最近看到各式月餅、柚子和烤肉用品滿滿堆在架上，沒錯！令人期待的中秋節到嘍！ 在台灣，農曆八月十五日中秋節是個重要民俗節日，也有人稱為團圓節喔！
關於中秋節有好多說法，依曆法來說，農曆八月是秋季的第二個月，因此古時候稱這個月是仲秋，一般老百姓稱中秋，又因為十五日的月亮既圓又亮，所以就選這天是中秋節！提到中秋節，馬上就想到這個節日的主角－月亮，其實有好多民間故事都跟月亮有關，像是美麗的嫦娥奔月、強壯的吳剛伐桂、還有可愛的玉兔搗藥等等，這些有趣的故事不斷流傳至今。
下面這篇是有關中秋節的美語故事，爸爸媽媽可以像讀英文繪本般，說給孩子聽，或是教導小朋友認識幾個應景的美語單字，祝大家中秋節快樂喔！
The Story of the Moon Festival
The Moon Festival is celebrated on August 15 of the Chinese lunar calendar. On this day, families get together for dinner and enjoy Moon gazing outdoors. Can you find the dark shape of a beautiful girl and a rabbit when you look at the Moon?
中秋節在農曆八月十五號慶祝。這天，家庭團聚吃晚餐，享受在戶外賞月。賞月的時候，你可以找出一個漂亮女孩和兔子的陰影嗎?
Thousands of years ago, Chang’e (嫦娥) was a beautiful girl working for the Jade Emperor. One day, the Jade Emperor made a magic pill. Whoever took the pill could live forever. Chang’e stole the pill and swallowed it. She became lighter and lighter and flew up to the Moon.
幾千年前，嫦娥是一個替玉皇大帝工作的漂亮女孩。有一天，玉皇大帝做了一顆神奇藥丸。吃了藥丸的人就能長生不老。嫦娥偷了藥丸並把藥丸吃下去，她變得越來越輕，接著就飛上月亮了。
The Jade Emperor was very angry. He sent the Jade Rabbit to the moon to live with Chang’e. The Jade Rabbit was ordered to make more magic pills, so it always carried a mortar and pestle.
玉皇大帝非常生氣，他派玉兔到月亮上和嫦娥一起住。玉皇大帝命令玉兔做更多神奇藥丸，所以玉兔總是隨身攜帶研缽和杵。
This year when you enjoy Moon gazing and Moon cakes with your family, don’t forget to look for the shapes of Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit on the Moon. You might see them waving down at you!
當你今年和家人一起賞月、吃月餅時，不要忘了找尋月亮上嫦娥和玉兔的影子。你可能會看見他們向你招手呢！
接下來，就來學一些故事中出現過的生活單字吧：
the moon (n.) 月亮
The moon is shining in the sky.
angry (v.) 生氣
Pluto is angry.
a rabbit (n.) 兔子
There is a rabbit hiding in the grass.
a piece of cake (n.) 一塊蛋糕 (隱喻輕而易舉)
The exam was no more than a piece of cake.
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