The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The ancients called the night "Xiao" and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the first day when the moon is full of one year（“Yuan” means “first” in Chinese）. Therefore, this day is called "Yuanxiao Festival" in Chinese.
每年农历正月十五是我国的传统节日——元宵节。古人称“夜”为“宵”，正月十五又是一年中第一个月圆之日，故这一天被称为“元宵节”。
The formation of the Lantern Festival has a long process, which originated from the ancient custom of lighting for good luck among the Chinese people. According to historical materials and folklore, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month has been valued in the Western Han Dynasty, but it was really regarded as a national folk festival after the Han and Wei Dynasties.
元宵节日的形成有一个漫长的过程，起源于民间开灯祈福的古俗。据史料与民俗传说记载，正月十五在西汉已经受到重视，但真正作为全国民俗节日是在汉魏之后。
It is also thought that the rise of the custom of lighting on the Lantern Festival is related to the eastern transmission of Buddhism, which began in the Eastern Han Dynasty during the Ming Emperor. Emperor Ming of Han revered the Dharma and ordered that lanterns must be lighted on the the fifteenth day of the first lunar month when the Buddha God changed to show the respect. Since then, the custom of lighting on the Lantern Festival spread from the court to the people. Every year on the fifteenth day of the first month, whether the intellectuals, or the common people have to hang lights, which make the urban and rural brilliant through the night. Since the Tang Dynasty, hanging lanterns on the Lantern Festival has become a legal thing.
也有认为元宵节燃灯习俗的兴起与佛教东传有关，始于东汉汉明帝时期。汉明帝崇敬佛法，敕令正月十五佛祖神变之日燃灯，以表佛法大明。此后，元宵放灯的习俗就从宫廷流传到民间，每年正月十五，无论士族，还是庶民都要挂灯，城乡通宵灯火辉煌。从唐代起，元宵张灯即成为法定之事。
In addition to the lanterns, the Lantern Festival also has colorful customs.
除了闹花灯外，元宵节还有异彩纷呈的习俗。
Eat yuanxiao
吃元宵
Yuanxiao also called "tangyuan", with sugar, rose, sesame, bean paste, cinnamon, walnut, nuts, jujube paste filling and glutinous rice flour wrapped into a circle, has different flavors. It can be cooked by boiling, frying, steaming, which has the significance of happy reunion.
元宵即"汤圆"，以白糖、玫瑰、芝麻、豆沙、黄桂、核桃仁、果仁、枣泥等为馅，用糯米粉包成圆形，风味各异。可汤煮、油炸、蒸食，有团圆美满之意。
Guess the lantern riddles
猜灯谜
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the folk hung lanterns and set off fireworks. Later, some people wrote riddles on pieces of paper and pasted them on the colorful lanterns for people to guess. Because riddles can inspire wisdom and cater to the festive atmosphere, so many people respond, and then riddles gradually become an indispensable program of the Lantern Festival.
民间在正月十五挂起彩灯，燃放焰火，后来有好事者把谜语写在纸条上，贴在五光十色的彩灯上供人猜。因为谜语能启迪智慧又迎合节日气氛，所以响应的人众多，而后猜谜逐渐成为元宵节不可缺少的节目。
Walk on stills
踩高跷
Stilt walking is a popular folk performance of mass skills. People step on the tall wooden pole and their bodies rise, which has the meaning of promotion and is sought after by the people.
踩高跷是民间盛行的一种群众性技艺表演。人们踩在高高的木杆上，身体随之升高，有步步高升之意，受民间追捧。
Author: Ding Songbin
Date: February 18, 2024
Photos: Pexels (Authorized)
