英语优秀作文十篇最新20篇

In recent years, the global warming gets increasingly attention. More and

more people make contribution to stop the global warming. Therefore, a new

lifestyle occurs--low carbon life. What can we do to live in low carbon?

First, remember to turn off lights and turn off the faucet when you do not

need to use. Use the energy-saving lamps. There are many small things we can do

to save resources. Second, when we go out, take public transport as much as

possible, to reduce gas emissions and to ease the transporting pressures.

All in all, there are many other things we can do to live in the low carbon

life. It needs us to do something practically. If everyone can keep this

lifestyle from now on, it will greatly change the situation and our home would

become more beautiful.

It was Mother’s Day.Sun Zheng thought he should do something for

hismother.He decided to help his mother do some housework.After school he went

toa shop to buy some food on his way home.

When he got home, he did his best to cook some nice food,though he

couldn’tdo the cooking well.Thenhe cleaned the room.He felt very tired, but he

wasvery happy.

When his father and his mother came back and saw the clean rooms and

disheswhich weren’t so nice, they were very happy.They had their supper

together.Hismother said, "Thank you,my child!"

I’m going to have a busy weekend! On Saturday, I’m going visit my friends by bike. Because I haven’t seen them for a long time. Then, I’m going to the bookstore on foot. I’m going to read lots of books there. On Sunday morning, I’m going to go for a walk. Then, in the afternoon, I’m going to go shopping with my mother. Then, in the evening, we are going to watch TV together. That will be fun! What about you? What are you going to do on the weekend?

我就要过一个忙绿的周末了!星期六的时候我会骑车去拜访我的朋友。因为我已经很久没见他们了。之后，我会走路去书店。我打算在书店里看很多的书。星期天早上，我打算去散散步。然后，下午的时候我会和妈妈去买东西。之后，我们晚上打算一起看电视。那肯定很有趣!你呢?周末你打算做什么呢?

一、指导思想

目前初三的英语教学中，因种种因素，造就了相当一部分英语学习比较困难，并伴有的差生。因此对这部分学生加强心理指导，培养培养的心理素质，帮助他们尽快走出困境，成为学习的主人，就显得十分必要。学科教学是学校教育的主渠道、主阵地，学科学习是学生的主导活动，学生大量的心理困惑都产生于学习过程中，各种人格品质也在学科的学习中得到发展。英语作为语言学科，在教学中加强德育及心理方面渗透工作，坚持以人为本，坚持教育创新，坚持______，坚持内涵发展，以行为习惯养成教育为重点，以加强细节教育。

二、工作要点

对于向学生进行思想教育、品德教育、科学文化教育和心理素质教育，在本学期的教学中加强德育工作如下：

(一)有敬业精神，热爱学生。

要用自己的爱来唤起和培养学生对学习的爱，从而引伸到对生活的爱。其实，英语课堂教学不只是语言知识的学习和操练，而是一种温馨的情感交流、智慧潜能的开发，社会__交际能力的早期培养，是师生共同创造精神生活的活动。因此教师在教学中，要尊重学生的人格，建立平等、互相尊重的和谐师生关系，使学生在宽松、融洽、愉快的氛围中进行学习的同时，品德得到培养，性格得到完善。

(二)创新教育让学困生自主学习

传统的英语教学模式中，学生自使自终是被动者，即使是一些很有天赋的好学生。久而久之，也缺乏了创造力。不少学生的学习参与意识差，不愿主动思考和提出问题，更不主动解决问题。依赖于教师现成的说教答案，因此，教师必须更新教学观念，树立心的学生观和教学观。我认为，新的学生观最本质的内容就是在教学中真正能够树立合作教学的观念新的学生观念作根本的出发点就是尊重学生，在英语教学汇总充分发挥每个学生的主体作用，使他们真正成为学习的主人。

(三)渗透情感与学生建立良好的师生关系

情感具有迁移作用。亲其师，则信其道。学生对老师的情感能改善学生对所学学科的倾向性。只要师生建立起相互信赖的感情，学生对老师所提出的要求就容易接受。我们的教学活动能就比较顺利地开展。学困生并非自然固有。学困生渴求得到尊重与关心，信任与理解。教师只有用真诚的爱才能使他们感到温暖，消除自卑，树立信心，才能使他们自尊、自爱、奋发进取。我认为，对于学困生，只要我们真诚地给予关心和帮助，他们也会以爱和敬意来回报我们。他们是不会让老师失望的。

(四)赏识教育让学困生树立自信心

自尊心是一个人对自身的评价，对自身存在的价值和态度的体现。任何学生都有自尊心和荣誉感，每当自己在学习上取得点滴成绩时，总希望得到老师的表扬，学困生更是如此。差生由于羞怯心理，往往在课堂上不敢开口，因此，我对学困生从不大声呵斥，而是具体深入地分析他们之所以差的原因，然后对症下药，循循善诱，在加强辅导的同时，根据学生的发展情况进行有弹性的鼓励。实践证明：利用语言表扬、神情暗示、肢体示意等多种方法，给予学困生以的鼓励是行之有效的，能使他们对自己充满自信，树立学好英语的信心。

2022初中英语教师个人工作计划【篇六】 2022 junior high school English teacher personal work plan [Chapter 6]

一、指导思想

在本学期的英语教学中，坚持以下面的教学理念为指导：第一，切实地了解学生的真实水平，注意衔接，尽快使学生适应我的英语教学;第二，教学要面向全体学生，关注学生的情感，激发他们学习英语的兴趣;第三，以学生为主体，尊重个体差异，因材施教;第四，在新课标的指导下，倡导学生体验参与学习，完成设计目标;第五，注重过程性评价，建立能鼓励学生自主学习能力发展提高的综合评价体系。

二、学生情况分析

本届学生在英语基础方面很薄弱，由于在以前学习英语的过程中，没有很详细全面地学习音标，基本的音标和字母拼读都没有掌握好。在词汇，语法规则等方面存在很多缺漏。所以，在听、说、读、写这四项技能上，学生水平存在很大差异。

另外，学生在学习策略和情感态度方面也存在诸多需要进一步解决的问题。例如：许多学生不能明确学习英语的目的，学习缺乏主动性、自觉性;大多数同学没有养成良好的学习习惯，不能做好课前预习和课后复习工作，学习没有计划性和策略性，也不注意知识的积累和巩固。

最后，学生对新教材缺乏一定程度上的了解，还不适应新课改指导下的一些教学方法。在课堂上，习惯像以往被动地接受所传授的知识，不善于发现和总结语言规律，学习的主体性不突出。

三、教材与教辅的分析

1、内容与结构

每一单元除了关注阅读、写作、听力、视听说等语言实践活动，还关注语言知识、情感态度、文化意识和学习策略等。其中，教材加强了文化意识的提高和学生学习策略的培养，是相较于以前教材很大的不同。

2、教材的特点

首先突出学习者的发展，包括注重学习策略的培养和使用;注重提高学生的语言认知能力;为教师和学生提供个性化的选择;其次努力提高学生用英语进行思维和表达的能力。具体为：为学生提供更多的体验真实语言的机会;精心设计教学活动，使学生看到明确的目标和明确的成果;为学生发展语言运用能力提供详尽的语言支持;重视复现。

3、教材的重难点

该套教材强调学生综合语言运用能力的培养和提高，所以重点在于培养学生用英语获取信息、处理信息的能力;用英语分析问题、解决问题的能力;用英语进行思维和表达的能力。难点在于学生在情感态度和学习策略上的改变，达到用英语思维和表达的目标。

4、教学目标

⑴总体目标：激发学生学习英语的兴趣，树立自信心。在整个教学过程中，让学生有丰富的生活常识、多文化背景的积累，并形成正确人生观、价值观，有积极的情感态度和跨文化的交际能力。同时培养自主学习能力，积累学习方法。

⑵具体目标：结合学生基础知识过于薄弱的实际，在教学刚开始的阶段，注意高一和初中知识的衔接，例如复习音标和字母拼读规律，积累基础词汇、词语搭配、句型，熟悉不同单元呈现的语法规则，掌握实际用法。希望第一学期后，学生能培养学习的兴趣，养成较好的学习习惯，对基础知识有一定的掌握。

5、教学措施

⑴让学生每天积累几个单词，利用“互测及教师抽查”及时检查，保证效果并坚持下去。

⑵认真贯彻晨读制度：规定晨读内容，加强监督，保证晨读效果。

⑶实行过程性评价，调动学生积极性，通过不同方式的检测，让进步的同学体会到成就感，让落后的同学找出差距，感受压力。由此在班里形成浓厚的学习氛围，培养学生健康向上的人格和竞争意识。

⑷关注学生的情感，营造宽松、民主、和谐的教学氛围。

⑸在教学中根据目标并结合教学内容，创造性地设计贴近学生实际的教学活动，吸引和组织他们积极参与。学生通过思考、调查、讨论、交流和合作等方式，学习和使用英语，完成学习任务。

⑹经常进行教学反思，适时调整教学方法，符合学生的真实情况，利于学生的有效性学习。

从所任课班级实际情况和本身条件出发，认真进行思考和改正。多关注学科教研的发展，多多听课向有经验的老师虚心学习，取之所长，多和同事交流探讨，交换教学思想和方法，避己所短，不断进步。积极参与学科的相关课题研究，撰写论文，参加教研组，备课组的教研活动。

The Palace Museum is located on city center in Peking.China is existing

biggest, most integrity of thou building cluster.It is been one of five greatest

temples in the world by the fame.

The Palace Museum start to set up in A.D.1406, the Palace Museum have the

size courtyard more than 90s and the house contain 980 and add up to 8704.the

Palace Museum surroundings surround 12 meters in height, long the Palace Museum

wall of 3400 meters, form is one rectangular city defense, there is 52 meter

wide moat outside the wall surround, formation a fortress of severe barracks.The

Palace Museum has 4 doors, center door Wu door, east door Donghua door, west

door Xihua door, north door Shengwu door.

Dear Sarah,

I am terribly sorry to tell you that I am unable to attend your birthday

part next Thursday evening. That is owing to the fact that my younger brother

suddenly fell ill and was taken to a hospital this morning. I have to go there

immediately and take care of him. As told by the doctor in charge, it will take

around five days for him to recover and I have asked my boss for a leave.

I really regret that I cannot go to celebrate your birthday personally and

would miss the perfect chance of enjoying myself with all our old friends. I

have chosen a small gift for you and will send it to you tomorrow to show my

best wishes. Besides, please give my regards to our friends when you meet them

at the party.

Cordially,

Li Ming

A happy girl 一个快乐的女孩

Im a happy girl.my english name is kitty.are you happy? im very happy.I have a good friend.her name is cheng xin ting.She has a pair of big eyes.I like her.

我是一个快乐的女孩，我的英文名字叫kitty。你快乐吗？我很快乐！我有一个好朋友，他叫陈欣。她又一双大大的眼睛，我喜欢她。

I like english.my birthday is in november.Im a good girl.Im ten years old.Im in class seven grade one.My teachers name is yao hui feng.she is a good teacher!i like her.

我喜欢英语。我的生日在11月份。我是个好女孩，十岁。我在一年级七班。我的老师叫姚慧芬。她是个好老师，我喜欢她。

what color do you like?I like pink and perple.I want a rabbit for my birthday.I like to eat hambuger.I like to go to shool.

你喜欢什么颜色？我喜欢粉红色和紫色。我想要个兔子作为我的生日礼物。我喜欢吃汉堡。我喜欢上学。

I have a good mother.i have a good father.

我有一位好妈妈，我有一位好爸爸。

oh,no!Im hugry! "mumy! Im hugry!"

噢！不，我饿了。“妈妈！我饿了！”

good bye!再见！

My home is in a town. It lies in the east of Zhejiang near the East SeA.It

has a population of fifty thousand. Our town is in the south of our county.The

Ease Sea is to the east of the town. To the south is flat land. Mountains are on

the west. And a river runs from north to south in the west of my town.

The weather here is good. It is not so cold in winter or so hot in summer.

So the sea near my town is full of all sorts of fish. The fishermen of my home

town are all living a happy life.

With the development of the e-commerce, more and more people intent to do

the shopping online. There are many advantages of online shopping, yet there are

some disadvantages too.

On the one hand, the online shopping are very convenient. Unlike the

physical stores, there is no limit of time for you to do the shopping online.

And you can find anything in the online store, some of which you may hardly buy

at the local. And also, the price is relatively transparent, you can choose the

affordable one to buy.

On the other hand, since the goods are only presented by the pictures and

descriptions, it is hard to tell its reality, so you might have bought something

you don’t like, or even the fake one. Of course you can ask for the after

service, but it will increase your cost of the time. And the advertisements on

the online shops may make you spend much more money on online shopping without

being conscious.

Anyway, the online shopping makes the shopping easier, but please do it

with rationality.

When I was very small, I was so envious about the adults, because they

could do whatever they wanted and did not have to depend on their parents. For

me, I did not have money and my parents limited my pocket money, so I couldn’t

spend the money to buy whatever I wanted. It seems to me that being an adult is

my only wish. Some day, I learned from the movie that being an adult was not

that as perfect as I thought. In the movie, the man struggled to earn money to

pay his bills, what’s more, he had to stay away from his family. Loneliness was

always around him. To be independent means we can live our own way and make our

own decision. We have more freedom. But at the same time, it also means more

annoyance. So why just we enjoy this moment.

Nowadays, the problem of college students employment becoming more and

more serious. About a decade ago, university students could find satisfactory

and enviable jobs after graduation, while at current situation, about 30% of

graduate students can’t find a job but stay at home after graduation.

Employment difficulty of college students is due to the following reasons.

Among these, the increasing recruitment of colleges and universities plays a

vital role. In addition, many colleges and universities fail to adapt their

courses to the development of economy.

Considering such a rough job market, I think it is high time that we took

effective measures to solve the problem. Above all, college students should

realize their own defects and further improve themselves to keep their

competitive edge in society.

Moreover, colleges or universities should provide more trainings and

internship opportunities before the students enter the society. Besides, college

students should hold a right attitude towards jobs and set their job

expectations at a suitable level.

Only through these ways can the college students find a satisfactory job

and have a brighter future.

Beijing Forbidden City, the Ming and Qing dynasties of the palace. Located

in the center of Beijing. Ching Ming, said the Forbidden City in 1925, said

before the Forbidden City. Station area of 15 square meters. Is the worlds

largest and best preserved ancient palace complex. Is the highest level of

ancient Chinese architectural masterpiece

Forbidden City palace building is divided into the northern part of the

former southern part of post-sleep. Former are Wo, and in Bulgaria together the

three main hall, the emperor towards a receiving Chaohe, drawing ministers and

holding large ceremonies where the three main hall and also the tallest building

in the Forbidden City, showing their extraordinary the lofty status. After

Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Empress, funeral, Fei place to live, the emperor and

empress at the central axis of the palace residence, the Palace of the sides,

six Eastern Palaces and the Western Hospital said Liu Gong, for the aunt,

Princess live. After former sleep, clear division of labor, not easily crossed,

it reflects the Chinese ancient hierarchical, differentiated ethics.

Palace of ancient buildings, from the emperor Zhu Di himself planned

construction. Largest existing structure of the rigorous, beautiful decoration,

heritage of the many unique buildings in China, the world famous palace

complex.

Now, many encyclopedias, such as: "hundred thousand whys", the mystery of

the world "and so on a wide variety, all kinds of books can give us many

benefits, our world is so vast, some things in the world, and books have,

encyclopedia like" dumb teachers diligently teach us knowledge. Visible, how

useful book! Also, we learn knowledge also want to use in our daily life, to be

accurate and determine whether to do so, the right to enrich our knowledge, the

outside is good for our healthy growth. You said, a lot of the benefits of

reading?

Nowadays, more and more of the books in the library, we should also learn

to read and appreciate books, should put the book back on the in situ after the

play, not just throw the place. Also, we must find a give us the knowledge of

books to read, dont look at those who are not good for our growth.

In short, the benefits of reading. Come on! Let us to soar in the sky of

knowledge fully!

假设你是红星中学高三(1)班的学生李华，请根据以下四幅图的先后顺序，用校刊“英语园地”写一篇短文，记述你和同学们向学校提推荐，解决自行车存放问题的过程。

注意： 1。 词数不少于 60。

2。 短文的开头已给出，不计入总词数。

范文：

There was a problem with the parking place for bikes in our school， I noticed the entrance was small and almost blocked。 So my classmates and I had a discussion and wrote a report。 Then we went to meet the schoolmaster in his office and gave the report to him。 He accepted our suggfestions。 Soon afterwards， a second entrance was opened to the parking place。 Now it is easy to park our bikes there。

"Yeah, right. It isn’t that easy." I protested.

"Yes it is, " Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away

all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to

situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a

good mood or bad mood. The bottom line is: It’s your choice how you live life. "

I reflected on what Michael said.

Soon thereafter, I left the big enterprise that I had worked in for years

to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often though about him when I

made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard

Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling off 60 feet from a

communications tower.

After l8 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive care, Michael was

released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six

months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were

any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but

did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my

soon-to-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground,

remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I

chose to live." "Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Michael continued, "... the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was

going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the operation room and I saw the

expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In

their eyes, l read ’He’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take action." "What did

you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me”

said Michael. "She asked me if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I said. The

doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep

breath and yelled", ‘Gravity’” Over their laughter, I told them, ’I’m choosing

to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead’."

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his

amazing attitude. I Learned from him that every day we have a choice to live

fully. Attitude is everything.

My name is Jiao Rui. Im 9 years old. My birthday is May 16. Im a dog. My

weight is 95 Jin and my height is 143 cm. Im in grade 3 of Nanjing No.2 primary

school. My hair is black, my eyes are small, I am a single eyelid, my skin is

black. My mother said, "Im too fat.". I said, "although Im burnt and fat, Im

the fastest runner in my class. My favorite sport is swimming. shuttlecock. Play

football I like swimming best. I can swim six times in the natatorium. The coach

said I have made progress. I like not only sports, but also reading books. I

recommend Cao Wen to you

In the matter of courage we all have our limits. There never was a hero who

did not have his bounds. I suppose it may be said of Nelson and all the others

whose courage has been advertised that there came times in their lives when

their bravery knew it had come to its limit.

I have found mine a good many times. Sometimes this was expected--often it

was unexpected. I know a man who is not afraid to sleep with a rattle-snake, but

you could not get him to sleep with a safety-razor.

I never had the courage to talk across a long, narrow room. I should be at

the end of the room facing all the audience. If I attempt to talk across a room

I find myself turning this way and that, and thus at alternate periods I have

part of the audience behind me. You ought never to have any part of the audience

behind you; you never can tell what they are going to do.

internet slang be prohibited (互联网俚语应该被禁止……)

目前，一些诸如gg, mm, xia mi 等网络语言在青少年中极为盛行，并且出现在家庭作业报告，甚至全国入学考试的作文中。请你以 “should internet slang be prohibited (禁止)?”为题，根据下表内容用英语写一篇短文，并谈谈你自己的看法。

一些同学认为网络语言生动、时尚，网络语言充满幽默与智慧，使网上聊天更快捷。

另一些同学认为，网络语言缺乏思想性，没有被大部分人理解、接受，过多使用使人不解，甚至误解。

你的看法?

注意：

1. 短文开头已经给出，不计入总词数;

2. 词数：100左右

3. 参考词汇：生动的vivid;智慧intelligence

should internet slang be prohibited?

at present, internet slang, such as “gg, mm, xia mi”， has become popular among the teenagers.

there are different opinions on internet slang. some students think internet slang is vivid, fashionable and full of humor and intelligence. besides, it makes chatting on the internet quicker.

however, some other students think internet slang lacks depth of thought and is too simple. also, it is hard to understand and not accepted by most people. the words sometimes might make people confused, even resulting in misunderstanding.

every coin has two sides. in my opinion, living in the information age, if we don’t know the internet slang, we seem to fall behind the times. it will be ok as long as these terms are used correctly in proper situations.

21st century is the century of technology. Nowadays, technology is

everywhere around us. The development of technology has a significant affact

toward the society. Several technologies that we usually use are the internet,

computer, and cellphone. These new technologies make our life much easier and

better.

First, the development of computer changes our life. Decades ago, people

needed to do lots of complex calculation on hand because they did not have

computer, and more obvious, they did not have the software for calculation. As

the result of that, people spent hours on the equations that a computer can

solve in just a minute. Since the development of computer, people are able to

use some kind of software to compute lots of complex functions and mathematical

calculation. Computer becomes the most helpful equipment for the sciencists

because they can use their time more efficiently.

Also, internet is another useful tool for us today. The development of

internet brings a great impact toward the society. Instead of going to library

and fliping all the books to figure out some information, we can just simply use

a mouse and click on the website to do research. The internet leads us to a

place where we can find unlimited information and resources. It makes our life

much easier and better.

The last technology is cellphone. Nowadays, many people have a cellphone.

But it just appears on the market for about 10 years. It is very convenience to

the users because we can talk to anyone we want with a phone as small as a

wallet. Also, we can communicate with others by making a phone call instead of

sending letters. It is very fast and useful way to communicate.

In conclusion, I believe the development of technology brings significant

impact to our life. It is very helpful to us and I believe technology will keep

improving in future.

With the development of todays technology, education becomes more

important than before because people need to learn more to adapt the

society.Education enables people to understand the world better and have a good

job in the futrue.Moreover ,it also hao an impact on peoples behavior.

First of all, education improves peoples learning ability that makes them

know more about the world.Most things taught in schools are the basic skills or

means to further understsnding of our society .Only by learning these,can human

have an opportunity to study more and know more about the society .Secondly,

opportunities are often given to someone who is good educated .Employers tend to

believe that people have high education are intelligent and they can manage

their jod and adapt the working environment quickly.That is why the educated

people always get a good job. Thirdly, the more people learn the more modest and

polite they act.Learned people think that they are not good enough ,so they show

a big patience to learn from everything .They often try to figure out the

solution of problems by things they meet or learn.

In sum,education can turn people out with better learning skills,job

offering and good behavior,so I think education is important to people to

fulfill their goals and live a easy life .

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

But one thing for sure is that it had something to do with celebrating and

cultivating positive relationship between people, families, nature and the

higher beings they believed were responsible for bringing/returning the light

each year.

One legend tells us that it was a time to worship Taiyi, the God of Heaven

in ancient times. The belief was that the God of Heaven controlled the destiny

of the human world. He had sixteen dragons at his beck and call and he decided

when to inflict drought, storms, famine or pestilence upon human beings.

Beginning with Qinshihuang, the first emperor to unite the country, all the

emperors ordered splendid ceremonies each year. The emperor would ask Taiyi to

bring favorable weather and good health to him and his people. Emperor Wudi of

the Han Dynasty directed special attention to this event. In 104 BC, he

proclaimed it as one of the most important celebrations and the ceremony would

last throughout the night. They clean it all up in the morning.

Another legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism. Tianguan is the

Taoist god responsible for good fortune. His birthday falls on the 15th day of

the first lunar month. It is said that Tianguan likes all types of

entertainment, so followers prepare various kinds of activities during which

they pray for good fortune.

Yet another common legend dealing with the origins of the Lantern Festival

speaks of a beautiful bird that flew down to earth from heaven, which was hunted

and killed by some villagers. This angered the Jade Emperor in Heaven because

the bird was his favorite one. Therefore, he planned a storm of fire to destroy

the village on the 15th lunar day. The Jade Emperors daughter heard of this

plan, and warned the villagers of her father’s plan to destroy their village.

The village was in turmoil because nobody knew how should they escape their

imminent destruction.

However, a wise man from another village suggested that every family should

hang red lanterns around their houses, set up bonfires on the streets, and

explode firecrackers on the 14th, 15th, and 16th lunar days. This would give the

village the appearance of being on fire to the Jade Emperor. On the 15th lunar

day, troops sent down from heaven whose mission was to destroy the village saw

that the village was already ablaze, and returned to heaven to report to the

Jade Emperor. Satisfied, the Jade Emperor decided not to burn down the village.

From that day on, people celebrate the anniversary on the 15th lunar day every

year by carrying red lanterns on the streets and exploding firecrackers and

fireworks.

There are many stories on how this festival was created. One other story is

about a maid. In the Han Dynasty, Mr. Eastern was a favorite advisor of the

emperor. One winter day, he went to the garden and heard a little girl crying

and getting ready to jump into a well to commit suicide. Mr. Eastern stopped her

and asked why. She said she was a maid in the emperors palace and her name was

Yuan-Xiao.

She never had the chance to meet her family after she started worked at the

palace. She missed them so much every 12th lunar month. If she couldnt have the

chance to show her filial piety in this life, she would rather die. Mr. Eastern

promised her to find a way so she could reunion with her family. Mr. Eastern

left the palace and set up a fortune-telling stall on the street and disguised

himself as a fortuneteller. Because of his reputation, many people asked for

their fortunes.

But every one got the same prediction - a severe fire accident on the 15th

lunar day. The rumor spread quickly. Everyone was worried about the future and

asked Mr. Eastern for help. Mr. Eastern said, "On the 13th lunar day, the God of

Fire will send a fairy lady in red to burn down the city. If you see a lady in

red wearing green pants riding a black horse on that day, you should ask for her

mercy." On that day, Yuan-Xiao pretended to be the red fairy lady. When people

asked for her help, she said, "Im the messenger of the God of Fire and came to

check on the city and Im going to set up fire on 15th. This is an order from

Jade Emperor. He will watch from the heavens.

I will give you a copy of the imperial decree from the God of Fire. You

should go to ask your emperor to find a way out." After she left, people went to

the palace to show the emperor the decree which reads "The capital city is in

trouble. Fire burns on the palace, and fire from Heaven burns all night long on

the 15th." The emperor of Han Dynasty was very shocked. He called and asked Mr.

Eastern for advice. After pondering for a while, Mr. Eastern said, "I heard that

the God of Fire likes to eat Tang-Yuan (Sweet dumpling). Does Yuan-Xiao often

cook Tang-Yuan for you? On the 15th lunar day, let Yuan-Xiao make Tang-Yuan.

Your Majesty will take charge of the worshipping ceremony and you will give

an order to every house to prepare Tang-Yuan to worship the God of Fire at the

same time. Also, deliver another order to ask every house in the city to hang

red lantern and explode fire crackers. Lastly, everyone in the palace and people

outside the city should carry their lanterns on the street to watch the lantern

decoration and fireworks. If everything goes this way, the Jade Emperor would be

deceived.

Then everyone can avoid the fire accident." The emperor happily followed

the plan. Lanterns were everywhere in the capital city on the night of the 15th

lunar day. People were walking on the street. Fire crackers kept making lots of

noise. It looked like the entire city was on fire. Yuan-Xiaos parents went into

the palace to watch the lantern decorations, and Yuan-Xiao made a big lantern

and wrote her name on the lantern. They happily reunited together after her

parents called her name. Everybody was safe during the night. The emperor of Han

Dynasty had a new order that people should do the same thing every year. Since

Yuan-Xiao cooked the best Tan-Yuan, people called the day Yuan-Xiao

Festival.

Young people were chaperoned in the streets in hopes of finding love.

Matchmakers acted busily in hopes of pairing couples. The brightest lanterns

were symbolic of good luck and hope. As time has passed, the festival no longer

has such implications.

Those who do not carry lanterns often enjoy watching informal lantern

parades. In addition to eating tangyuan (simplified Chinese: 汤圆; traditional

Chinese: 湯圓; pinyin: tāngyuán), another popular activity at this festival is

guessing lantern riddles (which became part of the festival during the Tang

Dynasty), which often contain messages of good fortune, family reunion, abundant

harvest, prosperity and love.