The Yuanxiao Festival is on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month. It is closely related to the Spring Festival. In the old days， people began preparing for the Spring Festival about 20 days before. However， the Yuanxiao Festival marks the end of the New Year celebrations. And after the Yuanxiao Festival， everything returns to normal.

農歷正月十五日是元宵節，緊隨春節之后。古時候，人們提前二十天為“春節”做準備，然而元宵節，元宵節為春節畫上了句號，元宵之后，一切歸于平常。

Yuan literally means first， while Xiao refers to night. Yuanxiao is the first time when we see the full moon in the New year. It is traditionally a time for family reunion. The most prominent activity of the Yuanxiao Festival is the display of all types of beautiful lanterns. So the occasion is also called the Lantern Festival.

“元”是首座的意思，“霄”指夜晚。元宵就是新年首個夜晚，元宵節是家庭團聚的傳統佳節，最隆重的活動就是展掛各種各樣美麗的燈籠，故此，元宵節又叫“燈節”。

There are many beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. But one thing for sure is that it had something to do with religious worship.

關于元宵節的起源之說多種多樣，但是最確切的一種說它跟宗教信仰有關。

One legend tells that it was a time to worship Taiyi， the God of Heaven in ancient times. The belief was that the God of Heaven controlled the destiny of the human world. He had sixteen dragons at his back and call. It was him who decided when to inflict drought， storms， famine or pestilence upon human beings. Beginning with Qinshihuang， the first emperor united the country， all subsequent emperors ordered splendid ceremonies each year. The emperor would ask Taiyi to bring favorable weather and good health to him and to his people. Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty directed special attention to this event. In 104 BC， he proclaimed it one of the most important celebrations and the ceremony would last throughout the night.

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