正月是农历的元月，古人称夜为“宵”，所以称正月十五为元宵节。元宵节又称为“上元节”。按中国民间的传统，在这天人们要点彩灯、猜灯谜、吃元宵。同学们知道元宵节相关的英语表达吗？一起来学习吧！
元宵节习俗
元宵节有很多习俗，其中非常重要的一个便是挂灯笼，所以元宵节还有“灯节”之称，因此元宵节的英文被翻译成了“the Lantern Festival”。
除了叫元宵节，它还有很多小名，如上元节、春灯节、小正月等。
In addition to the Lantern Festival, it also has other names, such as Yuan Festival, Spring Lantern Festival, Small First Month, etc.
1、Eating Yuanxiao
吃元宵
元宵是元宵节的特色食品，其名称和“团圆”的发音相近，取团圆之意，象征全家人团团圆圆，和睦幸福。
Yuanxiao is the special food for the Lantern Festival, which has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan" in Chinese, meaning reunion, harmony and happiness for the family.
2、 Guessing Lantern Riddles
猜灯谜
正月十五赏花灯是元宵节必有的另一项习俗。人们把大大小小的花灯悬挂于家门口、公园、街道或者其他公共场所。各式各样的红灯笼将会吸引无数游客前来观赏。
Decorating and hanging lanterns is the main tradition of the festival, with lanterns big and small hung around households, parks, streets and other public spaces. Red lanterns of various shape and type will attract countless visitors to watch.
从宋代开始，猜灯谜就是一项非常受欢迎的民俗活动。人们把谜语写到纸上并悬之于灯上，供人猜射。通常，谜底都是各种吉祥话和祝福。
Solving riddles on lanterns has been a popular tradition since the Song Dynasty. People write riddles on paper and stick them to the lanterns and if someone guesses correctly, they can pull the riddle off. The notes often contain messages of good fortune and wishes.
3、Lion Dance
舞狮子
舞狮子是另一项庆祝新春的古老习俗。在古代，人们把狮子作为勇气和力量的象征，认为舞狮可以消灾降福。所以舞狮子的传统就延续至今，并且每逢佳节或庆典，如元宵节都会舞狮子来祈求好运。
The lion dance is one of the oldest traditions to celebrate the Chinese New Year. In ancient times, people regarded the lion as a symbol of bravery and strength and believed the dance could drive away bad fortune to protect people and their livestock. The custom has continued to the modern day and lion dances are performed at important events on the Chinese calendar, such as the Lantern Festival, to bring good luck.
4、Watch fireworks
看烟火
元宵节的白天会有舞龙舞狮、划旱船、扭秧歌、踩高跷。而在晚上，除了各种大型灯会，灿烂的焰火也是一幅美丽的画卷。有的地方政府甚至会组织焰火晚会。当新年的第一轮圆月升上夜空时，人们都会因燃放的烟火和空中的明月而兴奋。
In the daytime of the Festival, performances such as a dragon lantern dance, a lion dance, a land boat dance,a yangge dance, walking on stilts and beating drums while dancing will be staged. On the night,except for magnificent lanterns, fireworks form a beautiful scene. Some local governments will even organize a fireworks party.On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people become really intoxicated by the imposing fireworks and bright moon in the sky.
