這也是慶祝春節(jié)的延續(xù)。

This is also a continuation of the Spring Festival celebration.

在元宵節(jié)之夜，天上明月高照，地上彩燈萬盞。

On the Lantern Festival night, the moon illuminates the dark sky while many lanterns shine bright colors on the earth.

元宵夜觀花燈的習(xí)俗開始于兩千多年前的西漢時期。

The traditions of viewing decorative lanterns on this night began more than two thousand years ago in the Western Han Dynasty.

最早只是在皇宮中點燈祈福。

In the earlier times, those beautiful lanterns were only seen in the imperial palaces.

慢慢地演變成民間最盛大的燈節(jié)。

Slowly it evolved into a celebration on the grand scale for the ordinary folks everywhere.

在元宵節(jié)前許多天，人們就開始忙著用油紙、綢布、竹子和花朵等材料制作各式各樣的燈籠。

A few days before the lantern festival, people begin gathering oiled paper, silk cloths, bamboo sticks and flower to make all types of lanterns.

或者到熱鬧的燈市上挑選自己喜愛的燈籠。

Some people go to the lively streets to pick a personal favorite.

花燈的主題既有民間傳說，又有節(jié)日習(xí)俗和各種吉祥物等。

The lanterns sometimes come in a series about certain folklore, holiday customs, or lucky mascots.

元宵節(jié)也是一個浪漫的節(jié)日。

The Lantern Festival is also a romantic holiday.

在封建社會時，年輕女孩不允許出外自由活動。

In feudal society, young girls were not allowed to go out freely.

但在元宵節(jié)晚上，她們卻可以結(jié)伴出游觀賞花燈。

But on the night of the Lantern Festival, they were allowed to view the lantern lights in groups.

未婚男女也常借著賞花燈與情人相會。

Sometimes couples would go on dates strolling down the streets lit with lantern lights.

如今人們依然會在元宵夜相邀一起去賞花燈。

Today people still invite others to view lanterns together.

在中國南北各地都有風格不同的元宵燈會。

Across China, the Lantern Festival is celebrated in many different styles.

在臨水的地方，人們把做好的蓮花燈放進河里，讓燈順流而下，帶去自己對已逝親人的思念。

In places near water, people put Lotus Lanterns in the river to let them flow down stream, carrying the loss they feel for the relatives that have passed away.

在北方，傳統(tǒng)習(xí)俗與現(xiàn)代科技相結(jié)合發(fā)展成為冰燈節(jié)。

In the North, as traditional customs combined with modern science and technology, there evolved the Ice Lantern Festival.

天然冰雪與燈光色彩巧妙結(jié)合，透過雕塑、造型、建筑和造景，成為一個絢麗的冰雪天堂。

The combination of the ice and snow with colored lights, carvings, designs, and special scenery yield a spectacular winter paradise.

猜燈謎是中國特有的文字游戲。

The Lantern Riddle is a special word-game played by the Chinese people.