传统节日英文介绍之元宵节

中国传统节日：元宵节

Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March in

the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a

festival with great significance.

This day's important activity is watching lanterns. Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220),

Buddhism flourished in China. One emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch sarira, or

remains from the cremation of Buddha's body, and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the 15th

day of the 1st lunar month, so he ordered to light lanterns in the imperial palace and temples to

show respect to Buddha on this day. Later, the Buddhist rite developed into a grand festival among

common people and its influence expanded from the Central Plains to the whole of China.

Till today, the lantern festival is still held each year around the country. Lanterns of various shapes

and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. Children will hold self-made or

bought lanterns to stroll with on the streets, extremely excited.

piece of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have solutions to the riddles, they can pull

the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answer. If they are right, they will get a

little gift. The activity emerged during people's enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty

(960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all

social strata.

People will eat yuanxiao, or rice dumplings, on this day, so it is also called the

Festival.

rice flour with rose petals, sesame, bean paste, jujube paste, walnut meat, dried fruit, sugar and

edible oil as filling. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried or steamed. It tastes sweet and delicious. What's