編者注：春節(jié)一過，元宵節(jié)就到來了?，F(xiàn)在元宵節(jié)的活動(dòng)也越來越多，不少地方節(jié)慶時(shí)增加了耍龍燈、耍獅子、踩高蹺、劃旱船、扭秧歌、打太平鼓等傳統(tǒng)民俗表演。

The 15th day of the 1st lunar (農(nóng)歷的) month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient (古代的) times people called night “Xiao”. The 15th day is the first night of a year to see a full moon. So the day is also called Yuanxiao Festival in China.

農(nóng)歷一月的第十五天是中國的燈籠節(jié)，因?yàn)檗r(nóng)歷的第一個(gè)月叫做元月，并且古人稱夜為“宵”。正月十五是一年中第一個(gè)月圓之夜，因此，在中國這一天也被叫做元宵節(jié)。

According to the Chinese tradition， at the very beginning of a new year， when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky， there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate (欣賞). At this time， people will try to solve the puzzles (謎語) on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao and get all their families united (團(tuán)聚).

根據(jù)中國的習(xí)俗，在新的一年開始的時(shí)候，當(dāng)有滿月掛在天空時(shí)，應(yīng)該有成千上萬色彩斑斕的燈籠掛起來供人們欣賞。這時(shí)，人們會(huì)試著猜燈謎、吃元宵、和家人歡聚一堂。

There are many different versions about the origin of the Lantern Festival.

關(guān)于燈籠節(jié)的起源有以下幾種不同的說法。

One version tells us that it is a time to worship （膜拜） Taiyi， the God of Heaven in ancient times. It was believed that the God of Heaven controlled the destiny (命運(yùn)) of the human world. He had sixteen dragons at his beck and call （聽從吩咐）. And he decided when to inflict (遭受) drought， storms， famine (饑荒) or pestilence (瘟疫) upon human beings. Beginning with Qinshihuang， the first emperor (皇帝) of China， all the emperors ordered splendid (盛大的) ceremonies (慶典) each year. The emperor would ask Taiyi to bring favorable weather (風(fēng)調(diào)雨順) and good health to him and his people.

一種說法認(rèn)為這是一個(gè)膜拜太乙真人的時(shí)候，太乙真人是古代天庭之神。人們相信天庭之神掌管著人類的命運(yùn)。他有十六條龍隨時(shí)聽命，并且他可以決定人類什么時(shí)候干旱、什么時(shí)候下暴風(fēng)雨、什么時(shí)候鬧饑荒、什么時(shí)候鬧瘟疫。從中國的第一個(gè)皇帝秦始皇開始，所有的皇帝每年都要舉行盛大的慶典?；实蹠?huì)祈求太乙真人為他和他的子民帶來風(fēng)調(diào)雨順和健康長壽。

The second version is related to Taoism (道教). Tianguan is the Taoist god responsible for good fortune. His birthday falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It is said that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment (娛樂)， so his followers prepare various kinds of activities during which they pray for good fortune.

第二種說法與道教有關(guān)。天官是道教中掌管運(yùn)氣的神仙。他的生日是農(nóng)歷一月的第十五天。據(jù)說天官很喜歡各種各樣的娛樂活動(dòng)，因此他的信徒們就準(zhǔn)備了各種各樣的活動(dòng)，在此期間，他們會(huì)祈求天官賜福。

Another version is that there were many wild animals long ago. They hurt people and livestock (牲畜). So people were ready to hurt them. A beautiful crane (鶴) lost its way and fell down to earth from heaven. After it landed on the earth， it was hunted and killed by some villagers. This angered the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝) in Heaven because the crane was his favorite one. Therefore， he ordered his troops to set fire to human beings to destroy people and animals on the fifteenth lunar day.

另一種說法是在很久以前，兇禽猛獸很多，四處傷害人和牲畜，人們就組織起來去打它們。一只漂亮的仙鶴困為迷路而降落人間，它被村民捕獲并且殺死了。玉皇大帝知道后十分震怒，因?yàn)檫@只仙鶴是他的最愛。玉皇大帝立即傳旨，下令讓天兵于正月十五到人間放火，把人間的人畜通通燒死。

Jade Emperor’s daughter was very kind and didn’t want to see the disaster. So she came to the earth and warned (提醒) people of her father’s plan. The village was in turmoil (混亂) because nobody knew how to escape from the disaster. After a long time， a wise man thought out an idea. He said， “Every family should hang red lanterns around their houses and explode (點(diǎn)燃) fireworks (煙花) and firecrackers (爆竹) on the fourteenth， fifteenth， and sixteenth lunar days. This would make Jade Emperor think that people were burn to die.” Everyone thought it was a good idea and went home to prepare.

玉皇大帝的女兒心地善良，不忍看到這場災(zāi)難，于是她就偷偷來到人間，把這個(gè)消息告訴了人們。眾人聽說了這個(gè)消息非常混亂，嚇得不知如何是好。過了好久，才有個(gè)老人家想出個(gè)法子，他說：“在正月十四、十五、十六日這三天，每戶人家都在家里張燈結(jié)彩、燃放煙花爆竹。這樣一來，玉皇大帝就會(huì)以為人們都被燒死了?！贝蠹衣犃硕键c(diǎn)頭稱是，便分頭準(zhǔn)備去了。

On the night of the fifteenth lunar day， Jade Emperor looked down the earth and found that the whole world was on fire， and thunderous (雷鳴般的) noises shocked the heaven. And it continued for three days. Jade Emperor thought that the whole world was on fire， so he was very satisfied (滿意的). So people saved their lives and property. In order to memorize (紀(jì)念) the success， people will hang lanterns on the streets and exploding fireworks and firecrackers on the fifteenth lunar day every year from then on.

到了正月十五這天晚上，玉皇大帝往下一看，發(fā)覺人間一片紅光，響聲震天，連續(xù)三個(gè)夜晚都是如此，以為是大火燃燒的火焰，心中大快。人們就這樣保住了自己的生命及財(cái)產(chǎn)。為了紀(jì)念這次成功，從此以后，每到正月十五，家家戶戶都懸掛燈籠、燃放煙花爆竹。