 |
 |
 |
 |
The Lantern Festival is a traditional festival for Chinese people. It is celebrated on the 15 th day of the first lunar month, and in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. The festival started from Western Han Dynasty and the activity of lanterns was in Eastern Han Dynasty. Emperor Ming promoted the Buddhism in Han Dynasty. It is said that lighting lanterns was to respect the Buddha on January fifteenth (lunar month). Therefore, Ming Emperor ordered all imperial palaces and temples to do it and hung the lanterns on the streets. Because of the Buddhism ceremony, this festival gradually becomes a magnificent tradition.
對人們來說元宵節是個傳統的節日。慶祝於農曆一月十五日，而在國曆二或三月。此節慶開始於東漢明帝時期而賞燈活動是在西漢時期。東漢明帝提倡佛教，據說在一月十五日點燈有著敬佛的意義。因此，明帝命令這一天夜晚在皇宮和寺廟必須這麼做。由於佛教禮儀，節日逐漸形成民間盛大的節日。
The activity of Lantern Festival was spread with the development of history. The ways of celebrating were different in every Dynasty, such as just one day in Han, three days in Tong and five days in Song. In Ming Dynasty, moreover, it lights the lanterns from eight o’clock in the morning of 15 th day to the night on the 17th day. Lantern Festival is connected to New Year’s Day.
元宵節活動隨著歷史發展而擴展。在每個時代，慶祝方式就不同，例如漢代才一天，唐代為三天則宋代為五天。在明代更是從初八點燈，一直到正月十七日的夜裡才落燈。伴隨著，元宵節與新年緊密聯繫著。
對人們來說元宵節是個傳統的節日。慶祝於農曆一月十五日，而在國曆二或三月。此節慶開始於東漢明帝時期而賞燈活動是在西漢時期。東漢明帝提倡佛教，據說在一月十五日點燈有著敬佛的意義。因此，明帝命令這一天夜晚在皇宮和寺廟必須這麼做。由於佛教禮儀，節日逐漸形成民間盛大的節日。
The activity of Lantern Festival was spread with the development of history. The ways of celebrating were different in every Dynasty, such as just one day in Han, three days in Tong and five days in Song. In Ming Dynasty, moreover, it lights the lanterns from eight o’clock in the morning of 15 th day to the night on the 17th day. Lantern Festival is connected to New Year’s Day.
元宵節活動隨著歷史發展而擴展。在每個時代，慶祝方式就不同，例如漢代才一天，唐代為三天則宋代為五天。在明代更是從初八點燈，一直到正月十七日的夜裡才落燈。伴隨著，元宵節與新年緊密聯繫著。
(1) Eating Yuanxiao 吃元宵
People usually celebrate the festival by eating “tangyuan” or “ yuanxiao”. It is said that the name is from a maiden in Han Dynasty who was called Yuanxiao. Tangyuan is mostly made of glutinous rice flour filled of either sweet or savory fillings. Some people like to eat sweet tangyuan filld with peanut powder, black sesame seeds or red beans, but others like savory favor like meat, mushroom or vegetables. The method of cooking tangyuan is very easy-just put tangyuan into boiling water for a few minutes. The most important is eating Yuanxiao symbolizing that we grow up.
人們通常吃湯圓來過元宵節，且我們稱它為「元宵」。據說此名來自於名叫元宵的漢代侍女。湯圓是由糯米粉加上甜的餡料或鹹的餡料所製成。有人喜歡吃花生粉、芝麻或紅豆口味的甜湯圓，但有人喜歡肉、香菇或蔬菜口味的鹹湯圓。湯圓的烹煮方式非常簡單，只有將湯圓放入沸騰的水，烹煮幾分鐘就能完成了。且最重要的是吃元宵代表我們長大一歲。
(2) Guessing lantern riddles猜燈謎
Guessing lantern riddles originally started from Song Dynasty. Lantern owners just write the riddles on a piece of paper and show on the lanterns. Then, If a visitor knows the answer, he can get the paper and search for the owner to check his answer. If it is correct, he obtains a gift. So, it is extra interesting for people to guess the riddles except for watching lanterns.
猜燈謎起源於宋代。燈籠所有者將燈謎寫在一張紙條上並將它展示在燈籠上，之後如果賞燈者知道答案，他可以帶著紙條去尋找燈籠所有者確定答案。若正確，他將獲得禮物。所以除了賞燈外猜謎對人們來說變得另類有趣。
(3) Watching fireworks看煙火
During the day of Lantern Festival,people celebrate with performances, such as dragon and lion dance, a land boat dance, a yangge dance and walking on stilts. And at night, we can watch the fireworks shining in the sky to form a beautiful scene.
在元宵節這天，人們透過元宵表演來慶祝，例如舞龍舞獅、滑早船、插秧歌以及踩高蹺。而在晚上，我們可以看到綻放在天空的閃耀煙火所形成的美麗景色。
People usually celebrate the festival by eating “tangyuan” or “ yuanxiao”. It is said that the name is from a maiden in Han Dynasty who was called Yuanxiao. Tangyuan is mostly made of glutinous rice flour filled of either sweet or savory fillings. Some people like to eat sweet tangyuan filld with peanut powder, black sesame seeds or red beans, but others like savory favor like meat, mushroom or vegetables. The method of cooking tangyuan is very easy-just put tangyuan into boiling water for a few minutes. The most important is eating Yuanxiao symbolizing that we grow up.
人們通常吃湯圓來過元宵節，且我們稱它為「元宵」。據說此名來自於名叫元宵的漢代侍女。湯圓是由糯米粉加上甜的餡料或鹹的餡料所製成。有人喜歡吃花生粉、芝麻或紅豆口味的甜湯圓，但有人喜歡肉、香菇或蔬菜口味的鹹湯圓。湯圓的烹煮方式非常簡單，只有將湯圓放入沸騰的水，烹煮幾分鐘就能完成了。且最重要的是吃元宵代表我們長大一歲。
(2) Guessing lantern riddles猜燈謎
Guessing lantern riddles originally started from Song Dynasty. Lantern owners just write the riddles on a piece of paper and show on the lanterns. Then, If a visitor knows the answer, he can get the paper and search for the owner to check his answer. If it is correct, he obtains a gift. So, it is extra interesting for people to guess the riddles except for watching lanterns.
猜燈謎起源於宋代。燈籠所有者將燈謎寫在一張紙條上並將它展示在燈籠上，之後如果賞燈者知道答案，他可以帶著紙條去尋找燈籠所有者確定答案。若正確，他將獲得禮物。所以除了賞燈外猜謎對人們來說變得另類有趣。
(3) Watching fireworks看煙火
During the day of Lantern Festival,people celebrate with performances, such as dragon and lion dance, a land boat dance, a yangge dance and walking on stilts. And at night, we can watch the fireworks shining in the sky to form a beautiful scene.
在元宵節這天，人們透過元宵表演來慶祝，例如舞龍舞獅、滑早船、插秧歌以及踩高蹺。而在晚上，我們可以看到綻放在天空的閃耀煙火所形成的美麗景色。
http://big5.china.com.cn/ch-jieri/yuanxiao/2.htm
http://www.hitutor.com.tw/lantern-festival- custom.php
http://www.hitutor.com.tw/lantern-festival- custom.php
