My sky

wendy

holding your hand tightly






cannot say for sure the earth is turning alone

for anything i know the presence of the earth is for our meeting

maybe that lonely quiver just can make me understand to treasure your gentleness

when you looked down with full tears

i had learned never to lower my head by the tears

i have found the most strong reason

it is the scene of your smile with self-confident

because the scene of your smile with self-confident

just can bring me luck

it is my great pleasure

i can accompany beside you

i am richy endowed by nature

i am really blessed state

i hold your tightly

i will never down and out

happiness is not a shadow

let love s finger rand through your eyebrows

comfort your sorrow and pains

let us hand in hand to the end of the time

let us walk along together

to feel everything good

a beautiful meeting

the two persons future

Dean

Summer vacation has started. Wendy, Wish you to have a wonderful holiday! Hope you will go on with your English diary. It is good practice to improve your English writing skills.

城市猎人

城市猎人

nothingtosaybutadmire

Dean

城市猎人,
Why not say something? It is a good place for people to share their ideas.

wendy

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.

wendy

Well-known poem

One of the most famous poems about the legend was written by Qin Guan of in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge

Among the beautiful clouds,
Over the heavenly river,
Crosses the weaving maiden.

A night of rendezvous,
Across the autumn sky.

Surpasses joy on earth.
Moments of tender love and dream,
So sad to leave the magpie bridge.


Eternal love between us two,
Shall withstand the time apart.
(Translated by Kylie Hsu)

鹊桥仙
宋·秦观
织云弄巧
飞星传恨
银汉迢迢暗度

金风玉露一相逢
便胜却人间无数

柔情似水
佳期如梦
忍顾鹊桥归路

两情若是久长时
又岂在朝朝暮暮

Compared with love stories in Western legends, the story of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu seems not as intense or passionate. Love doesn''t kill or break up the barrier between them. They just wait patiently on the riverbank, believing that their love can withstand their time apart.

It is faith and emotional liaison instead of physical attraction and desire that is emphasized in the story as well as in many other Chinese folktales（民间故事） about love.

In only a few Chinese folk love stories can be found a description of the physical appearances of the hero and heroine.

In the \"Butterfly Lovers\", the heroine, dressed as a boy to attend school, falls in love with a classmate. After they have lived together as classmates for years, the hero did not have the slightest clue that his best friend is actually a girl!

Chinese ceremonies

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the only Chinese festival devoted to love in the Lunar calendar.

Unlike St. Valentine''s Day in Western countries there is not so much emphasis on giving chocolates, flowers and kisses. Instead, Chinese girls prepare fruits, melons and incense（熏香） as offerings to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft（裁缝）, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands.

In the evening, people sit outdoors to observe the stars. Chinese grannies would say that, if you stand under a grapevine, you can probably overhear what Zhi Nu and Niu Lang are talking about.

wendy

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wendy

引用第74楼城市猎人于07-15-2008 11:41发表的 Re:My sky :
nothingtosaybutadmire

That's very kind of you to say so !

Nice to see youhere ! Glad to share ideas with you !

Dean

The 2008 Olympic opening ceremony will be held in Beijing tonight. Let's enjoy the grand gala on TV. I'm sure it will be a wonderful show.