登高望远话重阳

　　九月九日忆山东兄弟
　　【唐】白居易
　　独在异乡为异客，
　　每逢佳节倍思亲。
　　遥知兄弟登高处，
　　遍插茱萸少一人。

　　下周二就是九月九日重阳节了，秋高气爽，登高远望，畅饮菊花酒，遍插茱萸头……这个古老节日的起源和传说，你还记得吗？

　　起源：重阳节是九月初九，略懂周易的同学肯定知道，9是阳数中最大的一个，九月初九，自然就“重阳”了么。

　　Origins: The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy that forms a basis to the Chinese world view, yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. The number nine is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth month is a double yang day, hence the name "Chong Yang Festival". (Chong means "repeat" in Chinese.) The ninth month also heralds the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and filial Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would then be burnt as offerings.

　　习俗：登高、赏菊花、差茱萸……这些古老的习俗，你体验过吗？

　　Climbing mountains: On the Double Ninth Festival, people customarily climb mountains, appreciate chrysanthemum flowers, drink chrysanthemum wine, eat double-ninth cakes, and wear the zhuyu (茱萸) plant, Cornus officinalis. (Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.). The Double Ninth Festival is also the "Old Men Festival". Old people are especially meant to improve their health by taking part in the activities on the day of the festival.

　　Family get-togethers: The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one's ancestors, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they underwent. Often, family outings are organized during which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm their love and concern for family members and close friends.

注释：

　　1、提到表示某个传统节日时，一定不能用英语单词中现成的月份，比如今天的重阳节就不说September 9。所以这里用的是the ninth day of the ninth lunar month。

　　2、The Warring States Period就是中国的战国时期了，春秋时期就是The Spring and Autumn Period。

　　3、yin和yang这两个词很多外国人是懂的，别以为他们不懂。在CSI的一集里，Gil和Catherine调查一桩用钝器（猜测是锤子）谋杀的案件，他们在比较死者头部的伤口和在现场发现的锤子的时候需要做模型，Gil冲着Catherine说："I've got the yang, and you've got the yin."

　　 4、中国有句话叫"百善孝为先，"英语可以粗略的翻译成Among all the virtues, filial piety is the best.

雅思口语考试中的“传统”话题

　　 雅思口语考试中很少直接问到关于“传统”（tradition）的考题，但“传统”之所以作为考生公认的魔鬼话题，其原因就在于该话题具备了两大特性：隐蔽和深度。

　　隐蔽是指涉及传统的考题往往用其它话题来隐藏自己，或者换句话说，很多其它话题中会隐含有传统的意味。举例来说，关于history、culture、arts, 甚至关于wedding、handicraft、food的话题中，都有可能藏有“modern vs. traditional”的对立。随着全球化浪潮的风起云涌，许多传统文化、传统思想以及传统习俗都被抛诸脑后甚至烟消云散。现代的观念、价值以及伦理规范取而代之，形成了一次又一次的碰撞和对抗，孰是孰非，就要看你如何在“传统”话题上的把握了。

　　至于传统类话题的深度，可以说是不言而喻的——没有一定的词汇根底、没有驾驭复杂句型的能力、缺乏对社会现状的思考，这样的考生是很难把该话题说好的，不少人甚至都没有想到传统竟然可以作为一种有效的答题思路。