A Girl Named Yuan Xiao, the Legend of the Lantern Festival 传说故事——元宵姑娘

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，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。
This legend is associated with the custom of eating Yuanxiao, or sweet dumplings, during the Yuanxiao Festival. During the reign of Emperor Han Wudi, his favorite minister was Dongfang Shuo, who was kind and humorous. During the winter, after days of heavy snow, Dongfang went into the imperial garden to pick plum flowers for the emperor. As soon as he entered the garden, Dongfang found a crying maid about to commit suicide by jumping into a well. He stopped her, inquired, and learned that the maid, Yuan Xiao, who had parents and a younger sister in her family, hadn’t seen her family since she came to the palace. She missed her family than usual as the plum flowers were withering away and the spring was coming. Being unable to fulfill her duty as a filial daughter, it's not as good as simply dying. Dongfang Shuo was very sympathetic and promised to help Yuan Xiao reunite with her family.
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。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。老百姓拿起红帖，赶紧送到皇宫去禀报皇上。
One day, Dongfang Shuo dressed as a fortune teller and went to the market of Chang’an City. Many people approached him to ask questions, but they all got the same answer, “there will be a big fire on the 16th day of the first lunar month.” This aroused panic in Chang’an. The people asked Dong Fang what they could do to deliver from the disaster. He told them, “The God of Fire will send a fairy in red to earth to burn Chang’an on the 15th day of the first lunar month. I will give you the prophecy I transcribed, and you may turn to the Emperor with it.” Then he dropped a red card and left. The people picked up the card and rushed to the imperial palace to report to the Emperor.
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”。武帝听后，十分高兴，就传旨照东方朔的办法去做。
The emperor received the card and it read, “Chang’an is doomed. The capital will be burnt on the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month.” He was scared and sent for the ever resourceful Dongfang. Dongfang pretended to think for a minute and said, “I heard that the God of Fire’s favorite food is sweet dumplings. Yuan Xiao, the maid, often cooks sweet dumplings for your Majesty, doesn’t she? On the 15th day of the first lunar month, your Majesty may order her to prepare sweet dumplings and then your Majesty in person should burn incenses and offer sacrifices to the God of Fire. Your Majesty should also order all families in the capital to prepare sweet dumplings and worship the God of Fire. All people in the city should hang lanterns, set off firecrackers and fireworks to make it appear to the Jade Emperor, the highest god in Heaven, as if the city is burning. Also, dwellers out of downtown Chang’an should be asked to come to the center of the city to appreciate lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Thus, the disaster will be avoided.” Having hearing this, the emperor was very pleased and took Dongfang’s advice.
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。
On that day, Yuan Xiao’s family came to the bustling downtown to appreciate lanterns as asked. They saw a large palace lantern with characters “Yuan Xiao” written on it and shouted out so loudly out of surprise that the maid Yuan Xiao heard and was finally reunited with her family.
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。
The next day, the city of Chang'an was still standing, just as people had hoped. The Emperor was very pleased and ordered everyone to cook sweet dumplings to worship the God of Fire, hang lanterns and set off firecrackers and fireworks on the 15th day of the first lunar month every year. This day is called the Yuanxiao Festival because the maid Yuan Xiao cooked the most delicious sweet dumplings and saved Chang'an City.