Dragon Boat Day, Dragon Boat Festival與the Dragon Boat Festival　　

■湖南  龍  楠　　

最近輔導孩子學英語，遇到這樣兩道中考題：　　

1. Tomorrow is Dragon Boat Day. My mother and my grandma _______ a big meal for our family now. (2012 湖北黃石)　　

A. are preparing        B. be preparing          C. prepare                 D. prepared　　

2. ―Zongzi _______ to students for free in our dining hall on Dragon Boat Festival. 　　

―Really? That sounds cool! (2012湖北咸寧)　　

A. offer                    B. have offered          C. are offered            D. will be offered　　

這兩道題都涉及了“龍舟節”（或“端午節”）的英文表達，一個用了Dragon Boat Day， 另一個用了Dragon Boat Festival。但筆者認為，前面一個表達是欠妥的，后面一個表達不是最普通的。　　

由于這一問題涉及中國的傳統節日，所以國外的語法書論述很少，但國內的一些語法著作大都有所涉及，普遍的觀點是：表示中國的傳統節日習慣上用festival，而不用day，且其前通常上要用定冠詞。下面是本人從China Daily 上摘錄的幾個句子：　　

△The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar.（摘自 2013-05-30 的China Daily）　　

△...he approach of the Dragon Boat Festival and continuously falling price of gold, gold rice dumplings are becoming a sought after item.（摘自 2013-05-29 的China Daily）　　

△Various cultural events will be held during the traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.（摘自 2013-05-17 的China Daily）　　

在China Daily上也有不用冠詞的例子，相對用the的例子來說少見得多。如：　　

△…many folk activities closely related to China's important traditional festivals, such as Spring Festival, Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival.（摘自 2013-05-09 的China Daily）　　

△All A-class attractions will offer 50 percent discounts on tickets in June (excluding weekends and Dragon Boat Festival).（摘自 2013-05-21 的China Daily）　　

當然，如果Dragon Boat Festival是用于名詞作定語，則其前是否用冠詞以及該用什么冠詞，取決于其后名詞的對冠詞的需要。如：　　

△The Philippines will also not be allowed to take part in Dragon Boat Festival races in Taipei on June 12, Hau said.（摘自 2013-05-11 的China Daily）　　

筆者在BNC（英國國家語料庫）上輸入Dragon Boat Festival，只查到一個例子，是帶有定冠詞的：　　

△Other festivals include the Dragon Boat Festival in June, and the Autumn Mooncake Festival, as well as the National Day with its parades through the city.