湖北省武汉市 施竹军 供稿

The 15thday of the 1stlunar(农历的)month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuanmonth and in theancient(古代的)times people called night“Xiao”.The 15thday is the first night of a year to see a full moon.So the day is also called Yuanxiao Festival in China.

农历一月的第十五天是中国的灯笼节，因为农历的第一个月叫做元月，并且古人称夜为“宵”。正月十五是一年中第一个月圆之夜，因此，在中国这一天也被叫做元宵节。

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 toappreciate(欣赏).At this time,people will try to solve thepuzzles(谜语)on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao and get all their familiesunited(团聚).

根据中国的习俗，在新的一年开始的时候，当有满月挂在天空时，应该有成千上万色彩斑斓的灯笼挂起来供人们欣赏。这时，人们会试着猜灯谜、吃元宵、和家人欢聚一堂。

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

关于灯笼节的起源有以下几种不同的说法。

One version tells us that it is a time toworship（膜拜）Taiyi,the God of Heaven in ancient times.It was believed that the God of Heaven controlled thedestiny(命运)of the human world.He had sixteen dragonsat his beck and call（听从吩咐）.And he decided when toinflict(遭受)drought,storms,famine(饥荒)orpestilence(瘟疫)upon human beings.Beginning with Qinshihuang,the firstemperor(皇帝)of China,all the emperors orderedsplendid(盛大的)ceremonies(庆典)each year.The emperor would ask Taiyi to bringfavorable weather(风调雨顺)and good health to him and his people.

一种说法认为这是一个膜拜太乙真人的时候，太乙真人是古代天庭之神。人们相信天庭之神掌管着人类的命运。他有十六条龙随时听命，并且他可以决定人类什么时候干旱、什么时候下暴风雨、什么时候闹饥荒、什么时候闹瘟疫。从中国的第一个皇帝秦始皇开始，所有的皇帝每年都要举行盛大的庆典。皇帝会祈求太乙真人为他和他的子民带来风调雨顺和健康长寿。

The second version is related toTaoism(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 ofentertainment(娱乐),so his followers prepare various kinds of activities during which they pray for good fortune.

第二种说法与道教有关。天官是道教中掌管运气的神仙。他的生日是农历一月的第十五天。据说天官很喜欢各种各样的娱乐活动，因此他的信徒们就准备了各种各样的活动，在此期间，他们会祈求天官赐福。

Another version is that there were many wild animals long ago.They hurt people andlivestock(牲畜).So people were ready to hurt them.A beautifulcrane(鹤)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 theJade 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.

另一种说法是在很久以前，凶禽猛兽很多，四处伤害人和牲畜，人们就组织起来去打它们。一只漂亮的仙鹤困为迷路而降落人间，它被村民捕获并且杀死了。……