【網路中國節·重陽】各國“老人節”關鍵詞你get了嗎
九月初九又重陽。在中文裏，“九”與“久”同音，寄託著對老人健康長壽的祝福。自古重陽節就是中國傳統的“敬老節”。今年的重陽節，你是準備回家與長輩飲酒吃糕聚天倫，還是出外登高插茱萸？在中國2013年7月1日實施的《老年人權益保障法》中更是明確規定，每年的農曆九月初九為全國法定的“老年節”。
Chongyang Festival, or the Double Ninth Festival, falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In Chinese, “nine” shares the pronunciation with “long”, so “double ninth” expresses people’s wish for a long and healthy life for the elderly. Chongyang Festival has been a holiday for showing respect to the elderly since ancient times. This year’s Chongyang, are you heading back home to celebrate it with the elderly by drinking wine and eating Chongyang cake, or climbing up high and wearing dogwood? The “Law of the People's Republic of China on Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly”, which came into effect on July 1st, 2013, stipulates that the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar each year shall be the Day of Older Persons.
許多國家都有自己的“老人節”。這些節日體現著不同文化中對於“老”，以及如何面對“老”的理解。
Many countries celebrate their own Day of Older Persons. These festivals show various understandings of old age and their respective mindsets towards “being an elderly” in different cultures.
加拿大的老人節定在每年的6月21日，也稱“笑節”，因為每逢這一天，子女送給老人的禮物並非什麼珍貴的紀念品，而是幽默和歡笑。
In Canada, the Senior Citizens’ Day falls on June 21st every year. The day is also nicknamed the “Day of Laughter”. On this day, people give their elderly parents humor and laughter as presents, instead of expensive things.
希臘每年金秋季節，都要擇“吉日”來舉行老人節。節日活動除了文藝節目外，還會舉行老人賽跑，參加賽跑活動的老人在70歲以上。
In Greece, people will choose an “auspicious day” to celebrate their Day of Older Persons. Other than entertainment activities, senior citizens — more accurately, those who are over 70, will race running.
美國的老人節也叫“祖父祖母節”，自1978年起，將每年9月份美國勞動節後的第一個星期日，定為美國的祖父祖母節，這天全美各地都要舉辦敬老活動。
America’s Day of Older Persons is also called “Grandparents’ Day”. Since 1978, the festival has been celebrated on the first Sunday in September after Labor Day every year. Various activities will be held on this day to show respect and care for the elderly.
波蘭同樣有“祖父祖母節”，但包括兩個節日——祖母節為1月21日，祖父節為1月22日。年輕的爸爸媽媽會在這兩天把孩子交給祖父母來照顧，以增進祖孫之間的感情及互動。
Grandparents’ Day is also celebrated in Poland, but on two dates — Grandmother’s Day on January 21st, and Grandfather’s Day on January 22nd. On these days, young parents will bring their young children to their grandparents, so that they could spend more time together and develop closer bonds.
日本是一個人口老齡化的國家，因此對老年人的福利相當重視。每年9月的第三個星期一，是日本的“敬老日”，要開展敬老活動，為老人體檢 、整理修繕房屋、敬贈紀念品等。這天連股市也會休市，兒女們再也找不著“繁忙”的藉口，齊齊返家陪伴老人。
Japan is a country with a large portion of ageing population, therefore the country attaches great significance to the wellbeing of senior citizens. The Japanese celebrate “Respect for the Aged Day” on the third Monday of every September. On this day, physical check-ups will be held for the elderly, and the young will help the elderly with chores, send gifts to the elderly and so on. On this day, even stock markets will close, so that the young could put aside their work and go home to spend quality time with the elderly.
各國雖然在不同時間以不同形式舉辦各種敬老活動，但都表達了對年老者的尊敬與關愛，尤其是在全球人口老齡化普遍存在的當下，這既是社會與家庭的內在需要，也體現著人類文明的傳承與發展。
Although the dates and forms of the festival differ in different countries, they share the respect and care for the elderly. Nowadays, population aging is prevalent, so respecting and caring for the senior citizens has become natural for the whole society and for every household. It is also the embodiment of the inheritance and development of human civilization.
