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　　在中国，从孕妇十月怀胎到新生儿呱呱坠地，人们通过各种礼仪来表达对生命的敬畏与祝福。今天，我们精选中国外文局所属华语教学出版社出版的《中国民俗文化词典》插图本（英汉对照）中有关人生仪礼的部分内容，探寻那些温馨而庄重的仪式，感受代代相传的文化韵味。

送子观音

Child-granting Guanyin

　　中国民间崇拜的佛教神祗，俗称“送子娘娘”，是观音的化身之一。观音是佛教中救苦救难的菩萨，后与中国生育文化交融，逐渐形成了送子观音的专职形象，并成为中国民间信仰之一，其形象多为怀抱一个婴儿或观音双手合十，前边站着一个童子。人们或到观音庙虔诚参拜或在家中供奉观音神像以求子，与之相关的宗教和民俗活动也非常丰富。

　　One form of Guanyin (Goddessof Mercy) who is believed to have child-bestowing abilities. Guanyin, the most widely beloved Buddhist bodhisattva in China for her infinite compassion and mercy, assumes the role of a fertility goddess after integrating with the Chinese child bearing culture. Child-granting Guanyin is generally portrayed as a young lady holding a baby or with her palms placed together devoutly with a boy in front. People pray to her in her temple or at home infront of her statue to bless them with sons to continue their family line. There are also variegated religious and folk activities related to this practice.

满月酒

celebration of a baby's first month

　　中国民间育儿习俗，即在婴儿满月时举行酒宴庆祝仪式。办满月酒，一方面庆祝婴儿渡过人生第一个难关，另一方面让孩子与亲朋好友见面，接受大家的礼物，为孩子祈祷祝福。老人会给宝宝肩膀上搭花线，脖颈上挂银质百家锁，祝福孩子长命百岁，享受荣华富贵。请满月酒的主人需要提前告知亲朋，被邀请的亲朋需提前准备礼物，待满月酒当天送出。这一天，主人还会邀请理发师为孩子剃去胎毛，有人将婴儿胎毛制成毛笔留作纪念，此举预示孩子将来能“通文弄墨，才学出众”。

　　A Chinese childrearing ceremony in which parents hold a banquetto celebrate their baby turning one month old. During the party, the new born baby is introduced to the extended family and friends for the first time. The celebration of a baby's first month is still practiced today. At the party, the new baby receives various gifts and blessings. The maternal grandparents puts colorful threads on the baby's shoulders and hangs a silver baijiasuo (hundred-family padlock) on his or her neck as a blessing for the baby to live a long and prosperous life. Relatives and friends will also present gifts. The host will also invite a barber to shave the baby's fetal hair, which can be made in to writing brushes, symbolizing the hope that the baby will be intelligent and talented in the future.

过百岁

celebrating the 100th day

　　中国民间育儿习俗，即在婴儿出生满一百天时举行庆祝活动，又称“过百日”“百日礼”。在中国传统观念中，“百”是一个重要数目，有浓重的文化色彩，含有圆满、完全之意，因此，在婴儿出生一百天时家长会邀请亲朋好友参加庆贺宴会，祝愿婴儿健康长寿。

　　A Chinese childrearing ceremony in which a celebratory banquet is held when an infant turns 100 days old. It is also known as "passing the 100th day (guo bairi)" or the "hundredth-day" celebration (bairi li). According to traditional Chinese notions, "100" is an important number which over flows with rich, important cultural implications of "consummation" and "completeness." Therefore, on an infant's 100th day, relatives and friends attend a celebratory banquetto wish the infant a long and healthylife.

抓周

item-grabbing test on the first birthday

　　中国民间传统育儿习俗，又称“试周”。在婴儿一周岁生日当天，父母会在婴儿面前摆放象征不同职业和才气的物件如书、笔、算盘、弓箭、针线等让婴儿选择。据说，婴儿拿起的第一样东西会预示其性情爱好和未来有可能从事的职业。

　　A Chinese childrearing ceremony held on a child's first birthday, also called "testing on the firstbirthday." On that particular day, parents prepare some items which symbolize different occupations and talent, such as books, pens, abacus, bow and arrows, needles and threads. The baby is expected to choose from among those items. It is believed that the first item the baby picks up is indicative of his/her inclinations and hobbies as well as possible future careers.

长命锁

longevity lock

　　中国传统育儿习俗。长命锁是用来祈求孩子健康成长、长命百岁的挂饰，也称“百家锁”。一般在新生儿满百日或周岁时挂在孩子脖子上，有的一直挂到十二岁或成年。其材质为金、银、铜、玉等，通常呈古锁状寓意锁住生命，保佑平安。长命锁大多以银质为主，锁正面一般刻有“长命富贵”、“长命百岁”等吉祥祝语，另一面则有麒麟、老虎、金鱼、莲花、寿桃等吉祥图案，代表人们希望下一代健康平安成长。

　　A pendant worn by new borns starting from the celebration of their hundredth-day or first birthday up to their 12th birthday or when they enter adulthood, as part of a Chinese folk custom about a child's growth, It is a symbol for health and longevity, and is often made of gold，silver, copper, or jade. Typically, it takes the form of an ancient lock, symbolizing a "locking" into life and embodying prayers for safety. Most of longevity locks convey beautiful wishes such as "a long life of abundance and decency" on the obverse and such lucky patterns as a qilin, tiger, gold fish, lotus, or peach on the reverse.

编辑：慕悦