元宵节英语作文30词带翻译（汇编20篇）

This afternoon I came to school early, and a second. This afternoon is telling a story. Was first Chiang by telling stories, but according to jiang hasnt come yet, will let wen far to tell stories. Wen levy far first tells a joke, very funny. Then, the students shout: "ha, ha, ha, this is fun. One more!" Then he spoke two again. Then, according to jiang hasnt come yet. So the Yang Xin with two stories.

One is "the rabbit away the tiger", the other is "frog scared tiger". According to jiang finally here, however, the teacher said, its too late. According to jiang to speak again next time. Todays physical education, we pick up the ball to play. We first divided into four teams, I was in the second, fourth. It is such a play: the teacher on the front to do first four tags, then the captain with jump bouncy ball first tag there, and then ran back, below the jump ball to a classmate. The first students jump back soon. The second classmate say cant jump, third classmates said that cant jump. I will not, turn the fifth students directly. Then the sixth, seventh... The teacher said to play jump ball, too many students cant jump. Then we changed to playing sandbags. Sandbags the game like a jump ball. Sandbags ran up and ran back.

Math class in the second quarter to a half, suddenly a foul smell, very smelly very smelly. Miss huang said, either the lamp is broken, or the sites burning garbage outside. I was beside the window of the site. So I leaned out, to see it. There no burning rubbish. The light is broken, it stinks.

今天下午我早早就来到了学校，又是第二名。今天下午是讲故事。本来先是蒋依诺讲故事的，可是蒋依诺还没来，就先让文征远讲故事。文征远先是讲了一个笑话，很搞笑。然后，同学们喊：“哈哈哈，真好玩。再来一个!”于是，他又讲了两个。然后，蒋依诺还没来。于是，杨昕又讲了两个故事。

一个是《兔子吓跑了老虎》，另一个是《青蛙吓跑了老虎》。蒋依诺终于来了，不过，老师说，太晚了。蒋依诺下次再讲。 今天体育课，我们拿跳跳球玩。我们先分成四队，我在第二队，排第四。它是这么玩的：老师先在前面做上四个标记，然后，队长先用跳跳球跳到标记那里，然后再跑回来，把跳跳球传给下面一个同学。很快第一个同学跳回来了。第二个同学说不会跳，第三个同学也说不会跳。我也不会，就直接轮到第五个同学。然后是第六个、第七个……老师说玩跳跳球，太多同学不会跳。然后我们改成玩沙包。沙包的玩法跟跳跳球一样。把沙包抱起来跑过去，跑回来。

第二节数学课上到一半的时候，忽然又一股臭味，好臭好臭。黄老师说，要么是灯坏了，要么是外面的工地在烧垃圾。我的窗户旁边正好是那个工地。于是我探出头来，去看了一下。那边没有在烧垃圾。那就是灯坏了，臭死了。

I was so excited that night. When you do your homework, you have to go to the light meeting. Mom had no choice but to take me. There are lanterns, rabbit lights, monkey lights, chicken lights, and lotus lanterns... They shine in the moonlight, and my eyes are dazzled. The streets were decorated with lights and decorated. By the way, there are not only all kinds of colorful lights, but also colorful neon lights.

Shopping arcade etc.service, brand stores to attract a lot of customers, the store down the street a wide variety of goods, uncle have to wear a suit, the aunt wear jewelry, and kids love to eat ice-sugar gourd and pearl milk tea. People came to the street in high spirits to watch the night scenes.

I seemed to enter the world of man and lamp.

Dear teacher,

Well have a class meeting this afternoon. All of us students hope that you

can attend it. Please accept our sincere invitation. I

n the class meeting, we will make some plans about all the subjects,

including English. We do have some puzzles and we need your help. So we hope you

can set some time aside to be with us in the class meeting. We will feel honored

if you can come to attend our class meeting.

Looking forward to your coming.

Yours

___

亲爱的老师：

今天下午我们将举行一次班会.我们所有的学生希望您能出席.请接受我们真诚的邀请.

在班会上，我们将制作关于所有学科的计划，包括英语.我们确实有一些疑惑并且需要您的帮助.所以我们希望您能腾出些时间来与我们一起上班会.如果您能来出班我们的班会，我们将感觉非常荣幸.

盼望您的到来.

___

Yesterday we played happily, but there were only ten people. I remembered

last year there were twenty-two people at all. I heard some my friends had gone

abroad. They went abroad to study. Maybe I couldn’t see them in the future. I

think next year we won’t make a party. Next year is a very important year. We

all will prepare the new term’s new subject.I know, it is the most important for

us now.

昨天，我们高兴地发挥，但只有10人。我记得去年有22人在所有。我听到一些我的朋友已经出国。他们去国外学习。也许我没有看到他们的未来。我想明年我们将不作党。明年是一个非常重要的一年。我们都将编制新的任期的新课程.我知道，这是最重要的是，我们现在。

Today, as the development of the medical, people can slow down their aging. As for the celebrities, they use the developed technology to keep young, seeing their unchangeable faces in the screen for so many years, the audience also want to imitate the celebrity, they believe that by using the developed technology, they can keep young all the time. While in my opinion, the way to keep young is to hold a young heart, some people look young outside, but in their hearts, they are old enough and refuse to keep pace with the time. While for another group, even they have wrinkles, they are curious about all the things and are willing to change. My grandpa is old, but he knows all the fashionable things, sometimes I have to ask him for the new things. The young heart is the way to keep young forever.

今天，随着医疗的发展，人们能够延缓衰老。对于名人来讲，他们使用高科技来保持年轻，看到他们常年在屏幕上保持不变的容颜，观众也想要模仿名人，他们相信通过使用高科技就能一直保持年轻。然而在我看来，保持年轻的方法就是拥有一颗年轻的心，一些人表面看起来年轻，但是在他们的心里，他们足够的老，并且拒绝去与时俱进。对于另外一些人来讲，虽然他们有皱纹，但是他们对一切都保持好奇，并且愿意去改变。我的爷爷年纪大，但是他对一切时尚的东西都了如指掌，有时候我不得不问他关于新的事物。年轻的心是永葆青春的方法。

it was mother’s day. sun zheng thought he should do something for his mother. he decided to help his mother do some housework. after school he went to a 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’t do the cooking well. thenhe cleaned the room. he felt very tired, but he was very happy. when his father and his mother came back and saw the clean rooms and dishes which weren’t so nice, they were very happy.they had their supper together. his mother said, "thank you,my child!"

今天是母亲节。孙峥觉得应该为妈妈做点事，他决定帮妈妈做些家务。放学回家的路上，他去商店买了食品。到家后，他尽全力做些好吃的，尽管他并不擅长烹任。做完饭，他又打扫了房间。他感觉有些累，但仍然很高兴。 当父母回来后，看见干净的房间和并不太荚味的菜，他们依然很高兴。他们一起吃了晚饭。妈妈说：“谢谢你，孩子。”

today is mother’s day. i know some of my classmates are going to help their mothers with the housework, others .are going to buy some flowers for their mothers. i want to say to her that i love her very much. but as a boy, it is a bit difficult for me to show my heart. i think only girls can do that. my mother is very kind. she takes care of me day and night. she spends little money, but buys anything for me that i need. this time i must show my love. i am going to give her a card and write like this, "i love you, mother!" i am going to put it under her pillow.

今天是母亲节。我知道一些同学打算帮妈妈做些家务，还有一些同学打算给妈妈买些花。我只是想对妈妈说一声，我非常爱她。但是对我来说这样表达我的情感有点儿难，因为我是个男孩。我觉得只有女生才这样做。 我妈妈是个非常善良的人。她对我照顾得无微不至。她自己很少花钱，但能给我买我需要的任何东西。 这次我一定要表示我对她的爱。我打算送她一张写有“我爱你，妈妈”的卡片，我还打算把它放在她的枕头下面。

[今天是母亲节英语作文及翻译

Hello,everybody.大家好

My names(  ).我的名字叫（ ）

Im in Class( )Grade six of(  )school.我在（ ）学校6年级（）班级 Im tall(short).Im ( )centimeters.我很高（矮），我（）厘米。 I like English very much.我非常喜欢英语

Beacuse English is interesting.因为英语很有趣。

So my English is very good.所以，我的英语很好。

I acquire many award.我获得过很多奖项。

I hope that every of you will love me。希望大家能喜欢我。

请以 My Best Friend 为题，写一篇不少于60个单词的作文。 My Best Friend 我最好的朋友My best friend is one of my classmates. Her name is Mary. Every day, we go to school together and go back home toget

请以“My Best Friend为题，写一篇不少于60个单词的作文。

My Best Friend

我最好的朋友

My best friend is one of my classmates. Her name is Mary. Every day, we go to school together and go back home together. We often help each other and learn from each other in study.

我最好的朋友是我的一个同班同学，她的名字叫玛丽。我们每天一起上学，一起回家。我们经常互相帮助，并向对方学习。

We have the same hobby-collecting stamps. She has many nice stamps. She is very proud of them. Sometimes she gives some of them to me. I think she is a very good girl. We will be good friends forever.

我们有着相同的爱好——集邮。她有很多漂亮的邮票，并为此十分自豪。有时，她会把其中的一些邮票给我。我认为她是个非常好的女孩。我们会成为永远的朋友。

点评：这是一篇记人的叙述文。先交代了My Best Friend是谁，接着通过事例交代了为什么“我们是最好的朋友”。最后阐述了主题。

As a middle school student, I learn many subjects, I study so hard every day. When I get home, I will do my homework and then go over the book. But when holiday comes, I feel a little confused, because I don’t want to study and do something new. Then I don’t know what to do, my mind get blank. I decide to develop my interest. Some day, I happened to see a tennis match and I couldn’t stop watching, then I fell in love with tennis. So I started to learn playing tennis, I felt so happy. Now tennis is my favorite sport, I find a way to relax myself.

作为一个中学生,我学许多科目,我每天那么努力学习。当我回家时,我会做作业,然后复习书本。但当假期来临的时候,我感到有点困惑,因为我不想学习，想做一些新的事情。我就不知道要做什么,我的头脑一片空白。我决定培养我的兴趣。有一天,我碰巧看到一场网球比赛,我无法停止下来看,然后我爱上了网球。因此我开始学习打网球,我感到很高兴。现在网球是我最喜欢的运动,我找到一个方法来放松自己。

As time goes by, people are being busier and busier with working, such as

signing their contracts, meeting their customers, drawing up the balance sheets

of their companies and so on. In this circumstance, people forget our most

excellent skill--smile.

随着时间的推移，人们在工作上越来越忙，如签订合同，见客户，制定企业资产负债表等。在这种情况下，人们忘记了我们最优秀的技能——微笑。

There are a great many kinds of power of smile. First of all, common touch

can be showed by a kind smile. Imagine that you go to a company to attend an

audition. With a confident smile, you are more likely to answer the question

better. Furthermore, smile can eliminate angry. As a philosopher said, smile

before you begin to get angry. The last but not the least, it reflects calm of a

person when he is in danger or in trouble.

微笑的力量很多。首先，微笑可以作为平易近人的一种表现。想象一下，你去一个公司参加面试。带着自信的微笑，你有可能会更好地回答问题。此外，微笑可以消除愤怒。一个哲学家说过，在你开始生气之前微笑。最后但并非最不重要的，当一个人处于危险或者麻烦的时候，微笑反映了一个人的镇定。

The beneficial aspects cannot be stated completely in this passage. But you

can understand its power when you smile.

微笑的好处在这里是无法一一列举的。但是，在你微笑的时候你可以理解它的力量。

Fast as arrows, 2015 hasnt been good, hurried to the 2016. Its arrival, we will long one-year-old, slowly into the future; But parents and elders will be old one year old, wrinkles will slowly up.

12 "12 point 57 seconds, 58 seconds, 12 point 59 seconds, 1 PM to!" I look at the watch excitedly counting, because we want to say goodbye to 2015, to 2016. Although, our China for another 1 month is the real Spring Festival, but my heart still very happy. Because, we will say goodbye to the past and move on to a new era...

At this moment, not only I a person happy, people around the country, and even foreign friends are very excited. They fireworks, firecrackers, opening celebration activities to express their mood at the moment.

Is now 2016 years old, I wish you all good health and happy every day Auspicious year of the monkey!

时间快如箭，2015年还没过好，2016年就急匆匆地来了。它的到来，我们又要长一岁，慢慢地走向未来;但父母和长辈们就要老一岁，皱纹也就慢慢多起来了。

“12点57秒，12点58秒，12点59秒，1点到!”我看着手表激动地数着，因为我们要告别2015，走向2016。虽然，我们中国要再过1个月才是真正的春节，但我心里还是十分高兴。因为，我们将告别过去，走向新时代……

此时此刻，不止我一人高兴，祖国各地的人民，甚至国外的友人也很兴奋。他们放烟花，打鞭炮，开庆祝晚会等活动来表达他们此时此刻的心情。

现在已是2016年了，我祝大家身体健康，天天开心 猴年吉祥!

1、a rolling stone gathers no moss.

滚石不生苔，转业不聚财。

2、as a man sows, so he shall reap.

种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。

3、a young idler, an old beggar.

少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。

4、bad news has wings.

好事不出门，坏事传千里。

5、barking dogs seldom bite.

吠犬不咬人。

6、beauty lies in the loves eyes.

情人眼里出西施。

7、be swift to hear, slow to speak.

听宜敏捷，言宜缓行。

8、a single flower does not make a spring.

一花独放不是春，百花齐放春满园。

9、a snow year, a rich year.

瑞雪兆丰年。

10、a sound mind in a sound body.

健全的精神寓于健康的身体。

11、a still tongue makes a wise head.

寡言者智。

12、a stitch in time saves nine.

小洞不补，大洞吃苦。

13、birds of a feather flock together.

物以类聚，人以群分。

14、blood is thicker than water.

血浓于水。

15、blood will have blood.

血债血偿。

16、books and friends should be few but good.

读书如交友，应求少而精。

17、a straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.

身正不怕影子斜。

18、a wise head makes a close mouth.

真人不露相，露相非真人。

19、a word spoken is past recalling.

一言既出，驷马难追。

20、a years plan starts with spring.

一年之计在于春。

21、better late than never.

不怕慢，单怕站。

22、better to ask the way than go astray.

问路总比迷路好。

23、between friends all is common.

朋友之间不分彼此。

24、There is no rose without a thorn.

没有不带刺的玫瑰。世上没有十全的幸福。

25、An old dog will learn no new tricks.

老狗学不出新把戏。老顽固不能学新事物。

26、A good dog deserves a good bone.

好狗应该得好骨头。 有功者受奖。

27、the children from well-fed family.

膏粱子弟

28、pour water off a steep roof（operate from a strategically advantageous position）

高屋建筑

29、Bad workmen often blame their tools.

拙匠常怪工具差。（不会撑船怪河弯）。

30、He who laughs at crooked men should need walk very straight.

己不正不正人（笑别人驼背的人得自己首先把身子挺直）

31、you should not cast the first stone.

欲责他人，先思己过

32、Its a long lane that has no turning.

路必有弯。（事必有变）。（瓦片也有翻身日）。

33、Onw swallow does not make a summer.

一燕不成夏。

34、No smoke without fire.

无火不起烟。（无风不起浪）。

35、Ill news comes apace.

好事不出门，坏事传千里。

36、He sho keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.

近朱者赤，近墨者黑。

37、Among the blind the one-eyed man is king.

山中无老虎，猴子称大王。

38、Great minds think alike.

英雄所见略同。

39、Strike while the iron is hot.

趁热打铁。

40、Like father, like son.

有其父必有其子。

41、Where there is a will, there is a way.

有志者，事竟成。

42、The days of our years are three-score years and ten.

人生七十古来稀。

43、the apple of the eye.

掌上明珠。

44、hide ones light under a bushel.

不露锋芒。

Lantern Festival has a lot of interesting activities, put wishing lamp, eat yuanxiao, belongs to the activities of the festival is over, it means the New Years day is over, we will be good work and to go to school, looking forward to the arrival of the New Year next year.

I wove a about the legend of the Lantern Festival, people listen to, I whether very will say story?

Legend in a long time ago, there is a place in the universe, a place called yuanxiao island, their biggest different places with us, is very love to eat dumplings, regardless of the early, middle and dinner to eat dumplings, it is interesting to note that the dumplings there are floating in the air, want to eat how many there are, eat until you support dead.

One day, there are two children s and o night, o had his eureka moment, give the kings dumplings, to take Fried, unexpectedly, after the king had said is very good.

From now on, all the people into eating Fried dumplings, and memory of yuanhe o night, o so named hang them on the day of the yuanxiao.

Have you ever eaten Fried dumplings? Give it a try! O the yuanhe flaring invention of food!

元宵节有很多很有趣的活动，放许愿灯、吃元宵，属于这个节日的活动一结束，就表示过年也告一段落，大家要乖乖的工作和上学，期待明年新年的到来了。

我编了一个关于元宵节的传说，大家听听看，我是不是很会说故事呢?

传说在很久很久以前，宇宙中有一个地方，名叫元宵岛的地方，他们跟我们最大不同的地方，就是非常的爱吃汤圆，不管早、中、晚餐都要吃汤圆，有趣的是，那里的汤圆都是飘在半空中，想吃多少都有，吃到你撑死为止。

有一天，有两个小朋友阿元和阿宵，突然灵机一动，把要给国王的汤圆，拿去油炸，没想到国王吃了后，居然说很好吃。

从今以后，人民都变成吃炸汤圆，并且纪念阿元和阿宵，所以把他们挂掉的那天取名为元宵。

你吃过炸汤圆吗?试试看吧!那是阿元和阿宵发明的美食哦!

Dear Sophie,

My name is Yang Yang.I’m 10 years old this year. I have a hamster, It’s

called the Little Devil, I like him very much.

I have many hobbies, I like playing basketball and playing computer. I do

not like playing badminton, because I do not want to pick balls, but my sister

does. She always asks me to play with her at the weekend. But I think she is not

bad.

How about you? What do you do in your spare time?

Write soon,please.

Yang Yang

亲爱的苏菲，

我叫杨洋，今年10岁。我有一只仓鼠，它叫小恶魔，我很喜欢他。

我有很多爱好，我喜欢打篮球和打电脑。我不喜欢打羽毛球，因为我不想捡球，但我姐姐会。她总是让我周末和她一起玩。但我觉得她并不坏。

你呢?你在业余时间做什么?

期待你不不久后的回信。

YangYang

One Sunday my mother （Mother） had （made） me take my little young brother to the a trip to the country. She bade me take good care of him.

While we were walking along the road, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was blowing gently. We saw the beautiful flowers smile （smiling） at us and heard the birds sing （singing） their sweet songs on the trees. The scenery was indeed very pretty （beautiful）。

When we felt tired, we returned home. We saw Mother （our mother） wait （waiting） for us at the door.

有一个星期日，我母亲叫我带小弟弟去乡村游历。她吩咐我要好好照料他(www.kuaidu.com.cn)。

当我们沿着道路行走的时候，太阳灿烂地照耀着，微风轻轻地吹着。我们看见美丽的花儿对我们微笑着，并听见鸟儿在树上唱着悦耳的歌曲，风景实十分美丽。

当我们感觉到疲倦的时候，我们就回家了。我们看见母样正在门口等候我们。

Flowers are a wonderful gift of nature. Everyone likes them. Flowers portray love， happiness， joy and all the other positive emotions. Since time immemorial flowers have been an integral part of every celebration and festival.

But there has been a misconception. Flowers are mainly associated with feminine gender. It is forgotten that men to have a soft side to them. Gift your father a bouquet of flowers on Father＇s Day and he surely will be overjoyed. Flowers， especially architectural and bold like tropical flowers， which are masculine， long lasting， tall and sturdy like the fathers usually are， can be

given. White and Red Rose are known to be the official flowers of Father＇s Day. People wear a white rose to honor a father who has deceased and a red rose for a father who is living.

花是大自然最美妙的礼物。每个人都喜欢它们。花象征着爱，幸福，欢乐以及所有积极的情感。而那些古老悠久的花已经成为所有仪式和节日中最主要的部分。

但现在人们对花产生了一个误解。大多数时候人们把花与女性联系在一起。人们忘记了男性对花也有温情的一面。在父亲节给你的父亲送上一束鲜花，他保证会欣喜若狂的，尤其是具有建筑风格的，大胆而狂野的热带花朵，它们具有男性的特质，生命力持久，高大而强健，和父亲 的角色往往很相似。白玫瑰和红玫瑰是公认的父亲节节花。白玫瑰象征纪念已故的家严，而红玫瑰象征着赞美健康尚在的父亲。

男人喜欢明快，炙热，大胆以及斗志高昂的颜色，像是黄色，橙色，紫色和红色。他们布置花的时候绝大多数情况下 会与他们有组织的，善于计算的头脑保持一致。他们还喜欢自然的，富有现代感的，时尚新潮的花束。只要他心中有谱，他可能会选择玫瑰，雏菊或其它充满异域风 情的花朵。鲜艳生动的红玫瑰与黄色的雏菊深受大多数男人的喜爱，从而也成为父亲节最理想的鲜花礼物。

Dear Mercy,

亲爱的梅斯，

How is everything going! Last time you said you are anxious now because you

find it hard to learn English well. Don’t worry. I think you have to improve

your English step by step. And I will right behind you. In my view, you should

develop you interest on English first. According to my experience, I think

watching English movie, listen to some wonderful English songs and talk in

English on the Internet would be helpful. Secondly, you have to prepare lessons

before class that will help you understand what the teacher says in the class. I

know you feel bored in the class, but you have force yourself to be

concentrated. A few days later you will feel it a little easy to learn English.

The left steps I will tell next time. By the way, we have not seen each other

since your family move to Hunan a year ago. Have you ever thought about going

back to visit me and learn English together in the coming Summer vacation.

Looking forward to your reply.

过得可好。上次你说你现在很焦虑因为你觉得很难学好英语。别担心。我觉得要提高英语你得一步步来。我会帮你的。在我看来，首先应该要培养你对英语的兴趣。根据我的经验，我认为看英文电影，听美妙的英文歌曲以及在互联网上与他人用英语交流会有很大的帮助。其次，你要预习，这样可以让你理解老师在课堂上说的东西。我知道你觉得上英语课很无聊，但你必须强迫自己聚精会神的听。一段时间后，你会感觉到学习英语变得容易些了。剩下的步骤下一次我会告诉你的。顺便提一下，自从一年前你们家搬到湖南后我们就没见过面。你有没有想过暑假的时候回来看看我，我们可以一起学习英语。期待你的回复。

Best wishes,

Li

丽

新学期开始了，同学们都返回学校重新见面。他们正在谈论自己的暑假生活。我更高兴，迫不及待地想告诉他们我是怎么过的。终于轮到我，了，我告诉他们我暑假期间在一家餐馆当服务员。他们起初并不相信。“是真的。”我说，“刚开始时可惨了，但几天我就做得很好了。暑假我挣了600元钱呢。”他们都目瞪口呆地看着我。

a new term began. students all returned to school met again. they were talking about what they had done in the holidays. i was happier. i couldnt wait to tell my story. now its my turn. i told them i got a job in a restaurant. i worked as a waitress.

they didnt believe at first.

"yes, its true. "i said," i really had a hard time at the beginning. but several days later, i could do a good job. i earned six hundred yuan this holiday. "they all looked at me with their mouths open.

Get up early today is very hot, hot feeling uncomfortable. Breakfast mother let me accompany

her to go shopping and I didnt go. Because it is too hot, move feeling on the finger to sweat.

The city library to read a book this afternoon. Because the library have air conditioning

can blow, but also more than books at home too. Conveniently checked total solar eclipse was visible material.

Happiness exists everywhere. Everyone has different definitions of happiness.幸福存在于每个地方。每个人对幸福的定义都不同。

Some people think possessing a great deal of money is the secret to happiness, while others feel giving aid to others makes them happy. I approve of the latter.有的人认为拥有大笔钱是幸福的秘诀，而有的人感觉给予别人帮助会让自己感到幸福。我同意后者。

There are many poor people in our society, and we can contribute some money to charities to help them. When the poor receive our assistance, their lives will be improved. Smiles will appear on their faces, and this is the best reward we can get from helping others. When we see their happy smiles, we will be happy as well.社会中有很多穷人，我们可以捐一些钱到慈善机构帮助他们。当那些穷人得到帮助的时候，他们的生活会得到改善。他们的脸上会充满微笑，这也是我们帮助他们所得到的最好的回报。当我们看到他们快乐的笑容，我们也会感到很幸福。

So I think that true happiness comes from the heart.所以我认为真正的幸福来自我们的内心。

小作者通过写给予别人帮助所得到的快乐，说明真正的幸福来自内心，而并非金钱。

[幸福英语作文及翻译

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.