Occurring on the 15th day of the initial month of the Lunar New Year, when the first full moon appears, the Lantern Festival is a festive time that continues the good cheer and celebration sparked by Chinese New Year. It also simultaneously marks the end of that annual event. It’s a time when lanterns and other colorful lights and decorations adorn stores, businesses, and streets in Chinese communities around the globe. Aside from honoring ancestors, the festival is also meant to foster peace, forgiveness, and harmony.
Lantern displays are the center of attention during the Lantern Festival in Taiwan. Parks across the island are often decorated with many lanterns depicting everything from the Chinese zodiac animal of the year to traditional Chinese folk stories. In addition, there are other stimulating activities, including lion and dragon dances, fireworks displays, and various parades. Schoolchildren make small lanterns at schools as well. There are also traditional foods associated with the Lantern Festival, such as tangyuan and dumplings. With tangyuan’s round shape, the treats symbolize the completeness and unity of the family.
It is believed that the origin of the Lantern Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE) and is linked to a ritual that was performed by Buddhist monks which involved lighting lanterns to honor Buddha. There are also some colorful legends related to how the festival came about. One tells the story of the Jade Emperor becoming enraged at some townspeople who killed his beloved crane. His plan to burn the town to the ground was foiled by his daughter, who advised the people to light numerous lanterns in the town to trick the emperor into believing it had previously been set ablaze.
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Whatever the true roots of this joyous occasion, the Lantern Festival is enjoyed in cities such as Taipei, which will host the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival. According to local officials, the upcoming lantern show will focus on creativity and fashion.
元宵節落在農曆正月十五日，正值第一個滿月出現時，它是一個延續農曆新年帶來的歡樂和慶祝的節日。它同時也標誌著新年這個年度活動的結束。這是一個全球各地的華人社區用燈籠和其他五顏六色燈光和裝飾品裝飾商店、公司和街道的時刻。除了崇敬祖先，這個節慶也旨在促進和平、寬恕與和諧。
在台灣，元宵節期間的燈展是人們關注的焦點。該島的公園通常會用許多燈籠裝飾，其刻劃各種事物，從當年度的生肖到中華傳統民間故事都有。此外，還有其他富饒趣味的活動，包括舞龍舞獅、煙火秀和各種遊行。學童也會在學校裡製作小型的燈籠。另外還有與元宵節有關的傳統食物，像是湯圓和餃子。湯圓這種圓形的點心象徵著家庭的完整與團結。
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一般認為，元宵節的起源可以追溯到漢朝（公元前206年至公元220年），並與佛教僧侶舉行的一種儀式有關，佛教僧侶舉行的這種儀式包括點亮燈籠以紀念佛陀。關於這個節日的起源，還有一些豐富多彩的傳說。其中一個所講的故事是，玉皇大帝因某些鎮上的人殺了他心愛的鶴而勃然大怒。他要燒毀城鎮的計畫被他女兒阻止了，她建議人們在城鎮裡點燃無數的燈籠，以欺騙玉帝相信城鎮之前就已經被縱火焚燒了。
無論這個歡樂時刻的真正起源為何，元宵節在許多城市都很受歡迎，像是台北，其將於今年主辦「台灣燈會」。據當地官員說法，即將到來的燈會秀會把重點放在創意和時尚。
What Did You Learn?
1. According to the passage, who of the following people is NOT celebrating the Lantern Festival?
(A) Tiffany is paying tribute to her ancestors.
(B) Jerry is eating traditional foods with his family.
(C) Kelly is worshiping the Jade Emperor to increase her fortune.
(D) Michael and his friends are making interesting lanterns in the classroom.
2. According to legend, why did the Jade Emperor decide against burning down the town?
(A) All the residents in the town lit lanterns to plead for mercy.
(B) He mistakenly believed the town was already on fire.
(C) The townspeople gave him a new crane as a gift.
(D) His daughter used magic to change his mind.
答案: 1. (C) 2. (B)
Words in Use
1. spark vt. 引起，激發
Reading that famous writer’s novels has sparked my imagination and creativity.
閱讀那位名作家的小說激發了我的想像力及創造力。
2. simultaneously adv. 同時
Al could simultaneously sing and play the guitar by the age of eight.
艾爾八歲時就可以邊唱歌邊彈吉他。
3. adorn vt . 裝飾
The government adorned the streets with decorations for Chinese New Year.
政府為了農曆新年而用裝飾品美化街道。
4. foster vt. 促進，助長
This project will help foster the creation of new jobs.
這項計畫將有助於創造新的就業機會。
5. stimulating a. 富饒趣味的
I like to talk with my three-year-old daughter because we always have stimulating conversations.
我喜歡和我三歲的女兒說話，因為我們的對話總是富饒趣味。
Practical Phrases
1. be meant to V 旨在／本意是要…
This book is meant to help readers understand the stock market.
這本書旨在協助讀者了解股票市場。
2. be traced back to + 時間／時期
追溯到某時間／時期
= date back to + 時間／時期
This vase’s origin can be traced back to the 18th century. 這只花瓶的起源可以追溯至十八世紀。
3. burn... to the ground 徹底燒毀
burn down. . ./ burn. . . down 燒毀
Before the firefighters arrived, the house had already been burned to the ground.
在消防員趕到之前，這間房子已經被徹底燒毀了。
A fire broke out last night and burned down the whole building.
昨晚發生大火，把整棟樓都燒毀了。
4. trick sb into V-ing 欺騙某人去做某事…
The conman tricked me into giving him NT$10,000.
那個騙子從我這兒騙走一萬塊新台幣。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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