The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese lunar year. It officially ends the Chinese New Year celebration.

During the festival, people eat yuan-xiao or glutinous dumplings, and go out to enjoy lanterns. Let's take a look at how people all over the country are preparing for the big event.

Each year, people in Fujian Province on the mainland and Mazu Island in Taiwan share the holiday spirit of the Lantern Festival. With just a few days to go, Mawei City has already geared up. At the city center, various lanterns have already been set up, among which the dragon and phoenix lantern sets are the most eye-catching.

Jiang Bin, section chief of Mawei Culture & Sports Bureau, said, "This group of lanterns are unique. The dragon is more than one hundred meters long. The phoenix together with dragon signify good luck and happiness, which perfectly matches the festive atmosphere."

The lanterns have all been readied, and on Thursday night, they will light up both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

In Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province, lanterns are in hot demand. In Nanhou Street, each stand is filled with different kinds of lanterns. In addition to the traditional patterns such as lotus blossom and litchi fruit, there are also many cartoon lanterns specially made for children.

A customer said, "This year is the year of dragon. I like this dragon lantern very much."

While lanterns are selling hot, yuanxiao or glutinous dumplings are also a favorite for Chinese people during the lantern festival. In Jiangsu Province, yuanxiao takes up a major part of the frozen food section in super markets. Its round shape signifies family reunion, and Chinese people believe it will give them a good life.

vivi笔记：

Lantern Festival：元宵节
glutinous dumplings：汤圆
Mazu Island：马祖列岛
gear up：准备好
Culture & Sports Bureau：文体局
Taiwan Straits：台湾海峡
lotus blossom：莲花
frozen food：冷冻食品
family reunion：家庭团聚

口译备考之看英语视频练复述系列>>