Ep. K: Zhōngqiū kǎoròu Moon Festival BBQ 中秋烤肉

(想聽2021年5月21日的廣播節目可以點開上面音符圖案的檔案 If you'd like to listen to the original 5/21/2021 radio episode, please click on the above music note to play the file)

Did you know that even though the Mid-autumn Moon Festival is traditionally an East and Southeast Asian Holiday, even in western countries, the mid-autumn full moon also has special importance? In English, every full moon has a special name, but most native English speakers don't know each of the names. Many native English speakers have heard the name of the Mid-autumn full moon, though: the Harvest Moon (just like the video game name!). Even though the names are different, they both refer to the importance of the moon's season, changing from summer to fall, and celebrating the harvest before fall and winter set in.

As for the moon festival's date on the lunar calendar, most Western English-speaking countries don't use the lunar calendar much anymore (except for some holidays), so for those of us with western culture backgrounds, it takes a little learning to catch up. I was really surprised, for example, when I learned that some of my Taiwanese friends and family prefer to celebrate their lunar calendar birthday instead of their Gregorian calendar birthday! It makes it hard for me to remember when their birthday is every year, I get really confused! But living in Taiwan is helpful for that, because on the 1st and 15th days of every lunar month, I see a lot of businesses burning Joss paper (also called ghost money) in metal braziers on the sidewalks outside their company doors. It's a smoky reminder of the date!

In any case, remember the Moon Festival date, and if you have the chance, get some friends together to enjoy Taiwan's fun, and pretty relaxing (especially compared to the Lunar New Year!), Moon Festival BBQ! (Remember to look at the bottom of the post for the song chords!)

你知不知道，雖然中秋節傳統上屬於東亞和東南亞國家的節日，但其實甚至連在西方國家，中秋滿月也有特殊的重要性？在英文，每個滿月都有一個特別的名字，但大部分英語為母語的人並不知道各個滿月的名字．不過，很多英語為母語的人都說過中秋滿月的名字：Harvest Moon（沒錯，就是電動遊戲「牧場物語」的英文名字！）儘管名字不同，但它們都提到了這個月亮季節的重要性，從夏季到秋季的改變以及秋冬來臨前慶祝收成．

至於中秋節在農曆中的日期，大多數講英語的西方國家不再使用農曆了（某些假期除外）．因此對於我們這些具有西方文化背景的人來說，需要花點時間學習和練習才能跟上別的文化．比方說，當我發現一些台灣朋友和家人比較喜歡慶祝農曆生日多於農曆生日，我真的感到非常驚訝！這樣造成我很難記得他們每年甚麼時候要慶祝生日，感覺很困惑！不過住在台灣社會中也容易記得的，因為在台灣，每個農曆月的第一號和第十五號我會看到很多公司在公司門口外的人行道上在火盆中燒金紙（也叫做「鬼錢」）．真是個煙霧瀰漫的日期提醒！

總之，我鼓勵你們去記住中秋節的日期．還有，如果有機會，可以招集一些朋友聚在一起，享受台灣的有趣，並且很輕鬆的（特別是跟農曆過年節日相比！）中秋節烤肉（記得看網頁最下面的地方就可以找到歌曲的和絃囉！）

Moon Festival BBQ Song Lyrics歌詞 

The Mid-autumn Moon Festival　中秋節
Is a special holiday　是一個特別的節日
Lots of Asian countries　很多亞洲國家
Celebrate it in their own way　用自己的方式慶祝

In Taiwan we get together　在台灣我們也會聚聚
on that night too　在那天晚上
And eat and laugh and talk about　然後吃和笑和聊到
the beautiful full moon　美麗的滿月

But while lots of places eat moon cakes　但雖然很多地方會吃月餅
or have a big to-do　或大型的派對
In Taiwan our moon festival　在台灣我們的中秋節
comes with barbecue　會有烤肉活動

The moon festival　中秋節
Has a moon barbecue　有月亮的烤肉活動
In Taiwan on the 15th day of the　在台灣農曆的
8th month on the lunar calendar　八月十五號

We eat barbecue at the　我們吃烤肉
The moon barbecue　有著月亮的烤肉活動
Moon cakes, rabbits, pomelo　月餅、兔子、柚子
At the moon barbecue　有著月亮的烤肉活動

Rabbits, you say? Rabbits it's true　你說兔子嗎？兔子沒錯
In Chinese culture we believe there's a　在中國文化我們相信
Bunny on the moon　月球上有兔子

As for what are pomelos,　至於甚麼叫做柚子
Why, don't you know?　哇，你不知道嗎？
They're a yummy citrus fruit　是個好吃的柑橘類水果
That grow just before　生長在快要到

The moon festival　中秋節
And its moon barbecue　還有月亮的烤肉活動
Moon cakes, rabbits, pomelo　月餅、兔子、柚子
At the moon barbecue　有著月亮的烤肉活動

Try the moon festival　試試看中秋節
Enjoy the moon barbecue　享受月亮的烤肉活動
Moon cakes, rabbits, pomelo　月餅、兔子、柚子
At the moon barbecue　有著月亮的烤肉活動