TheFestivalofLanternstakesplaceattheendoftheChineseNewYearCelebration,onthefifteenthdayofthefirstmoon.LanternshavebeenpartofChineselifeforcenturiessoit'snotsurprisingtoseeafestivaloflanterns.
Peopleusuallyhanglanternsinthegardens,outsidethehouses,andontheboats.TheselanternsaresignpoststoguideguestsandspiritsofancestorstotheLunarcelebration.Afterasumptuousfifteen-dayfeast,theselanternslightthewayforthespiritsbacktotheworldbeyond.
Silk,paperandplasticlanternsvaryinshapeandsizeandareusuallymulti-colored.Someareintheshapesofbutterflies,birds,flowers,andboats.Otherareshapedlikedragon,fruitandanimalsymbolsofthatyear.Themostpopulartypeoflanternisthe"horse-racing"one,inwhichfiguresoranimalsrotatearoundtheverticalaxisofthelantern.
ThespecialfoodfortheLanternFestivalisYuenSinorTongYuen.Thesearerounddumplingsmadewithstickyriceflour.Theycanbefilledandservedasasweetsnackormadeplainandcookedinasoupwithvegetables,meatanddriedshrimp.Theroundshapeofthedumplingisasymbolofwholeness,completenessandunity.
TheLanternFestivalisanoccasionforfamiliestogettogetherandforeveryone--young,old,richandpoortohavefun.
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。