元宵节:台湾民众点亮天空许愿

The Sky Lantern Festival in the Pingxi District of New Taipei city is a major part of the Lantern Festival celebrated in Taiwan. The people release lanterns into the night sky in hopes of a good fortune for the New Year. This year, the festival has attracted a crowd of 150, 000 from all over the world.
新北市平溪地区的天灯节是台湾庆祝元宵节的一个重要部分。人们将灯笼放飞到夜空，希望新年能有好运气。今年的天灯节吸引了全世界的15万名观众。

The theme for this year’s festival held on Feb 6th is "Joy and peace with warm-hearts." The people will let loose 1600 lanterns in total. On a 6 meter tall giant lantern, the recently re-elected leader Ma Ying-jeou wrote "Dragon in the sky offers protection to Taiwan."
今年2月6日举行的天灯节的主题是“欢乐、和平和热心”。人们总共将放飞1600盏天灯。在一个6米高的巨型灯笼上，最近再次当选的领导人马英九题字“龙天护佑，台湾加油。”

Released with the other lanterns in the night sky, it is a truly a sight to behold. Many of the crowd gathered here are young people seeking romance and rekindle relationships.
在夜空中放飞其它的灯笼确实是一种奇观。聚集在这里的大多是寻找爱情、重燃爱情的年轻人。

Visitors said, "I Wish we could be together forever!" "As do I!"
游客表示：“我希望我们能永远在一起！”“我也一样！”

Some have even come from overseas. Writing their blessings and wishes on the lanterns, participating in what is traditionally a Chinese practice.
有些人甚至来自海外。在灯笼上写下他们的祝福和愿望，参与中国的一项传统惯例。

A visitor from Japan said, "Blessings on everyone."
一名日本游客称：“祝福每个人。”

Behind all the beauty of the lanterns, is careful and wise craftsmanship. The lanterns are made of cotton paper and bamboo, which allows hot air to fill up, and the bamboo ring at the bottom holds 12 sheets of paper money at the center as the wick. Once the paper money starts burning, the lantern is held on the ground for a minute then released up into the sky.
在美丽的灯笼背后的是细心、聪明的手工艺人。这些灯笼是用绵纸、竹子制成的，能填满热空气，底部的竹环支撑着中间的12张纸钱作为灯芯。一旦纸钱燃烧起来，就把灯笼放在地上一分钟，然后放飞到空中。

As the lanterns are carried on the wind, the tradition is carried on to the next generation.
由于灯笼是是随风飘动的，这项传统传给了下一代。