The origin of the Double Seventh Festival 【七夕节由来】
The Double Seventh Festival refers to the seventh night of the seventh lunar month. It is a traditional folk festival of the Han people. This night is not only the time when the legendary Cowherd and the Girl Weaver are supposed to have their annual meeting, but also a good opportunity for women to pray for the Girl Weaver for the purpose of seeking dexterity. Therefore, this festival is also named " Maiden's Day", " Daughter's Day". The day is not as well-known as many other Chinese festivals. But almost everyone in China, young or old, is very familiar with the story behind it.
七夕情人节指的是农历七月的第七个夜晚，这个节日是汉代传统的民间节日。七夕的晚上不仅仅是传说中的"牛郎"和"织女"一年一度相会的夜晚，同时也是为编制姑娘们祈求心灵手巧的好机会。因此，七夕节又叫"乞巧节"，"女儿节"。尽管七夕节不如其它节日那般流行，但是在中国，男女老少都对节日背后的故事相当熟悉。
Once upon a time, there lived a poor cowherd, Niulang, whose parents had died long before. He had to live together with his elder brother. Unfortunately, his brother and his sister-in -law were very mean and often treated Niulang very badly. They would not give him enough food to eat, and made him work so hard that he hardly had time to sleep. Finally, they kicked him of their home. All he had in the world were the clothes on his back and an old ox.
很久以前，有一个放牛娃名叫牛郎，父母早亡，只好跟着哥哥嫂嫂度日。然而，哥哥嫂子为人狠毒，经常虐待他。他们逼牛郎干苦活，不让他吃饱睡好，最后又把他赶出了家门，牛郎除了身上的衣服和一头老水牛外，一无所有。
Niulang built a small thatched cottage on the side of a mountain. He cut and dug and sweat until he had made a vegetable garden out of the rocky soil. He was often tired and hungry, but always found time to take good care of his old ox. One day, the old ox suddenly began to speak to him. It said that it used to be Taurus, the Golden-Ox Star, in the sky and had been banished by the Lord of Heaven to this world as punishment for its violation of heavenly rule by spreading grain seeds to this world. The old ox told Niulang that the goddesses of Heaven would take a bath in a sacred pond not far from his cottage a few days later. Among them was a beautiful, virtuous and industrious girl whose name is Zhinu, the Girl Weaver. Zhinu was a granddaughter of the King of the Heavenly Kingdom. If the Cowherd took the advantage of their bath in the pond to take away her clothes, she would stay and become his wife.
牛郎在山边搭了间茅草屋，辛勤开垦，在岩石地上挖出了一片菜园，他常常饥肠辘辘，劳累不堪，但把老水牛照顾得好好的。一日，牛突然说话了，它告诉牛郎说自己前身是天上的金牛星，由于违反了天条把粮食种子撒到了人间，天帝将它贬到人间以示惩罚。老牛说，过几天，天上的仙女会下凡到离茅草屋不远的圣池里游泳，其中有一个勤劳善良、美丽贤惠的姑娘，名叫织女。织女是天宫中王母娘娘的外孙女，如果牛郎能趁仙女洗澡的时候把织女的衣服拿走，她就会留下来作他的妻子。
When the day came, Niulang hid in the tall reeds by the pond and waited for the young goddesses. They soon came, just as the ox said they would. They took off their silk robes and jumped into the clear water. Niulang crept out of his hiding place, picked up Zhinu's clothes and ran away. Her companions were so frightened that they jumped out , dressed as quickly as they could and flew away, leaving the Girl Weaver behind. Niulang returned and gave her back her clothes. He had adored her from the first sight he saw her. They looked into each other's eyes. The Girle Weaver told the poor Cowherd that she would be his wife.
到了那天，牛郎藏在高大的芦苇丛里等着。老牛说的话显灵了，仙女们很快就到了，她们脱掉丝袍跳进水里。牛郎偷偷地爬出来，拿起织女的衣服跑开了。仙女们吓着了，赶快上岸，穿起衣服跑开了，把织女一个人留在后头。牛郎跑回来，把衣服还给了织女，他对织女一见钟情。两人相对而视，织女对牛郎说要做他的妻子。
After their marriage, the Cowherd ploughed and the Girl Weaver wove and they loved each other. The Girl Weaver became famous far and near for her dexterity in raising silkworms, reeling and weaving exquisite silks and satins. Three years later, Zhinu gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. They named the boy " Brother Gold" and the girl " Sister Jade". The couple were overjoyed with the additions to their family and believed that they would remain a devoted couple to the end of their lives.
两人结婚后，牛郎耕田种地，织女纺线织衣，恩恩爱爱。织女成了远近的名人，她心灵手巧，养蚕纺纱，编锦织缎，样样精通。三年后，侄女生了对龙凤胎，男孩儿叫"金哥"，女孩儿叫"玉妹"。小两口日子过得幸福美满，牛郎织女满以为能够终身相守，白头到老。
One day, the ox was dying. Before it closed its eyes for the last time, it told the young couple to skin him and keep its hide after its death. It also told them that its hide would enablr a man to fly even to Heaven. After the old ox died, the young couple reluctantly skinned it and stored it with meticulous care.
一天，牛快死了，临死前说对小两口说，将它的皮剥下来放好，有朝一日，披上它，就可飞上天去。牛死后，牛郎心疼地剥下牛皮，小心翼翼地收藏起来。
Meanwhile, the King and Queen of Heaven found out that their granddaughter had gone to the world of Man and taken a husband. They flew into a temper. They ordered a god to bring the Girl Weaver back as soon as possible.
这时候，玉皇大帝和王母娘娘听说孙女到了人间，还结婚生子，非常生气，遂下令天神尽快把织女捉回来。
Niulang came back from the field one day to find his two children sitting on the ground and crying. He found the seat at the loom empty. The two children told him that an old lady had just taken their mother away. Niulang remembered what the old ox had told him, he carried his two children in two baskets on a pole and put on the magic hide. Immediately, he got as light as a cloud and flew up into the sky. He had almost caught up with the Queen and his wife when the Queen heard the crying of his children. Looking back, she pulled off a gold clasp from her hair and drew a line behind her. A raging torrent immediately appeared in the sky. This is the so-called River of Heaven. The Cowherd and his children could not get past this wide and swollen river. Heartbroken, he and his children could only look and weep bitterly. Moved by their mournful crying, the King of Heaven decided to allow the separated couple to meet on a bridge of magpies on the seventh night of the seventh Lunar month each year.
一日，牛郎从地里回来看见孩子们坐在地上哭，忙到织布机前看，没人。孩子说，有个老太太把妈妈抓走了。牛郎记起了老牛对他说的话，他把孩子放到两个箩筐里，披上牛皮，挑起箩筐，突然，他轻如浮云，飞向天空。眼看快追上了，王母娘娘听到了小孩的哭声，她朝后一望，从头上取下金簪，在身后划了一道，天空中立马出现一条奔腾的河，这条河就叫天河。天河太宽，河水湍急，牛郎飞不过去，只能看着织女飞走，父子三人哭得揪心裂胆，天帝见此情景，大为感动，遂允许牛郎织女每年农历七月初七在天河上鹊桥相会。
The poor couple each became a star, the Cowherd, Altair and the Girl Weaver, Vega. The wide river that kept them apart is known as the Milky Way.
这对可怜的夫妻变成了星星，牛郎变成了牵牛星，织女成了织女星，把他们分开的河就是银河。
This sad love story has passed from generation to generation. It is well known that very few magpies are seen on the Double-Seventh Day. This is because they all fly to the Milky Way to form a bridge for the meeting of the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver. And the next day the magpies' heads are bald because the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver walked and stood too long on the heads of their loyal feathered friends.
这个悲楚动人的故事一代代相传。据说，七月初七那天，喜鹊很少，因为他们都要飞到银河上为牛郎织女搭起约会的桥。由于牛郎和织女在上面站的时间太长了，次日，这些忠实的喜鹊头都变秃了。
The Double-Seventh Day in China is considered by many the Chinese Valentine's Day.
在中国，许多人把"七夕节"当成本族的情人节。
七夕情人节祝福语大全(英文)
1. Sasae Weaver cattle days, on the ground, but I and Seoul.
2. Tanabata wish Jinzhao hope, leaves Shannon cancellative residual resentment. Figure permanent, v. anxious.
3. God gave me an excuse about you, people who love children, and you ride every day is Valentine's Day.
4. Tanabata Night stars Ma Ma, look at both water fish. I think your heart acid, was only thinking about the situation? Fate sky
5. I am grateful to you for giving me the happiest in his life time, today is the Chinese Valentine's Day, I wish we were never in love, old age ! Deep kiss you! ! :)
6. Kiss you and I, private Shou tower, Yongding Bridge Night life!
7. On video, such as day light, the vast Ag Cream; Tanabata Bridge will, Sally flowers, beautiful blend; cents magpie bridge together, Haosheng happiness!
8. The sky similar to Cowboy Weaver Bridge, Bridge on the ground about a group of idiots. How: Xi今夕what? The answer: The Chinese Valentine's Day!
9. Weaver Crescent do not have convergence, and this ex-Cowboy back. Bridge Point finishing up tearful eyes, good morning beautiful not.
10. I belong to us, such as Night of Tanabata. You will come? So I will! ! !
11. We do not Cowboy Weaver, because they are geographically too far and too short to meet again; we have to do our own because there are close to you in my heart I firmly !
12. Of foreign countries to send Valentine's Day roses, China Xian-moon day of the Tanabata.
13. My dear, today is Valentine's Day in China. Far, and to send you a Valentine's Day kiss! Chinese-style.
14. Love always, accompanied by Tanabata, Tanabata is proof of our love! /)
15 , a dream wedding day, July 7, Cowboy Weaver, Bridge meet, the Chinese Valentine's, said for the festival, Tanabata tide, everlasting and unchanging.
16. Miss the sweet melancholy, it can naturally jealous women knead into a sad, melting into a deep sense of affection, like bringing the moonlight, bright.
17. Milky Way above, I wait, a few of the fate the world, have turned into a bit of crystal tears, shed凡间left the world with unlimited blessings!
18. Galaxy fall, love boil, with a total than Acacia.
19. lying Meiyuan Tanabata, Viagra middle of the night sky look, Cowboy Weaver wished away, never accompanied Yushui infatuated.
20. Kam Weaver, Cowboy Hexi hope. Hejian Bridge frame, Tanabata short end. willing to love, never missing Moon. I would like to the Galaxy lost, to the two stars never clean!
21. Unforgiving time and space will be separated from you and me, but would like your heart is still agitated, 77 meet!
22. Xinghe vast, I can not find traces of you; long night, can you feel my yearning?
23. Has always been the Western Valentine's Day, why we do our own Valentine's Day? In this beautiful day with us too, please? I'll wait for you!
24. My sweetheart is a matchless hero, I know that one day he would fight wearing colorful clothing, follow Bridge to meet me, today you can come? Weaver you!
25. 100 birds to build bridges, Kelly Chuanshu,, Tanabata long associated with the Eagle! ! !
26. You said the festival, however foreigners, today is Tanabata Chinese Valentine's Day, the bar ha ha!
1. 天有牛郞织女，地上金童玉女，唯吾与尔。
2. 七夕如愿盼今朝，红叶香残怨可消。朝朝暮暮图永久，缠缠绵绵诉心焦。
3. 上天又给我一个约你的借口，相爱的人儿，与你共渡，天天都是情人节。
4. 七夕之夜星麻麻，看着水里鱼双双。想到了你心一酸，唯有想着当初情?缘份天空
5. 很感谢你给我了一生中最快乐的时光，今天是中国的情人节，祝我们俩永远相爱，白头偕老!深深的吻你!!:)
6. 亲亲你我， 私守楼阁，鹊桥之夜永定今生!
7. 月影光如昼，银霜茫茫;七夕会鹊桥，情意绵绵。仙花团锦簇，美景交融;仙鹊聚天桥，好生幸福!
8. 天上牛郎织女相约鹊桥，地上一群傻瓜约会断桥。试问：今夕是何夕?答曰：中国情人节!
9. 织女不用敛蛾眉，前度牛郎今又回。鹊桥执手望泪眼，良晨美景不思归。
10. 我在等属于我们的七夕之夜。你会来吗?我会等的!!!
11. 我们不做牛郎织女，因为他们相距太远而相见又太短;我们要做我们自己，因为有你在我身边把我的心牢牢拽住!
12. 外国的情人节送玫瑰，中国的七夕日献月饼。
13. 亲爱的,今天是中国情人节。远远的，送你一个情人节的吻!中国式。^v^
14. 相爱永远，相伴七夕，七夕就是我们爱的证明!/}
15. 柔情似水，佳期如梦，七月七日，牛郎织女，鹊桥相会，中国情人，曰为节日，共度七夕，天长地久。
16. 思念是甜蜜的惆怅，它能把女性天生的嫉妒搓揉成忧伤，溶成一片浓浓的深情像月光皎洁，明亮。
17. 银河之上，一世的等待，几世的缘分，都化作了滴滴晶莹的泪珠，洒下凡间，留给世人无限的祝福!
18. 银河陷落，爱意沸腾，总不比乞巧合欢。
19. 羽儿七夕卧梅苑、伟哥夜半望天边、牛郎织女遥祝愿、痴情鱼水永相伴。
20. 织女绣云锦，牛郎河西盼。鹊桥河间架，七夕终短暂。愿爱长相依，月儿永无缺。我欲银河逝，予两星永洁!
21. 无情的时空将你我分隔，但想你的心儿依旧难平，七七相见!
22. 茫茫星河，我无法找到你的踪迹;漫漫长夜，你能否感觉我的思念?
23. 老是过西方的情人节，为什么不过我们自己的情人节呢?在这美好的日子里我们一起过 好吗?我等你!
24. 我的心上人是个盖世英雄，我知道，总有一天他会身披五彩战衣，踏着鹊桥来接我，今天你能来吗?你的织女!
25. 百雀筑桥，星梦传书，星语心愿，七夕与君长相伴!!!
26. 你说不过洋人的节，今天是七夕中国人的情人节，哈哈躲不过了吧!