节日英语：跟老外聊聊元宵节

 　　元宵节的英文是Lantern Festival。因为正月十五是一年中第一个月圆之夜，所以叫元宵。

　　The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar monthis called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao. The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon. So the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China.

　　说完了起源，咱们说说习俗，元宵节我们做什么呢？我们赏花灯（colorful lanterns）、猜灯谜（solve the puzzles）、吃元宵（yuanxiao，glutinousrice ball）。

　　元宵有甜的也有咸的，甜的通常会用糖（sugar）、胡桃（Walnuts）, 芝麻（sesame）,桂花（osmanthus flowers）, 玫瑰（rose petals）、枣泥（jujube paste）等东西做馅. 咸的就可能会用肉馅（mincedmeat）或者蔬菜做馅了。

　　最后，再给老外来上一首诗词，你就等着被夸吧。背什么？这里有一首很有名的宋词哦。

　　青玉案·元夕

　　——辛弃疾

　　东风夜放花千树，

　　更吹落，星如雨。

　　宝马雕车香满路。

　　凤箫声动，玉壶光转，

　　一夜鱼龙舞。

　　蛾儿雪柳黄金缕，

　　笑语盈盈暗香去。

　　众里寻他千百度，

　　蓦然回首，那人却在，

　　灯火阑珊处。

　　怕老外听不懂？没关系，咱再解释一遍：

　　night lights a thousand trees in bloom

　　a shower of stars blown

　　by the east wind

　　ornatecarriages drawn¹ by gallanthorses

　　filled the boulevardswith a sweet fragrance²

　　voice of the magic flute³ flowing

　　luster⁴ of the jade⁵ white urn⁶ turning

　　all night the fishes and the dragons danced

　　butterflies, willows⁷, charms of gold

　　gone -- that angeliclaughter, that subtle perfume

　　in the crowds for her I’d searched a thousand times

　　perchance I turned

　　and there she was

　　where lights were few and dim.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

3 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

4 luster   

n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉

参考例句：

• His great books have added luster to the university where he teaches.他的巨著给他任教的大学增了光。
• Mercerization enhances dyeability and luster of cotton materials.丝光处理扩大棉纤维的染色能力，增加纤维的光泽。

5 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

6 urn   

n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮

参考例句：

• The urn was unearthed entire.这只瓮出土完整无缺。
• She put the big hot coffee urn on the table and plugged it in.她将大咖啡壶放在桌子上,接上电源。

7 willows   

n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木

参考例句：

• The willows along the river bank look very beautiful. 河岸边的柳树很美。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Willows are planted on both sides of the streets. 街道两侧种着柳树。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》