七夕情人节Chinese Valentine’s Day 元宵节Lanterns’ Day 端午节Dragon Boat Day 七夕情人节Chinese Valentine’s Day 中秋节Mid-autumn Day 国庆节National Day

Lanterns’ Day 1.When is Lanterns’ Day? 2.What do people usually do on this day? 3.What special food for Lanterns’ Day?

The Story of the Lantern Festival 元宵节的由來

A long time ago, a girl named Yuan lived far away from home and worked in the king’s palace.

Yuan missed her family terribly and often cried. She got so home sick that she found it difficult to live.

Just when Yuan was at the depths of despair, a palace guard noticed her. He took pity on Yuan and he tried to help her.

The guard told Yuan to pretend to be the Goddess of Fire.

In that way, she could visit her family on the day that the Goddness of Fire was to visit Yuan’s hometown. She liked his idea.

One day, the Jade Emperor ordered the Goddess of Fire(Yuan) to burn down the very town that was her own hometown!

To save the people of her hometown, Yuan told everyone in the town to hang lanterns on the doors that night and set off fireworks.

That night, with all the noise and fire, the Jade Emperor thought the Goddess of Fire was really burning the town.

Afterward, the emperor ordered the “survivors” to appease the Goddess of Fire by offering her rice balls.

Happy to be reunited with their families, the people made rice balls and hung lanterns each year from them on.

◆What do people do on this day? 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.

What special food for this day? The special food for the Lantern Festival is Yuan Xiao. These are round dumplings made with sticky rice flour. The round shape of the sweet 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 or poor to have fun.