2015-08-17
農曆七月到了，家裡開始準備中元普渡要拜拜的東西，可是有好多外國朋友都不知道這是什麼節日，好兄弟、拜拜的英文我都不會說，還有這麼多的鬼月禁忌又該怎麼跟他們說明呢？
中元普渡可說是漢文化的一大盛事，代表著漢人對鬼魂的敬畏。為避免太艱澀的文字，我們盡量用些日常生活用字來介紹深具傳統文化意義的中元節吧！ 
In Taiwan, the 7th month of the lunar calendar is known as Ghost Month.
在台灣，農曆七月又稱為鬼月。
In Chinese folk religion, this is the time when the gates to the underworld open and ghosts and spirits return to the world of the living.
在中國的民間習俗裡，通往陰間的鬼門會在這個時節打開，所有的鬼魂都會回到人間。
During Ghost Month, people honor their ancestors with offerings of food and fruit.
人們在鬼月會以食物蔬果來祭祖。
Sometimes, they even set a place at the table for their deceased relatives.
有時，他們甚至會在飯桌上為已過世的親人留一個位子。
People also light incense and burn ghost money so the spirits won’t be poor in the underworld.
人們也會點香、燒金紙給那些鬼魂，讓他們在陰間不會太窮。
On the 15 day of Ghost Month, the Ghost Festival is held.
中元普渡在鬼月的15號舉行。
At temples all over Taiwan, feasts are held to feed and entertain wandering ghosts.
台灣各地所有廟宇都會舉辦筵席，讓孤魂野鬼都有東西吃、使他們開心。
These are the spirits of people who have no descendants to worship them.
這些都是沒有後代子嗣祭拜的孤魂野鬼。
People believe that if they aren’t kept happy, they can cause problems for the living.
人民相信，如果這些孤魂野鬼不快樂，可能會給活著的人帶來很多困擾。
Families and businesses also make offerings to the wandering ghosts.
不論是一般家庭還是公司行號都會準備供品給孤魂野鬼。
These offerings are placed on tables outside so the spirits won’t enter people’s homes.
這些供品會放在戶外的供桌上，鬼魂就不會進到家中。
There are a lot of taboos during Ghost Month.
鬼月有很多禁忌。
It’s bad luck to say the word “ghost,” so they’re called “good brothers” instead.
直接說「鬼」不吉利，因此改稱呼「好兄弟」。
Things like weddings, trips and business deals are avoided during Ghost Month.
結婚、旅行或是做買賣等等，都要避免在鬼月進行。
You’re not supposed to whistle, because that could attract ghosts to your home.
你不應該吹口哨，這樣會把鬼魂引去你家。
If you buy a car during Ghost Month, you’ll be more likely to have an accident.
如果在鬼月買車，很有可能會遇上意外。
You shouldn’t go swimming, because ghosts in the water may drown you.
千萬不要去游泳，因為水鬼可能會把你拖走。
【Vocabulary Bank】
● lunar calendar 農曆
● the underworld 陰間
● ancestor 祖先
● offerings 供品
● deceased 已去世的
● incense 香
● the Ghost Festival 中元普渡
● descendant 後代子孫
● worship 祭拜
● wandering ghosts 孤魂野鬼
● taboo 禁忌
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