我们来看一段相关的英文报道
Much like Western culture's Halloween, some Eastern culturescelebrate a Fall festival where they believe the gates of hell arethrown open, releasing hungry ghosts to wander the earth insearch of food and taking revenge upon those who wrongedthem in life.
和西方文化中的万圣节相似,东方文化中也有对应的在秋季庆祝的节日。该节日源于人们相信这些天地狱之门将大敞,于是那些饿鬼会在人世间行走。它们会觅食,也会向在世时误会过它们的人复仇。
This month-long festival is known as the Hungry Ghost Festival.
这个长达一个月的节日就叫中元节。
People would also burn things such as paper houses, cars, servants and televisions to please theghosts.
在中元节里,人们还会烧些纸房子,纸车,纸佣人和纸电视,来宽慰这些作古之人。
Families also pay tribute to other unknown wandering ghosts so that these homeless souls do notintrude on their lives and bring misfortune and bad luck.
人们也会顺道祭祀一下那些知名不具的野鬼,这样,那些游魂就不会打扰他们的生活,给他们带来不幸和噩运。
【讲解】
文中的“Hungry Ghost Festival”就是“中元节”的意思。中元节,类似于西方的万圣节(AllSaints' Day)和万圣夜(Halloween)。西方的传统节日在国内越来越盛行,但国人也不要忘记自己的传统节日哦。七夕节的说法是“Tanabata Festival”或“Chinese Valentine's Day”;中秋节的说法是“the Mid-Autumn Festival”;元宵节的说法是“Lantern Festival”。