海派小小甜心
元夕习俗的形成有一个较长的过程，根源于民间开灯祈福古俗。
The formation of the custom of new year＇s Eve has a long process， which is rooted in the folk custom of turning on lights and praying for blessings．
开灯祈福通常在正月十四夜便开始“试灯”，十五日夜为‘“正灯’，民间要点灯盏，又称“送灯盏”，以进行祭神祈福活动。
On the 14th night of the first month， people usually begin to ＂test＂ the lamp． On the 15th night， people need to light the lamp， also known as ＂send the lamp＂， to carry out the activities of offering sacrifices to the gods and praying for blessings．
当随着社会和时代的变迁，元宵节的风俗习惯早已有了较大的变化，但至今仍是中国民间传统节日。
With the changes of society and times， the customs of the Lantern Festival have changed a lot， but it is still a traditional Chinese folk festival．
元宵在早期节庆形成过程之时，只称正月十五、正月半或月望，隋以后称元夕或元夜。
Lantern Festival in the early formation of the festival process， only known as the 15th， the first half of the month or Yuewang， after the Sui Dynasty known as Yuanxi or Yuanye．
唐初受了道教的影响，又称上元，唐末才偶称元宵。但自宋以后也称灯夕。到了清朝，就另称灯节。
In the early Tang Dynasty， influenced by Taoism， it was also called Shangyuan． In the late Tang Dynasty， it was even called yuanxiao． But since the Song Dynasty， it has also been called the Lantern Festival． In the Qing Dynasty， it was also called the Lantern Festival．
轻舞迷影
The Festival of Lanterns takes place at the end of the Chinese New Year Celebration, on the fifteenth day of the first moon. Lanterns have been part of Chinese life for centuries so it's not surprising to see a festival of lanterns.People usually hang lanterns in the gardens, outside the houses, and on the boats. These lanterns are signposts to guide guests and spirits of ancestors to the Lunar celebration. After a sumptuous fifteen-day feast, these lanterns light the way for the spirits back to the world beyond.Silk, paper and plastic lanterns vary in shape and size and are usually multi-colored. Some are in the shapes of butterflies, birds, flowers, and boats. Other are shaped like dragon, fruit and animal symbols of that year. The most popular type of lantern is the "horse-racing" one, in which figures or animals rotate around the vertical axis of the lantern.The special food for the Lantern Festival is Yuen Sin or Tong Yuen. These are round dumplings made with sticky rice flour. They can be filled and served as a sweet snack or made plain and cooked in a soup with vegetables, meat and dried shrimp. The round shape of the dumpling is a symbol of wholeness, completeness and unity.The Lantern Festival is an occasion for families to get together and for everyone--young, old, rich and poor to have fun.翻译如下：年底举行的中国新年庆祝活动,在正月15月的这一天. 灯笼一直是几个世纪以来中国人的节日,所以没什么吃惊.人们通常灯笼挂在花园外面的房子、船上. 这些指示标志灯的客人,是祖先的新年庆祝活动. 15点后两天大餐,这些灯照亮了回神后的世界.丝绸、造纸、塑料灯笼形状和大小各不相同,通常多彩. 有蝴蝶形的、鸟、花、船. 其他都像龙、水果和动物的象征,一年. 最受欢迎的是一种花灯 " 赛马 " 一、人物、动物,轮流在各地纵轴的花灯.特别是粮食的元宵圆善或汤圆. 这些都是用与糯米粉圆、甜零食熟了汤,蔬菜、肉、虾米来填补。圆圆的形状,是象征团圆的整体性、完整性和团结.元宵是和家人团聚的机会,使每一个人--青年人、老年人,不论贫富,都好好享受这个节日
vincent'sir
传说在很久很久以前，凶禽猛兽很多，四处伤害人和牲畜，人们就组织起来打它们，有一只神鸟因为迷路而降落人间，却意外的被不知情的猎人给射死了。
Legend a long, long time ago, fierce poultry beast of prey many, hurt people and livestock everywhere, people organize play them, because there is a god birds lost that landed in the world and surprisingly was not informed of the hunter shot to death.
天帝知道后十分震怒，立即传旨，下令让天兵于正月十五日到人间放火，把人间的人畜财产通通烧死。
After day emperor know is very angry, regards immediately, ordered day soldier in the fifteenth day set fire to the world, the world of human and property all burned to death.
天帝的女儿心地善良，不忍心看百姓无辜受难，就冒着生命的危险，偷偷驾着祥云来到人间，把这个消息告诉了人们。 Day emperor's daughter kind-hearted, and can't bear to watch people innocent suffering, they risk their lives, secretly in xiangyun came to earth, told the news to the people.
众人听说了这个消息，就如头上响了一个焦雷，吓得不知如何是好。
They heard the news, just as head rang a JiaoLei, frighten didn't know how to do.
过了好久，才有个老人家想出个法子，他说：“在正月十四、十五、十六日这三天，每户人家都在家里张灯结彩、点响爆竹、燃放烟火。这样一来，天帝就会以为人们都被烧死了。”
After a long time, just have a old man come up with a way, he said: "in the 14-15, 16, the three days, every household in the home decorations, some ring firecracker, a display of fireworks. So that way, day emperor will think people are killed."
大家听了都点头称是，便分头准备去了。
You have all heard all nodded, then separate ready to go.
到了正月十五这天晚上，天帝往下一看，发觉人间一片红光，响声震天，连续三个夜晚都是如此，以为是大火燃烧的火焰，心中大快。
In the 15 on this night, day emperor looked down into a world that red light, were sound, for three consecutive nights is so, thought is the burning flame, heart big fast.
人们就这样保住了自己的生命及财产。
People so keep his life and property.
为了纪念这次成功，从此每到正月十五，家家户户都悬挂灯笼，放烟火来纪念这个日子。
In order to commemorate this success, from now on each in the 15, every household hanging lanterns, fireworks to mark the occasion.
JojoYang1231
According to one legend, once in ancient times, a celestial swan came into the mortal world where it was shot down by a hunter. The Jade Emperor, the highest god in Heaven, vowed to avenge the swan.
He started making plans to send a troop of celestial soldiers and generals to Earth on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, with orders to incinerate all humans and animals.
But the other celestial beings disagreed with this course of action, and risked their lives to warn the people of Earth.
As a result, before and after the fifteenth day of the first month, every family hung red lanterns outside their doors and set off firecrackers and fireworks, giving the impression that their homes were already burning.
By successfully tricking the Jade Emperor in this way, humanity was saved from extermination.
译文：
有一个传说是这样的，在古代，有一位神界天鹅闯入人间被猎手误杀。天界最高的神玉皇大帝因此发誓为这只天鹅报仇。
他开始制定计划，派出一支天兵天将于农历正月十五来到人间，命令他们火烧所有的人和动物。但是其他神仙并不赞同这一计划，他们冒着生命危险提醒人间的人们。
结果，在正月十五这一天前后，每一个家庭在门外挂起灯笼，并燃放烟花爆竹，给天兵天将造成各家各户起火的假象。
通过这种方式，人们成功骗过了玉皇大帝，人类也因此逃过灭绝的危险。
0脾氣钚壞0
TheformationofthecustomoftheLanternFestivalhasalongprocess.
（元宵节习俗的形成有一个较长的过程。）
Accordingtogeneralinformationandfolklore,thefifteenthdayofthefirstlunarmonthhadbeenvaluedinthewesternhandynasty.
（据一般的资料与民俗传说，正月十五在西汉已经受到重视。）
Inthefirstlunarmonthofemperorwudiofthehandynasty,thesacrificetotaiyiwasheldattheganquanpalace.
（汉武帝正月上辛夜在甘泉宫祭祀“太一”的活动。）
Itisregardedbylatergenerationsasthepreludetosacrificetothegodofheavenonthefifteenthdayofthefirstlunarmonth.
（被后人视作正月十五祭祀天神的先声。）
However,thefifteenthdayofthefirstmonthoftheLanternFestivalasafolkfestivalisreallyafterthehanandweidynasties.
（不过，正月十五元宵节真正作为民俗节日是在汉魏之后。）
ThecustomofburninglanternsonthefifteenthdayofthefirstmonthisrelatedtotheeasternBuddhism.
（正月十五燃灯的习俗与佛教东传有关。）
Duringthetangdynasty,Buddhismflourished.
（唐朝时，佛教大兴。）
Officialofficialsandpeoplegenerallyinthefifteenthdayofthefirstmonthofthisday"burninglightsforBuddha",thelightsofthebuddhistfamilythenthroughoutthefolk.
（仕官百姓普遍在正月十五这一天“燃灯供佛”，佛家灯火于是遍布民间。）
Fromthetangdynasty,theLanternFestivalbecamealegalthing,andgraduallybecameafolkcustom.
（从唐代起，元宵张灯即成为法定之事，并逐渐成为民间习俗。）
