The Lantern Festival
元宵节
The Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao Festival in Chinese), also known as the Shangyuan Festival, is one of China's important traditional festivals. The "yuan"in "yuanxiao" means "to start" and "xiao" means "night". The Lantern Festivalis celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the first full moon of the Chinese lunar calendar, and that's why it is called Yuanxiao Festival.
元宵节，又称上元节，是中国重要的传统节日之一。“元宵”中的“元”为“开始”的意思，“宵”为夜晚，由于元宵节的庆祝时间为每年农历正月十五，为农历中第一一个月圆之夜，元宵节由此得名。
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According to historical records, the Lantern Festival originated in the Western Han Dynasty and was closely related to the introduction of Buddhism.Before the name of "the Lantern Festival" came into being, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was called "looking out on the first lunar month" (ZhengyueWang in Chinese), a religious festival at first, but became an entertainment festival in the Sui Dynasty. The name of the festival was officially established in the Tang Dynasty, and evolved into the most popular carnival in the Song Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, people got ten days off during the nationwide celebration while we have inherited most traditions of the festival from the QingDynasty.
根据史料记载，元宵节源自西汉，与佛教的传播有重要关系。元宵节的称谓形成前，正月十五被称为“正月望”， 隋朝时期该节日逐渐由全国性宗教节日演变为全民娱乐性节日。元宵节的称谓在唐代得以正式确立，宋代时期发展成为最为热闹的狂欢节。明代元宵节放假十天，官民同欢，举国同庆。清代保留了元宵节的庆祝传统，并一直延续至今。
The main traditional activities to celebrate the Lantern Festival include enjoying the bright full moon, watching lanterns, eating yuanxiao and going to temple fairs. Moreover, appreciating lanterns and guess riddles written on them is a traditional entertaining activity with Chinese characteristic.
赏明月、闹花灯、吃元宵、逛庙会为最主要的传统元宵庆祝活动，其中，赏灯和猜灯谜是节日期间颇具中国特色的传统助兴项目。
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On the Lantern Festival ,larnge scale lantern exhibitions are held through out the country.The Zigong Lantern Show in Southwest China's sichuan province and Yuyuan Lantern show in East China's Shanghai are representative lantern shows with traditional local characteristics.
在元宵节这天，全国各地会举行大型的灯展活动，中国西南部四川省的自贡灯会，上海豫园元宵灯会等都是极具传统性和地方特色的灯会。
The Qinhuai Lantern Show in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province is one of the most famous lantern shows in China.Dating back more than 1,700 years.It is held annually during Lantern Festival and runs for more than 50 days which is inscribed as one of China's first national intangible cultural heritages.It is also the longest running, most attended and grandest lantern show in China .
中国东部江苏省南京市的秦淮灯会是中国最著名的灯会之一，它已经有1700多年历史，每次共持续50多天。它是中国首批国家级非物质文化遗产也是中国持续时间最长参与人数最多规模最大的民俗灯会。
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In addition,there are other regional celebrations such as walking on stilts and performing folk dance.
此外，中国各地还保留了其他庆祝活动，如踩高跷、跑旱船等。
The Lantern Festival is the last big event among all the Spring Festival celebrations. In ancint times, as the one and only carnival in china,the Lanterm Festival provided a rare opportunity for young men and women to get to know each other,and look for their loved ones under beautiful lanterns and colorful lights,which added romantic color to this festival.
元宵节是春节年俗庆祝活动中最后一个重要的节日，在古代，作为一 年中唯一一个狂欢节，元宵节也为平时鲜 有接触的青年男女提供了难得的相识机会，青年人借赏灯之际物色对象，为这个节日平添了一份浪漫。
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In Chinese people's eyes, the celebration of the Lantern Festival means the conclusion of all the Spring Festival celebration activities.People start to take heart and do the work in the new year.
中国人看来，元宵节一过，新年庆祝活动完全结束,人们就开始收心去做新一年的工作。
InJune 2008, the L antern Festival was listed by the Chinese State Council in the second batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the country.
2008 年6月，元宵节被国务院批准列入第二批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
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