Arriving on the 15th day of Zheng Yue, or the first month of the Chinese lunar year, the Lantern Festival falls on February 19 this year.

中国农历的第一个月正月的第十五天是元宵节，也就是今年的2月19日。

Lighting¹ lanterns, solving lantern riddles², setting off fireworks, eating Tangyuan and enjoying family time are all traditional activities related to the Lantern Festival. But do you know how they all began?

点灯笼，猜灯谜，放烟花，吃汤圆，享受一家团聚的时光等都是元宵节的传统活动。但是你知道它们的起源吗？

元宵节的由来与传说故事

Emperor Ming and the Buddhist³ monks⁴

明帝和佛教僧侣

Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty heard that on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, monks would watch sarira and light lanterns to show respect for Buddha⁵.

东汉明帝听说，在农历第一个月的第十五天，僧人们会看观佛舍利和灯笼，以表示对佛的尊重。

The emperor then ordered that from the imperial palace to the temples, people of all social classes should hang lanterns that evening.

然后皇帝下令，从皇宫到寺庙，所有社会阶层的人都要在那天晚上挂灯笼。

The activity gradually turned into a grand festive⁶ event, and spread from the Central Plain where the capital was located to all areas across China.

之后，这个活动逐渐变成盛大的节日活动，从当朝首都所在的中原地区传到了中国各地。