这一则传说与吃元宵的习俗有关：相传汉武帝有个宠臣名叫东方朔，他善良又风趣。有一年冬天，下了几天大雪 ，东方朔就到御花园去给武帝折梅花。刚进园门，就发现有个宫女泪流满面准备投井。东方朔慌忙上前搭救，并问明她要自杀的原因。原来，这个宫女名叫元宵，家里还有双亲及一个妹妹。

She never had the chance to meet her family after she started worked at the palace. She missed them so much every 12th lunar month. If she couldn't have the chance to show her filial piety in this life, she would rather die. Mr. Eastern promised her to find a way so she could reunion with her family. Mr. Eastern left the palace and set up a fortune-telling stall on the street and disguised himself as a fortuneteller. Because of his reputation, many people asked for their fortunes.

自从她进宫以后，就再也无缘和家人见面，每年到了腊尽春来的时节，就比平常更加的思念家人。觉得不能在双亲跟前尽孝，不如一死了之。东方朔听了她的遭遇，深感同情，就向她保证，一定设法让她和家人团聚。一天，东方朔出宫在长安街上摆了一个占卜摊。不少人都争着向他占卜求卦。

But every one got the same prediction - a severe fire accident on the 15th lunar day. The rumor spread quickly. Everyone was worried about the future and asked Mr. Eastern for help. Mr. Eastern said, "On the 13th lunar day, the God of Fire will send a fairy lady in red to burn down the city. If you see a lady in red wearing green pants riding a black horse on that day, you should ask for her mercy." On that day, Yuan-Xiao pretended to be the red fairy lady. When people asked for her help, she said, "I'm the messenger of the God of Fire and came to check on the city and I'm going to set up fire on 15th. This is an order from Jade Emperor. He will watch from the heavens."I will give you a copy of the imperial decree from the God of Fire. You should go to ask your emperor to find a way out."

不料，每个人所占所求，都是“正月十六火焚身”的签语。一时之间，长安里起了很大恐慌。人们纷纷求问解灾的办法。东方朔就说：“正月十五日傍晚，火神君会派一位赤衣神女下凡查访，她就是奉旨烧长安的使者，我把抄录的偈语给你们，可让当今天子想想办法。”说完，便扔下一张红帖，扬长而去。

After she left, people went to the palace to show the emperor the decree which reads "The capital city is in trouble. Fire burns on the palace, and fire from Heaven burns all night long on the 15th." The emperor of Han Dynasty was very shocked. He called and asked Mr. Eastern for advice. After pondering for a while, Mr. Eastern said, "I heard that the God of Fire likes to eat Tang-Yuan (Sweet dumpling). Does Yuan-Xiao often cook Tang-Yuan for you? On the 15th lunar day, let Yuan-Xiao make Tang-Yuan. Your Majesty will take charge of the worshipping ceremony and you will give an order to every house to prepare Tang-Yuan to worship the God of Fire at the same time. Also, deliver another order to ask every house in the city to hang red lantern and explode fire crackers. Lastly, everyone in the palace and people outside the city should carry their lanterns on the street to watch the lantern decoration and fireworks. If everything goes this way, the Jade Emperor would be deceived.Then everyone can avoid the fire accident." 

老百姓拿起红帖，赶紧送到皇宫去禀报皇上。汉武帝接过来一看，只见上面写着：“长安在劫，火焚帝阙，十五天火，焰红宵夜”，他心中大惊，连忙请来了足智多谋的东方朔。东方朔假意的想了一想，就说：“听说火神君最爱吃汤圆，宫中的元宵不是经常给你做汤圆吗？十五晚上可让元宵做好汤圆。万岁焚香上供，传令京都家家都做汤圆，一齐敬奉火神君。再传谕臣民一起在十五晚上挂灯，满城点鞭炮、放烟火，好像满城大火，这样就可以瞒过玉帝了。此外，通知城外百姓，十五晚上进城观灯，杂在人群中消灾解难”。 

The emperor happily followed the plan. Lanterns were everywhere in the capital city on the night of the 15th lunar day. People were walking on the street. Fire crackers kept making lots of noise. It looked like the entire city was on fire. Yuan-Xiao's parents went into the palace to watch the lantern decorations, and Yuan-Xiao made a big lantern and wrote her name on the lantern. They happily reunited together after her parents called her name. Everybody was safe during the night. The emperor of Han Dynasty had a new order that people should do the same thing every year. Since Yuan-Xiao cooked the best Tan-Yuan, people called the day Yuan-Xiao Festival.

武帝听后，十分高兴，就传旨照东方朔的办法去做。到了正月十五日长安城里张灯结彩，游人熙来攘往，热闹非常。宫女元宵的父母也带着妹妹进城观灯。当他们看到写有“元宵”字样的大宫灯时，惊喜的高喊：“元宵！元宵！”， 元宵听到喊声，终于和家里的亲人团聚了。如此热闹了一夜，长安城果然平安无事。汉武帝大喜，便下令以后每到正月十五都做汤圆供火神君，正月十五照样全城挂灯放烟火。因为元宵做的汤圆最好，所以这天叫做元宵节。