邀请信的英语作文【实用20篇】

Today is National day,but I don’t feel any happy at all,just no reson.Last

night I download the English Paper till 3AM ,sometime I want to give up.but in

order to accomplish my dream.I can handle it.

This afternoon I go to shiqi to visit a respectful teacher.On the way to

shiqi,the street don’t crowd .I think it would be full of crowd of people in

Festival.perhaps personal travel is encouraged at present.

About 3:00PM I get to the destination---shiqi shiyan xiaoxue where she is a

vice president .When I get to this place .I feel comfortable(My dream is to be a

teacher) while I meet her .My teascher is get older.That is life.And then some

exciting is brush to me.

This sence is unexplained.We talk about life,work,love & future.From

this talking I sincerely know everyone has his life.I know if I want to success

I need pay twice or even more hard work.My teacher give me some advice too .

Everything is change,the matter is that the change is to be good or

bad.WORK HARD TANDTX---I SAY TO MYSELF.

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.

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。

Before Chinese students go to college, they have been told about the great

things on campus life all the time, so they have the motivation to study hard.

When they come to university, they begin to slow down their pace to study and

waste their youth.

Nowadays, a lot of college students lose motivation to move on when they

come to the new chapter of their life. Campus life seems to be relaxed and a

place to free themselves. Without the supervision from parents and teachers,

they choose to lose themselves in the computer games or all kinds of

parties.

So someone made the comment on campus life as the nursing house, which

satirized the students who wasted their precious time and youth to accomplish

nothing. It is the important stage for them to learn professional knowledge and

master skills, so as to be competitive and find their own place in the

world.

For a wise student, they make the plans and improve themselves all the

time. If we live the life as the old people in the nursing house, then it is

kind of committing suicide for a young person.

时光飞逝，短暂而又愉快的假期生活已经结束了。接下来我所面临的是紧张而又愉快的新学期的教育教学生活。为把新学期的教育教学工作做好，特此作如下教学计划：

一、指导思想。

坚持马列主义，毛泽东思想。高举邓小平理论伟大旗帜，认真学习教育理论，贯彻“三个代表”重要指导思想，积极响应和贯彻素质教育钻研素质教育的实质。“减负”的内在，并以此指导自己的教育教学工作，遵循教育教学规律，紧扣大纲，把我教学层次，不断提高自己的业务水平。

二、基本情况。

这一学期，我继续担任初一(1，2)班的英语教学工作。这两个班级，每班各有学生三十五人左右，但是，基础却不尽人意。初一.1班的学生基础还可以，但是2班的基础却相差很远，学生基础参差不齐，两极分化严重，没有学习的兴趣。因此，教学工作开展的相当困难。

三、教材特点。

初中英语第一册(下)主要介绍了日常生活的交际用语以及一些西方国家的文化背景和风俗习惯，教材通俗易懂，旨在使初一级学生基本能用英语进行简单的交流。

四、教学目标。

力争在期末考试中优秀率打到30%左右，及格率达到60%左右。缩小学生间的差距。为下一学期的英语教育教学工作打下以良好的基础。

五、具体措施。

1、每天背诵课文中的对话。目的：要求学生背诵并默写，培养语感。

2、每天记5个生词，2个常用句子或习语。实施：利用“互测及教师抽查”及时检查，保证效果并坚持下去。

3、认真贯彻晨读制度：规定晨读内容，加强监督，保证晨读效果。

4、坚持日测、周测、月测的形成性评价制度：对英语学习实行量化制度，每日、每周、每月都要给学生检验自己努力成果的机会，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。

5、对后进生进行专门辅导，布置单独的作业，让他们在小进步、小转变中体味学习的快乐，树立学习的自信，尽快成长起来。

6、关注学生的情感，营造宽松、民主、和谐的教学氛围。

7、实施"任务型"的教学途径，培养学生综合语言运用能力。

8、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。

9、加强对学生学习策略的指导，为他们终身学习奠定基础。

10、认真钻研教材，备好，上好每一节课，向45分钟要质量。

总之，新的学期已经开始了，我要以上一学期的基础为起点，树立信心，全身心的投入到新学期的教育教学工作中去。争取在新的一年里，把教育教学工作推向一新的层次。

Nowadays peoples life develops quite rapidly. Many things have changed

over the last century. Old buildings are relaced by skyscrapers. Telephone,

air-conditioner, TV, digital camera, computer and the Internet have taken their

place in our life. We have stepped into Information Age. We are always enjoying

the newest digital products. With all these hi-tech products, people are leading

a more and more colorful life. They are enjoying life more than ever in their

spare time. They can watch movies, surf the Internet, take a holiday and so on.

How different the present life is from the previous one when people couldnt

even feed themselves. Whats more, it differs a lot as well in transportation.

Various modern means of transpot have taken the place of human feet and horses.

People can take aeroplanes, subways, even maglevs and so on. They offer people

much convenience. That is to say, people neednt feel worried for wasting a

great deal of time travelling any more. However, while people are enjoying the

changes caused by hi-tech, something still remains the same. For example, those

traditional customs and festivals, especially the custom that people gather to

have dinner as well as ethical culture forms like Peking Opera, ancient

architecture and traditional food. Peking Opera is spreading throughout. As to

ancient architecture like Siheyuan and Hutong, people are still preserving them

well as the symbol of the whole nationalitys historical culture. As for

traditional food, people are still used to eating it. Even though the world has

been extremely highly developed and there are many foreign cultures are pouring

into China, traditional food is still the mainstream. So, I think, although

those hi-tech products bring along unprecedented creature comfort, traditional

cultures will stay unchanged and they will develop further. And on the original

basis, it must creat miracles one after another, because it belongs to the souls

of our Chinese nationality.

Every morning you can see the sun rising in the east The sun gives us light

When you stand in the sun you can feel the heat The sun gives us heat from very

far away The sun is about one hundred and fifty million kilometers away It looks

small because it is so far from us, but it is actually very very big

The earth goes around the sun It takes the earth a year to go around the

sun Plants, animals and people need the sun We cannot live without the sun.

Environmental problems are being more and more serious all over the world。

For example， cars have made the air unhealthy for people to breathe and

poisonous gas is given off by factories。 Trees on the hills have been cut down

and waste water is being poured continuously into rivers。Furthermore， wherever

we go today， we can find rubbish carelessly disposed。 Pollution is， in fact，

threatening our existence。

The earth is our home and we have the duty to take care of it for ourselves

and for our later generations。 Fortunately， more and more people have realized

these problems。 Measures have been taken to cope with these problems by the

government。 Laws have been passed to stop pollution。 I hope the problem will be

solved in the near future and our home will bee better and better。

China has a history of more than 5,000 years and many miracles were

created. The Great Wall is the most famous to foreigners. Many of them come to

Beijing and have a look at this great tourist sites. As the damage from

environment and human beings, this great wonder needs us to protect. So it is

important to be a polite tourist.

It goes without saying that english plays an important role in our modern

society. english is an international language. wherever you go, you can hear

english spoken by many people.

From this point of view, it is true that english is important to our daily

life. learning english is like learning to swim or learning to play ball. our

primary trouble is that we have tackled the study of language from the wrong

end. we are like theman who thinks he can learn to swim only by reading books

about swimming. in actuality, we learn by doing. the grammatical rules are

valuable as we plunge into the language and need some assistance. in the same

way, advanced instructions about swimming are helpful as we learn something from

actual experience in the water. but reading books never makes a swimmer and

learning rules never makes a practical linguist. the regular procedure in

learning english involves listening first, to be followed by speaking. then

comes reading, and finally the writing of the language. the way you learn

english is much the same as the way you learned your own language.

First of all you must listen and then repeat and repeat until you can use

the language easily. in other words, you have to build up language habits in

english just as you build up english habits in your own language. to sum up, we

must bear in mind that nobody can learn to swim for you. nobody can learn to

play ball for you. nobody can learn english for you. its up to you. you must

learn for yourself and you will learn if you really want to and are willing to

practice.

Nowadays, more and more people realize the harm of smoking and the damage

it bring to the people around us. Considered the health of people themseves and

the one they care, many smokers try their best to give up smoking. When quiting

smoking, I have some suggestions. First of all, people should have strong will

on giving up smoking. Personal determination is the most important factor. When

feeling eager to smoke, people should think about the damage of smoking and the

people they love. And then they can strengthen their will not to smoke.

Secondly, sweep away all the cigarette around. They can’t find any cigarette

when they want to smoke. And then after a while, their wants for smoke will

reduce gradually. Last but not least, prepare some candies in the pocket, when

people want to smoke, eat candies instead. Hope every smoker succeed in the

end.

When I got settled, the total use of the microwave to do their ownthings to eat. One day, my father saw me, I am afraid to say that I grew up asa cook. I immediately shaken like a rattle-drum head, you said : "That isnot my ideal. When I grow up I want to IT (information technology) industries."Yes, I bought a computer five years ago after his father, I am familiarwith it day by day. Until last year, and I have formed a deep bond with it.From then on, I want success in the information technology industry to makecontributions to the cause of national computer. But my father said I couldonly do in the field "testing the game," is what the new game, andalways let me play with, the report there will be any games. I think what hesaid is not their fault, I always play games recently, those who do not have aveteran like Flash. In recent days, I sprouted out of a bad idea : I will beplaying the game that the network server to the black. My account will revisethe highest level. However, I Xiangliaoyouxiang, this is wrong, but was caughtby the police network is not good. When hackers but also need high computerskills. As a member of the IT industry is my ideal, I would like to advancethis goal, to improve their computer skills.

Failure exists in every stage for everybody. As students, I think the most

common failure would be failing in the exam. Yes, I have failed in the exam for

many times. It is very common, because on one can keep the name of

ever-victorious generals forever. But some students do not figure out this. When

they fail in the exam, they need a long time to recover, even have directly

negative effect on their inner heart. This is not the right way to deal with

this problem. We need to figure out the reason why we don’t do well in the exam.

And then correct it. Try our best to get better next time.

The main function of public libraries is to provide books for people to

read.In a library,there are books on different subjects,such as Chinese

history,fine art,science,English literature,and so on.There are also works fo

fiction.

The public libraries are crowded with people on weekdays as well as Sundays

because many people,especially students who want to consult reference books for

their school work,know that they could at least learn something there.

Besides reading in the library,we can also borrow books with library

cards.But books on loan had to be returned within a couple of weeks.As far as I

know the number of people who borrow books from public libraries is increasing

year after year.

I go to the City Hall library twice a month to read.

Going to high school is my first time to leave home. I have to live in

school from Monday to Friday. I like to stay away from my parents for some time,

because I can make my own choice and be free to go anywhere. My friends and I

like to spend the weekend in the countryside that near the city we live. It is

the short travel that I can not only appreciate the beautiful scenery, but also

learn to be independent. The things that nature teaches me are a lot. I can see

from the color of the cloud to predict the weather and the sound of of animals

have different meanings. All of these are hard to know from the books. I have my

own thinking from these trips, and the way to take care of myself helps me to

grow up.

My Sister 我的姐姐

Allow me to introduce my sister. Her name is Carol. She is tall and slim. She has big eyes and wears a pair of glasses.Her hair is long and blond. She is very polite and helpful. She is willing to give seats to the people in need in the bus. She has the same hobby with me. We both like playing tennis and computer games. I don’t think she plays better than me in tennis. But she plays better than me in computer games. Such as Russia, Bricks,Bubbles and so on!

My sister is very hard-Working. She is learning IELTS by herself. She wants to be a teaeher in the future. I think she can make it!

【参考译文】

请允许我介绍一下我的姐姐。她的名字叫卡罗尔。她又高又苗条。她有一双大眼睛，戴着一副眼镜。她的有一头很长的金发。她很有礼貌而且乐于助人。她坐车的时候愿意把座位让给需要的人。她和我有相同的爱好。我们都喜欢打网球和玩电脑游戏。我不认为她网球比我打得好。但她电脑游戏玩的比我好。如俄罗斯，砖块，泡沫等!

我的姐姐总是很努力。她正在学习雅思。她将来想当老师。我认为她能做到!

Once upon a time, I did not pay for my bill when I bought a pen, because

the boss forgot to charge me, so I pretended to not realize it and just walk

away with the pen. Many years passed, every time when I think of it, I will be

ashamed of myself, I lost the important thing once, but I will not lose it

again.

The merit of honesty occupies great importance today. In the old time,

without the camera’s supervisor, people kept their honesty according to their

self-consciousness. It seems that if they are not honest, they would not get any

punishment. But today, as the technology develops, people are supervised by the

high-technologies all the time, once they are caught cheating, their files will

have the spot, which affect their career badly.

We are living in the modern life, we need to self-behaved, what we do is

under the invisible cameras’ watching. Even we make the small mistake, we will

be recorded without noticed. What we do decides what kind of person we are, so

let’s be an honest person all the time.

In recent years, China’s food industry occurs security issus frequently,

which makes people worried and lose confidence. Food safety, related to the

people’s health, safety and healthy development of economy, is the major issue

of national stability and social development. Since the Sanlu Incident occurred

in 2008, the entire society increasingly concerned about food safety issue. It

was in this context that the food safety issue was referred to an unprecedented

level.

There are the following main issues in food security: using poor quality

raw materials in the food manufacturing process, adding toxic substances,

excessive use of food additives, abusing of chemical additives and so on. There

are many reasons to cause this problem, and regulators, producers and even

consumers share responsibilities. The entire society should try effort to avoid

food safety issues.

To be or nor to be, that is a question. To succeed or to fail? How to

succeed and how to achieve? These problems confuse many teenagers in

nowadays.

We all have dreams, and we all work hard to realize them. But there will

always be some problems and setbacks to stop the pace of advance. When they

appear, what should we do? To stop or to go on? Mrs. Curie told us the answer.

We all know that Mrs. Curie discovered radium, but how many people really know

how hard she worked? At that time, there were many people disapprove of Mrs.

Curie. Although she got over hundreds of difficulties, she still believed in

herself and never gave up. Finally, she succeeded to discover radium. She proved

that she was right by her continuous hard work and her strong spirit. We should

learn from Mrs. Curie. She told us the truth through her own experiences that

believe in yourself, you can do it! Never give up, face the difficulties with a

smile, someday, you will be proud of yourself.

The key to success is confidence. It makes you brave, helps you get over

the troubles, and brings motivation to you. For example, somebody always get

nervous when they have an important speech, if they are in a nervous mood, the

results are always terrible. But if they are confident to themselves, the

results turn out to be better. Therefore, be confident, believe in yourself,

keep smile in your face when comes to difficulties, and you will achieve

more.

A library is a building for a collection or books, magazines, periodicals

and newspapers. The books are kept on the shelves in the stack room whereas the

magazines, journals, etc. in the reading rooms. Modern libraries also have xerox

rooms, and computer rooms.

If you want to borrow books, you can go to the loan desk, look over the

correct call numbers in the card catalog and ask the librarian to take then, out

for you. Or youre allowed to enter the stack room to rind books for yourself,

you can look up the bound volume or index for the articles relative to the

subject, on which you are going to write thesis. If the library doesnt

subscribe to the magazine which carries the article you want, you can borrow the

magazine from other libraries by means of interlibrary loan service.

Dont forget to show your library card or I.D. card to the librarian before

you go into the reading room, where you can read magazines or newspapers. If you

find a good article and want to keep it, you can have it duplicated in the xerox

room. Besides, if you want to watch films or slides, you can ask the

projectionist to play the videotape for you in the audio visual room, where you

can also listen to language tapes and music tapes.

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.