《纸片+》中国节日（二）——元宵节
元宵节是我国主要的传统节日，也叫元夕、元夜，又称上元节，因为这是新年第一个月圆夜。
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.
因历代这一节日有观灯习俗，故又称灯节。
Because there isacustom of watching lanternsthrough the ages, it iscalled the Lantern Festival.
和其他传统节日强调“阖家团聚”不同，元宵节更强调“普天同庆”。
Unlike other traditional festivals which highlight "family reunion", the Lantern Festival more emphasizes on " jubilation enjoyed by the wholenation".
元宵节被人们视为春节最后的高潮，因为过了这天，人们就要真正进入新一年的生产生活，
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.
所以人们在元宵节全民欢庆，以祈求上苍保佑来年风调雨顺、庄稼丰收，这也表达了人们对新年的美好期盼。
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，在中国民间有“正月十五闹元宵”的习俗。
This is why the Chinese people have the custom of "celebrating the Lantern Festivalon the fifteenth day of the first lunar month".
这个传承已有两千多年的传统节日，
Having been inherited for more than two thousand years,
不仅盛行于大江南北，就是在海外华人的聚居区也年年欢庆不衰。
this traditional festival is not only prevalent in China, but also celebrated every year in foreigncountries’areas inhabited by overseas Chinese.
每到元宵节期间，人们都会走出家门，涌上街头，除了闹花灯、猜灯谜外，还有舞龙、舞狮、踩高跷、跑旱船、敲舟山锣鼓……
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，有很多风俗和活动都是国家非物质文化遗产。
many of which are national intangible cultural heritages.
出门赏月、燃灯放焰、喜猜灯谜、共吃元宵、同庆佳节，让广大群众参与其中，共同享受这些非物质文化遗产给我们留下的审美记忆。
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，吃的当然要有，现在民间过元宵节都有吃元宵的习俗。
Besides various entertainments, there is of course a tradition to eat festive food——yuanxiaoin the Lantern Festival.
元宵由糯米制成，或实心，或带馅。
Yuanxiao is made of glutinous rice flour, solid or with stuffing
馅有豆沙、白糖、山楂、各类果料等，
includingsweetened bean paste, sugar, hawthorn, all kinds of dried fruit, etc.
食用时煮、煎、蒸、炸皆可。
It can be boiled, fried or steamed to eat.
起初，人们把这种食物叫“浮圆子”，后来又叫“汤团”和“汤圆”，
At first, people called it "Fu Yuanzi ", later on also called it"tang yuan" ,
这些名称“团圆”字音相近，寓意甜甜蜜蜜，团团圆圆，象征一家团圆，幸福美满。
Tang yuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan”, which implies family union, harmony and happiness.
它很符合人们的内心希望。元宵节因此获得了新的文化意义。
Tang yuan is in accordance with people's inner hope. Therefore, the Lantern Festival gains new cultural meaning.
元宵节隐含了传统的孝道和家庭观念，
It implies the traditional concept of filial piety and family,
弘扬了中华民族的民俗文化，
carries forward the Chinese nation's folk culture,
丰富了我们的精神文明，
enriches our spiritual civilization,
彰显了国民经济发展、百姓生活水平逐步提高。
and showsthe national economic development and gradually improved people's living standard.
时代变迁，岁月流转。
Times are changing.
不论元宵、彩灯、烟花如何变化出新，不变的依旧是元宵节延续的中国古老传统风俗，不变的依旧是人们心中割舍不断的元宵节情愫。
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.
