元宵節是我國主要的傳統節日，也叫元夕、元夜，又稱上元節，因為這是新年第一個月圓夜。

The Lantern (Yuanxiao) Festival is a traditional festival in China.As the first fullmoon night of the new year, it is also called Shangyuan Festival.

因歷代這一節日有觀燈習俗，故又稱燈節。

Because there isacustom of watching lanternsthrough the ages, it iscalled the Lantern Festival.

和其他傳統節日強調“闔家團聚”不同，元宵節更強調“普天同慶”。

Unlike other traditional festivals which highlight "family reunion", the Lantern Festival more emphasizes on " jubilation enjoyed by the wholenation".

元宵節被人們視為春節最后的高潮，因為過了這天，人們就要真正進入新一年的生產生活，

It is regarded as the final climax of the Spring Festival, since people will start the new year's production and livingofficially after that day.

所以人們在元宵節全民歡慶，以祈求上蒼保佑來年風調雨順、莊稼豐收，這也表達了人們對新年的美好期盼。

Therefore, people celebrate the Lantern Festivalnationwide and pray to God for good weather for the crops and agood harvest in the coming year, whichexpressespeople's good wishes for the New Year.

正因如此，在中國民間有“正月十五鬧元宵”的習俗。

This is why the Chinese people have the custom of "celebrating the Lantern Festivalon the fifteenth day of the first lunar month".

這個傳承已有兩千多年的傳統節日，

Having been inherited for more than two thousand years,

不僅盛行于大江南北，就是在海外華人的聚居區也年年歡慶不衰。

this traditional festival is not only prevalent in China, but also celebrated every year in foreigncountries’areas inhabited by overseas Chinese.

每到元宵節期間，人們都會走出家門，涌上街頭，除了鬧花燈、猜燈謎外，還有舞龍、舞獅、踩高蹺、跑旱船、敲舟山鑼鼓……

During the Lantern Festival, people would like to walk out of home and poured onto the streets. Besides watching lanterns andriddlesguessing, entertainmentsincludesdragon lantern dance,lion dance, stilts-walking, landboat dance, beating Zhoushan drums,

其中，有很多風俗和活動都是國家非物質文化遺產。

many of which are national intangible cultural heritages.

出門賞月、燃燈放焰、喜猜燈謎、共吃元宵、同慶佳節，讓廣大群眾參與其中，共同享受這些非物質文化遺產給我們留下的審美記憶。

Many peoplewould like to go out to admire the full moon, guesslantern riddles, set off fireworks and eat Yuan Xiao to celebrate the festival together. The general publicget involved into the entertainments and the memory which is left by these intangible cultural heritages.

除了玩的，吃的當然要有，現在民間過元宵節都有吃元宵的習俗。

Besides various entertainments, there is of course a tradition to eat festive food——yuanxiaoin the Lantern Festival.

元宵由糯米制成，或實心，或帶餡。

Yuanxiao is made of glutinous rice flour, solid or with stuffing

餡有豆沙、白糖、山楂、各類果料等，

includingsweetened bean paste, sugar, hawthorn, all kinds of dried fruit, etc.

食用時煮、煎、蒸、炸皆可。

It can be boiled, fried or steamed to eat.

起初，人們把這種食物叫“浮圓子”，后來又叫“湯團”和“湯圓”，

At first, people called it "Fu Yuanzi ", later on also called it"tang yuan" ,

這些名稱“團圓”字音相近，寓意甜甜蜜蜜，團團圓圓，象征一家團圓，幸福美滿。

Tang yuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan”, which implies family union, harmony and happiness.

它很符合人們的內心希望。元宵節因此獲得了新的文化意義。

Tang yuan is in accordance with people's inner hope. Therefore, the Lantern Festival gains new cultural meaning.

元宵節隱含了傳統的孝道和家庭觀念，

It implies the traditional concept of filial piety and family,

弘揚了中華民族的民俗文化，

carries forward the Chinese nation's folk culture,

豐富了我們的精神文明，

enriches our spiritual civilization,

彰顯了國民經濟發展、百姓生活水平逐步提高。

and showsthe national economic development and gradually improved people's living standard.

時代變遷，歲月流轉。

Times are changing.

不論元宵、彩燈、煙花如何變化出新，不變的依舊是元宵節延續的中國古老傳統風俗，不變的依舊是人們心中割舍不斷的元宵節情愫。

No matter how yuan xiao, lanterns or fireworks change, the continuation of the Lantern Festival traditional customs and people’s sincere feelings tothe Festival will remain unchanged.