasses is Uncle Chen.

林兄，歡迎你們父子倆兒到北港來玩.

Mr.Lin , let me welcome you and your son to Peikang.

想請您給大中講講台灣的民間信仰！

I would like to ask you if you would please tell Ta-Chung about some of Taiwan’s folk beliefs today.

我是土生土長的北港人，一定詳細介紹，讓他不虛此行。

I’m a native of Peikang. I will definitely give him a detailed introduction and make him feel his trip was worthwhile.

龍山寺Longshan temple

龍山寺真是人山人海，大家都來看花燈。

Longshan temple is awash with people. Everyone is here to see the lanterns.

平常這兒就是香火鼎盛，擠滿了觀光客和信徒。

This temple is filled with incense smoke and usually attracts a large number of worshipers. It is always packed with tourists and worshipers.

龍山寺是什麼時候建造的？

When was Longshan temple built?

在清朝的時候，大概兩百三十多年以前。

It was buite during the Ching Dynasty around 230 years ago.

這些花燈的造型真是巧妙，有各式各樣的形狀。

These lanterns are very clearly made. There are animals and human figures.

元宵節的晚上，龍山寺還會舉辦猜燈謎的活動呢。

On the night of the Lintern Festival, riddles and guessing games are held at Longshan Temple,

燈謎是什麼？

What kind of riddle and guessing games?

就是把謎語寫在花燈上，讓大家猜，猜中就有獎品。

Riddles and written and pasted on the lanterns.  People get prizes when they are guess the right answers

歡樂在元宵The Joy of the lantern Festival Continue reading

祭拜祖先worshiping the ancestors

華人都很尊敬祖先嗎？

Do the Chinese revere their ancestors?

我們有濃厚的家庭倫理，重視慎終追遠的傳統思想。

We have deeply rooted family values and deeply respect our ancient traditions.

一般人家裡都供奉祖先牌位嗎？

Do most families have ancestral tables?

重視傳統的家庭會在家裡供奉祖先的牌位。

Families that treasure traditions usually have ancestor tablets.

大概什麼時候要祭拜祖先呢？

When do people usually hold ancestor worship ceremonies?

每個家庭的習慣不一樣，但是通常過年過節時一定會祭祖。

It depends on personal preference, but they are always held during the lunar New year holiday or at other festivals.

祭祖時要燒香祝禱嗎？

Do people burn joss sticks and pray during the ancestor worshiping ceremonies.

是的，燒香祝禱，祈求祖先保佑子孫平安幸福。

Yes, they ask the ancestors to protect their descendant so that they may live in peace and happiness.

這個週末，你有空嗎？

Are you free this weekend?

有什麼事嗎？

What’s up?

我想邀請你一起去看天燈，好不好？

I’d like to invite you to see sky lanterns, how about it?

太好了，我知道台灣平溪的放天燈非常有名。

Great!  I know the sky lanterns of Ping-his in Taiwan ae=re very famous.

據說天燈又叫做孔明燈，相傳是三國時代的孔明所發明的。

It’s said that sky lanterns are also called kung Ming lanterns. Legend has it that they were invented by Kung Ming during the three Kingdom’s period of China.

放天燈的目的是什麼呢？

Legend has it that they were invented by kung Ming (Chuke Liang) during the Three Kingdom’s period of China,

本來是為了傳遞軍情，後來流傳到民間，天燈成為人們向上天許願祈福的媒介。

They were originally used as a way to exchange intelligence. Afterward they were passed on to ordinary people.  Sky lanterns are a medium to send their wishes and blessing to heaven.

原來如此，所以在許多華人的重要節慶時，都有放天燈的活動。

Oh, I see. So, when Chinese people have important celebrations, they hold sky lantern activities.

現在的天燈提及越來越大，燈上還會寫像是國泰民安，心想事成的祈福語。

Now, sky lanterns are getting bigger and bigger. People will often written things on the lanterns loke Prosperous Nation, Peaceful Citizens, may one’s heart’s wish come true, and other such prayers of good fortune.