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Victoria's Blog

WHEAT

WHEAT

China

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August 25, 2009

The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar

This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.

Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.

With the help of celestial cattle, the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh).

Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220). Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD371-420) mention the festival, while records from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, special articles for the "Qi Xi" were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.

Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However, the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, in particular, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China. As a result, owners of flower shops, bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.

December 20, 2008

  Today is the winter solstice, a very old festival in China.Peope in the south will eat the rice pyramid shaped dumplings, and people in the north will eat stuffed dumplings.Different tastes with differnent features.But they are both delicious,of course.

  I am proud being a Chinese. We have so  many wonderful things to share and enjoy.I like my country's cultural traditions.To me, they are lengends and myths which may take my whole life to read and understand.I need to cherish them.Because there is too much knowledge to learn in my country as well as that in others'.

   Maybe I need to go abroad to  learn more and make asurvive ,but my root is here.I like the people full of wisdoms and creativities here.We are family, a warm family.

    As was sang in the Olympic Games,"U and me,from one world.Heart to heart.We are family."

   I think every nation has its own excellent culture wealth.And as a chinese,I welcome more and more people to come to understand the people and the culture here,to enrich ourselves and to make our life much colorful and cheerful.

December 27, 2007

This  afternoon,I  sent a bunch of  beautiful roses to  a  girl.

It's   her  birthday.I  chose  some  red  roses.And  when  I  was  on my  way  back to school,all  the  girls  passing  by looked   at  me .I  could  guess  from   their expressions  on  their  faces.  They  must think one  boy  had  sent  them  to  me.They  were   admiring me,absolutely.

My   god!How   could  I   say?I  felt  a little  angry  when someone  asked  me"Hey,who  sent  you  that?Who's  that  boy?"I  just  said  "Oh,they're  for  my  friend."

In   fact,I really  wish   that  I  could  be  sent  some  roses.But……

I   always  say   to   myself  "Wheat,you needn't   be  worried.Just  wait,there  must  be  someone  who  you  really  love  and  he also   loves  you .That's  true  love.

Rose&Love    belong  to everyone.You  must   believe  in it.And  it's   not   far  away.Love  is   easy   and  life will  also  be  easy.

Don't   worry,be  happy!