The Lantern Festival has been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 221 AD).
自汉代（公元前206年—公元221年）起，元宵節就已成了春節庆贺勾當的一部門了。
It is said that the holiday evolved from an ancient Chinese belief that celestial spirits could be seen flying about in the light of the first full moon of the lunar calendar. To aid them in their search for the spirits, people used torches. These torches gave way to lanterns of every shape, size and color.
听说，元宵節由古代中國的小額借款，一個傳说演變而来，傳言每至夏历第一個月圆之夜，即可看到天上飞動的神灵。為了更易尋觅神灵，人們城市用火炬照明，而這些火炬也逐步被外形、巨细、色彩各别的灯笼所代替。
Despite the fact that most Chinese dynasties had curfews during the night, all the people were allowed to stay out on the days around the Lantern Festival. The Chinese women, who had to stay indoors for most of their lives, were permitted to admire the lanterns and the full moon on the day as well.
中國古代的大大都朝代都在夜晚履行宵禁，可是在元宵節先後那几天，容许人們在外留連。古代中國女性一辈子大部門時候都深居闺中，在元宵節之夜她們也获准可以出門赏灯弄月。
Therefore, it was almost the only time for young men and women to meet with each other and fall in love, according to experts.
是以，元宵節是青年男女可以相見并相恋的独一機遇。
The other evidence of the Lantern Festival being Chinese Valentine’s Day is recorded in Chinese literature. In the thousands of ancient poems passed on from the Tang and Song dynasties, many depicted ardent love for their partners.
元宵節是中國恋人節的另外一個證實記實在中國的文學作品中。唐宋時代数千首古诗中，不少都@描%4sm2C%写對朋%1A931%友@的密意。
The Lantern Festival Night - to the tune of Green Jade Table
by Xin Qiji 许渊冲、许明译
One night's east wind adorns a thousand trees with flowers
And blows down stars in showers.
Fine steeds and carved cabs spread fragrance en route;
Music vibrates from the flute;
The moon sheds its full light
While fish and dragon lanterns dance all night.
In gold-thread dress, with moth or willow ornaments,
Giggling, she melts into the throng with trails of scents
But in the crowd once and again
I look for her in vain.
When all at once I turn my head,
I find her there where lantern light is dimly shed.
元宵節的其他風俗
猜字谜
Part of the lantern festival tradition involves a game to guess riddles attached to the lanterns. In the old days the riddles were literary allusions to the Chinese classics and so were mainly the preserve of the educated classes.
元宵節傳统風俗中有猜字谜的遊戲。在曩昔，這些谜语大多與中國文學典故有關，以是猜字谜之前多為常识分子的“领地”。
Like most Chinese festivals, the Lantern Festival has its own special food, called "yuanxiao" or "tangyuan". These are round, glutinous rice dumplings with sweet or saly fillings. The dumplings are said to symbolize both the first full moon and family unity and completeness.
與大大都中國節日同样，元宵節一样有本身的特點小吃，称為“元宵”或“汤圆”。元宵形状圆圆的，外皮由糯米制成，內馅或甜或咸。人們都说汤圆有两個意味意义，一為夏历的第一個满月，二為家庭團圆美满。
舞龙舞狮
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Stilt-walking, dru妹妹ing and dragon and lion dancing are all traditional forms of festival ente廢鐵回收,rtainment. In Asia, it is not unco妹妹on to see processions of hundred-foot long dragons, lit with flashing eyes and luminous bodies, accompanied by pounding drums, cymbals and bras新竹叫小姐,s instruments.
踩高跷，敲鼓和舞龙舞狮都是一些傳统節日的文娱勾當。在亚洲，人們常常能看到如许的場景：数百英尺的长龙，闪闪發光的眼睛和亮晶晶的身躯，四周另有敲锣打鼓、演奏铜管樂器的步队。
Today, the connotation of love in the festival has been almost lost, as young couples could date whenever they want and women are no longer confined indoors. But the lantern shows remain the focus of the festival.
現在，元宵節中跟恋爱有關的寄义已消散殆尽，女性再也不深居简出，年青的情侣們随時可以約會。不外，灯展照旧是元宵節的重头戏。
祝大師元宵節快活！
People celebrate the Lantern Festival at a park in Weifang, East China’s Shangdong province on March 1, 2018. [Photo/IC]