今天是元宵節，春節的歡慶進入尾聲。人們在今晚賞月、看燈、團聚，然后，等待下一個春節。

[Photo/VCG]

其實，從歷史上來說，元宵節才是我國真正意義上的情人節。

The Lantern Festival has been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 221 AD).
自漢朝（公元前206年—公元221年）起，元宵節就已成為了春節慶祝活動的一部分了。

It is said that the holiday evolved from an ancient Chinese belief that celestial spirits could be seen flying about in the light of the first full moon of the lunar calendar. To aid them in their search for the spirits, people used torches. These torches gave way to lanterns of every shape, size and color.
據說，元宵節由古代中國的一個傳說演化而來，傳言每至農歷第一個月圓之夜，便可看到天上飛動的神靈。為了更容易尋找神靈，人們都會用火把照明，而這些火把也逐漸被形狀、大小、顏色各異的燈籠所取代。

Despite the fact that most Chinese dynasties had curfews during the night, all the people were allowed to stay out on the days around the Lantern Festival. The Chinese women, who had to stay indoors for most of their lives, were permitted to admire the lanterns and the full moon on the day as well.
中國古代的大多數朝代都在夜晚實行宵禁，但是在元宵節前后那幾天，允許人們在外流連。古代中國女性一生大部分時間都深居閨中，在元宵節之夜她們也獲準可以出門賞燈賞月。

Therefore, it was almost the only time for young men and women to meet with each other and fall in love, according to experts.
因此，元宵節是青年男女可以相見并相戀的唯一機會。

The other evidence of the Lantern Festival being Chinese Valentine’s Day is recorded in Chinese literature. In the thousands of ancient poems passed on from the Tang and Song dynasties, many depicted ardent love for their partners.
元宵節是中國情人節的另一個證明記錄在中國的文學作品中。唐宋時期數千首古詩中，很多都描述對伴侶的深情。

比如，辛棄疾的這首《青玉案·元夕》。

青玉案·元夕

（宋）辛棄疾

東風夜放花千樹，更吹落，星如雨。

寶馬雕車香滿路，鳳蕭聲動，壺光轉，一夜魚龍舞。

蛾兒雪柳黃金縷，笑語盈盈暗香去。

眾里尋他千百度，驀然回首，那人卻在，燈火闌珊處。

The Lantern Festival Night - to the tune of Green Jade Table

by Xin Qiji 許淵沖、許明譯

One night's east wind adorns a thousand trees with flowers

And blows down stars in showers.

Fine steeds and carved cabs spread fragrance en route;

Music vibrates from the flute;

The moon sheds its full light

While fish and dragon lanterns dance all night.

In gold-thread dress, with moth or willow ornaments,

Giggling, she melts into the throng with trails of scents

But in the crowd once and again

I look for her in vain.

When all at once I turn my head,

I find her there where lantern light is dimly shed.

元宵節的其他習俗

猜燈謎

Part of the lantern festival tradition involves a game to guess riddles attached to the lanterns. In the old days the riddles were literary allusions to the Chinese classics and so were mainly the preserve of the educated classes.
元宵節傳統習俗中有猜燈謎的游戲。在過去，這些謎語大多與中國文學典故有關，所以猜燈謎以前多為知識份子的“領地”。

到了現代，猜燈謎自然是每個人都能參與的節日游戲。我們在這里列幾個中文和英文燈謎，看看你能猜出多少。（答案見文末）

英文燈謎

Why is the letter E so important?

What clothing is always sad?

What is higher without a head than with a head?

What stays hot even if put in a refrigerator?

中文燈謎

思（打一字）

豐收（打一字）

足球門（打一成語）

乖（打一成語）

舉重比賽（打一成語）

吃元宵（湯圓）

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Like most Chinese festivals, the Lantern Festival has its own special food, called "yuanxiao" or "tangyuan". These are round, glutinous rice dumplings with sweet or saly fillings. The dumplings are said to symbolize both the first full moon and family unity and completeness.
與大多數中國節日一樣，元宵節同樣有自己的特色小吃，稱為“元宵”或“湯圓”。元宵外形圓圓的，外皮由糯米制成，內餡或甜或咸。人們都說湯圓有兩個象征意義，一為農歷的第一個滿月，二為家庭團聚圓滿。

舞龍舞獅

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Stilt-walking, drumming and dragon and lion dancing are all traditional forms of festival entertainment. In Asia, it is not uncommon to see processions of hundred-foot long dragons, lit with flashing eyes and luminous bodies, accompanied by pounding drums, cymbals and brass instruments.
踩高蹺，敲鼓和舞龍舞獅都是一些傳統節日的娛樂活動。在亞洲，人們經常能看到這樣的場景：數百英尺的長龍，閃閃發光的眼睛和亮晶晶的身軀，周圍還有敲鑼打鼓、吹奏銅管樂器的隊伍。

Today, the connotation of love in the festival has been almost lost, as young couples could date whenever they want and women are no longer confined indoors. But the lantern shows remain the focus of the festival.
如今，元宵節中跟愛情有關的含義已經消失殆盡，女性不再深居簡出，年輕的情侶們隨時可以約會。不過，燈展依舊是元宵節的重頭戲。

祝大家元宵節快樂！

People celebrate the Lantern Festival at a park in Weifang, East China’s Shangdong province on March 1, 2018. [Photo/IC]

People take photos in front of a lantern, which symbolizes fortune and treasure, to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Macao on Feb 2, 2018. [Photo/IC]

Visitors stroll beneath a lantern fair in Zibo city, East China's Shandong province on Feb 27, 2018. [Photo/IC]

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英文燈謎答案

Because it is the beginning of everything.

Blue jeans.

A pillow.

Pepper.

中文燈謎答案

十

移

網開一面

乘人不備

斤斤計較

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）