元宵节英语作文:The origin of the Lantern Festival

元宵节英语作文:The origin of the Lantern Festival

　　There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. But one thing for sure is that it had sothing to do ith celebrating and cultivating positive relationship beteen people, families, nature and the higher beings they believed ere responsible for bringing/returning the light each year.

　　One legend tells us that it as a ti to orship Taiyi, the God of Heaven in ancient tis. The belief as that the God of Heaven ntrolled the destiny of the human orld. He had sixteen dragons at his beck and call and he decided hen to inflict drought, storms, famine or pestilence upon human beings. Beginning ith Qinshihuang, the first emperor to unite the untry, all the emperors ordered splendid ceremonies each year. The emperor ould ask Taiyi to bring favorable eather and good health to him and his people. Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty directed special attention to this event. In 104 BC, he proclaid it as one of the most important celebrations and the ceremony ould last throughout the night. They clean it all up in the morning.

　　Another legend associates the Lantern Festival ith Taoism. Tianguan is the Taoist god responsible for good fortune. His birthday falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is said that Tianguan likes all types of entertainnt, so folloers prepare various kinds of activities during hich they pray for good fortune.

　　Yet another mon legend dealing ith the origins of the Lantern Festival speaks of a beautiful bird that fle don to earth from heaven, hich as hunted and killed by so villagers. This angered the Jade Emperor in Heaven because the bird as his favorite one. Therefore, he planned a storm of fire to destroy the village on the 15th lunar day. The Jade Emperor's daughter heard of this plan, and arned the villagers of her father’s plan to destroy their village. The village as in turmoil because nobody kne ho should they escape their imminent destruction.