Where do people hide the dragon boats after the races?
AI anchor Alan knows it.
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Expat's Journal ?
端午節(jié)的精神
The Spirit of the Dragonboat Festival
比賽結束后，龍舟會被存放在河流的淤泥中。據說這是為了保護它們，使它們保持良好的狀況以備比賽。挖掘和清洗龍舟是一項充滿儀式感的活動，需要人們花費多日來確保龍舟光亮如新以及適合比賽。龍頭和龍尾平時會被供奉在當地的祠堂里，并在起龍儀式后，重新安裝到船體內。人們通常會把一些新鮮的綠葉插入龍口，象征著生命力和準備應節(jié)食物的時間到了。
After the races, the racing boats are stored in the silty water of the river during the seasons they are not used. This is supposed to preserve them and keep them in good condition for the races. The digging up and cleaning is a ritual event of itself, taking many days to make sure it is shiny and match-fit. The dragon head and tail are usually blessed in at the local temple and ceremonially re-installed on the boat itself after the “dragon boat raising”. Some fresh green leaves are lodged into the dragon’s mouth as a symbol of vitality and time to prepare food.?
當然，在這樣一個幅員遼闊的國家里，我遇到的傳統也是各不相同——哪怕是在相鄰的村莊之間。這也是在中國生活的一大樂趣。當我回到新西蘭，家人和朋友問及這里的傳統時，我需要不斷地解釋，我所體驗的傳統習俗并不一定代表整個國家都這樣做。我發(fā)現，在這個文化燦爛的國家，很少有傳統習俗是普遍一致的。每個傳統都有其多樣性，發(fā)現當中的不同層面也是一種簡單的美好。就像一朵蓮花綻放，呈現無盡的復雜性。
Of course, in such a large country, I come across many different and varying traditions, even between neighbouring villages. But this is part of the fun of being here. When my family and friends back in New Zealand ask me about traditions. I need to clarify that what I have experienced is not necessarily the definitive style across the country. I have found there are very few things that can be said to be universally Chinese traditions that are the same across such a vast culture. ?There is always variety within every tradition and there is a simple beauty of discovering the many layers within. Much like a lotus flower opening up to reveal untold complexity.
我覺得這正是這些節(jié)日的精髓所在。不僅僅是活動本身，更是人們聚集在一起，分享經歷、美食和歡樂的時光。我耗時數年才逐漸領會這種精神。一開始，你只是作為局外人和活動的旁觀者，心想：“好吧，很酷！然后呢？就這樣？”你需要融入這些文化和社群，才能感受到那種氛圍。當你參加這些活動，隨機遇到許多朋友和新相識的人，你才能真正感受到端午節(jié)的精神。
I think this is the true essence of these festivals. Not so much the events themselves but the coming together of people and sharing experiences, food and joy. It took many years for me to get into this spirit. At first you attend such events as an outsider and a spectator and think “ok, cool, and then what? Is that it?”. It takes being embedded into the culture and society to get a sense of the atmosphere. When you turn up to these events and randomly bump into many friends and acquaintances, then you really feel the spirit of the Dragonboat festival.
【出品】ZICC中山市海外傳播中心 中山英文網
【統籌】陳慧 劉捷
【編導】廖薇 潘曉佳
【視頻制作】廖嘉麗 胡超超 林嘉明
【翻譯】廖薇 李靖 實習生 汪羽涵
【文字/英文校對】 ?Donald Kepple
【素材來源】中山市海外傳播中心
編輯? ?李靖? 二審? 廖薇? 三審 陳慧
