中秋时节吃月饼

中秋佳节，大家阖家欢聚的时候，餐桌上肯定少不了代表团圆的月饼。

On the Mid-Autumn day, a traditional Chinese festival for family reunion, mooncakes must be prepared on the dinner table, for it has an auspicious meaning of unity and reunion.

中秋节吃月饼的传统在中国有着悠久的历史，但关于它的起源有着不同的说法。

The tradition of eating mooncakes on this festival has a long history in China, yet there are different versions of statements about its origin.

最常见的版本是，在唐朝唐太宗的统治时期，太宗派出他最能干的将军李靖迎战中国北边的突厥部落以压制他们频繁的入侵。而8月的第15天正好是将军凯旋归来的日子。为了庆祝他的胜利，长安城（唐朝首都）放起了烟花和音乐。长安城的市民和士兵一起享受了一个狂欢的夜晚。那时，一个从吐蕃王国（西藏的古称谓）来的商人呈给太宗一种圆形的蛋糕以庆祝他的胜利。

The most common version is that during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Taizong ordered his ablest general Li Jing to go for a battle against the Turkic clan in north ancient China to suppress their frequent invasions. The 15th day of the 8th month was exactly the day for the general's triumphant return. In order to celebrate his victory, fireworks were set off and music was played in and out of Chang'an City （the capital of the Tang Dynasty）， and citizens were happily enjoying a riotous night together with warriors. At that time, a business man, coming from the Tubo Kingdom （the ancient name for Tibet）， presented Taizong with a kind of round cakes to celebrate Tang's victory.

太宗愉悦地收下了那个精美装饰的盒子，拿出了里面多色的圆蛋糕并分发给了他的官员和将军。从那时起，就形成了在中秋节吃圆形的月饼的传统。

Taizong gladly received the magnificently-decorated boxes and took the multi-colored round cakes out of the boxes and handed them out to his officials and generals. From then on, the tradition of eating round mooncakes on the Mid-Autumn Festival was formed.