中国四大传统节日：春节，中秋节，端午节，清明节元宵节TheLanternFestival(元宵节)isthelastdayoftheChineseNewYearcelebration.Thisdayisforthelastmomentforsettingofffireworks,thelastexcuseforeatingabigfeastandthelastchanceforfamilygettingtogetherbeforethe“年”celebrationsareover.(LaternFestivalisalsoatraditionaltimeofcelebrationforforeignerswholiveinChina).TheLanternFestival,the15thofthefirstmonthofthelunarcalendar,isthefirstfullmoonoftheyear.CelebrationsandtraditionsonthisdaydatebacktotheWesternHanDynasty.Traditionsforthisfestival:asthenameindicates,hangingandlookingatlanternsisthemaintradition.Lanternsofvariousshapesandsizesaredisplayedontrees,oralongriverbanks.ParentsoftentaketheirchildrentoLanternFairsandsometimesluckykidsevengetaminitoylantern.Anothertraditionisguessinglanternriddles.Theseareriddlesthatarehungonlanternsforpeopletoshootdownandsolve.Theriddlesareusuallyshort,wise,andsometimeshumorous.TheanswertoariddlecanbeaChinesecharacter,afamousperson'sname,aplacenameoraproverb.Thistraditionhasbecomeapopulargamewithseriousstayingpowerevenassocialdevelopmentchangesothertraditions.Otherthanthat,themostimportantthingtodotodayistoeatsweetdumplings.InnorthernChina,sweetdumplingsmadeofglutinousriceflourarecalled“元宵”whileinsouthernparttheyarecalled“汤圆”.Typicalsweetdumplingsarefilledwithblacksesamesauce,sweetenedbeanpaste,orhawthorn.Making“元宵”todayislikeagameoranactivity,soit'sseldomdonewithoutareasonandagroupoffriendsorfamilypresenttohelpout.端午节TheDragonBoatFestival,alsocalledtheDuanwuFestival,iscelebratedonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthaccordingtotheChinesecalendar.Forthousandsofyears,thefestivalhasbeenmarkedbyeatingzongzi(glutinousrice（糯米）wrappedtoformapyramidusingbambooorreedleaves)andracingdragonboats.Thefestivalisbestknownforitsdragon-boatraces,especiallyinthesouthernprovinceswheretherearemanyriversandlakes.Thisregatta（赛舟会）commemoratesthedeathofQuYuan,anhonestministerwhoissaidtohavecommittedsuicidebydrowninghimselfinariver.QuwasaministeroftheStateofChusituatedinpresent-dayHunanandHubeiprovinces,duringtheWarringStatesPeriod(475-221BC)（战国时期）.Hewasupright,loyalandhighlyesteemedforhiswisecounselthatbroughtpeaceandprosperitytothestate.However,whenadishonestandcorruptprincevilifiedQu,hewasdisgracedanddismissedfromoffice.Realizingthatthecountrywasnowinthehandsofevilandcorruptofficials,QugrabbedalargestoneandleaptintotheMiluoRiveronthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.Nearbyfishermenrushedovertotryandsavehimbutwereunabletoevenrecoverhisbody.Thereafter,thestatedeclinedandwaseventuallyconqueredbytheStateofQin.ThepeopleofChuwhomournedthedeathofQuthrewriceintotherivertofeedhisghosteveryyearonthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.Butoneyear,thespiritofQuappearedandtoldthemournersthatahugereptile（爬行动物）intheriverhadstolentherice.Thespiritthenadvisedthemtowrapthericeinsilkandbinditwithfivedifferent-coloredthreadsbeforetossingitintotheriver.DuringtheDuanwuFestival,aglutinousricepuddingcalledzongziiseatentosymbolizethericeofferingstoQu.Ingredientssuchasbeans,lotusseeds（莲子）,chestnuts（栗子）,porkfatandthegoldenyolkofasaltedduckeggareoftenaddedtotheglutinousrice.Thepuddingisthenwrappedwithbambooleaves,boundwithakindofraffiaandboiledinsaltwaterforhours.Thedragon-boatracessymbolizethemanyattemptstorescueandrecoverQu'sbody.Atypicaldragonboatrangesfrom50-100feetinlength,withabeam...
