原标题：古代元宵节放假10天，好想穿回去做一个古人
今天你能不能进宫赏花灯呢？
这两天你一定被故宫的紫禁城上元之夜活动刷屏了吧。
故宫94年来首次晚间开放！邀请观众正月十五、正月十六两天晚上到宫里过元宵。这可是过去格格和阿哥们才有的待遇哦~
Via CNN
Back in the day， celebrating the Lantern Festival in the Forbidden City was a tradition reserved for Imperial families。
在紫禁城里过元宵，是过去的皇家传统。
Only certain sections of the Forbidden City will be open to the public during the nighttime tour。
故宫这次的夜间开放活动，仅限部分区域。
These include the Meridian Gate exhibition hall， the Gate of Supreme Harmony， the East Wall and the Gate of Divine Might。
包括太和门广场、午门城楼、东城墙、神武门区域。
There will be lantern shows and symphony orchestra performances to enjoy， while ancient Chinese paintings will be projected onto building roofs。
届时还将有花灯展出和交响乐团表演。一幅幅中国古代绘画将被投射到建筑的屋顶。
Via CNN
听上去是不是有种“张灯结彩”、“万人空巷”的气氛呢？
其实，元宵节作为传统节日，本来就是一场盛大的“狂欢”。男女老少，各个社会阶层的人都会在元宵节当天，走上街头，看灯会，猜灯谜，放烟花，吃汤圆。
Via VCG
元宵节最早可以追溯到汉代，到了隋唐时期，逐渐变成一个大众的民俗节日流行开来。
People light up lanterns to pay tribute to the gods who bestow good luck to humans。
人们点亮灯笼向神灵祈福。
In another version， the lanterns were lit to worship the Buddhas， and the habit spread to the whole society from the court during the East Han Dynasty （25 – 220）。
到了东汉因为佛教的传播，点灯向菩萨祈福的习俗逐渐从宫廷流传开来。
Via CGTN
元宵节放假10天
渐渐地，元宵节夜游灯会的传统从宫廷流传到坊间。到了唐朝元宵节已经成了一个“法定节日。”
Starting the Tang Dynasty， the regimes gave from three to 10 days holidays during the Lantern Festival。 From big cities to towns and villages， in and out of the palaces， the streets， buildings and households were all decorated with lanterns， with vendors setting up booths， selling food and handicraft， just like today‘s night fairs。
从唐朝开始，元宵节放假3-10天。为了烘托节日气氛，城里城外，宫殿内外，街道、建筑、家家户户都装饰着灯笼。人们在月下摆摊叫卖，就像今天的夜市。
Via CGTN
花灯的种类也令人眼花缭乱。
The patterns and styles of the lanterns could be as diversified as one can imagine。 The frames of the lanterns were usually made of bamboo slices， which were covered with gauze or paper。 The high-rank families would decorate them with jewelry， such as crystals， pearls and other gems。
灯笼的图案和风格多到眼花缭乱。灯笼的框架通常由竹片制成，用纱布或纸覆盖。一些有钱的家庭会加以珠宝装饰，比如水晶，珍珠和其他宝石。
There were lanterns in the shape of auspicious characters， fairy figures， flowers and mythical animals。
灯笼上绘有各种吉祥人物、仙女、花和神话中的动物。
Via CGTN
古代情人节
此外，元宵节还肩负着情人节的作用。
中国古代，未出嫁的女子尤其是大户人家的女孩，都是不能出闺门的。只有在元宵节之夜，才可以出门逛灯会。所以元宵夜也成了年轻人定情、邂逅的绝佳夜晚。
By lighting lanterns， playing games， and other wholesome fun， women were free to interact with men outside of regular hours。 The loosening of the rules and the frolicking that supposedly ensued is why some deem Lantern Festival the true Chinese Valentine’s Day。
通过点花灯、玩游戏，女生可以在正常时间以外与男生互动。这样打破常规的操作和男女间嬉戏，使元宵节变成了真正意义上的情人节。
Via thebeijinger.com
历年历代关于元宵节的浪漫故事有很多，《大明宫词》里太平公主和薛绍在元宵灯会上初次相遇，就发生在元宵灯会上。
Via 网络
Her first accidental meeting with her future husband Xue Shao happened to take place during Lantern Festival after she snuck out of the palace to go for a midnight stroll with her gentleman called。 As soon as Xue Shao took off his mask – a tradition among those of high rank so as to hide their identity – the princess immediately fell in love with him as she had never seen any man as beautiful as him。
她与未来的丈夫薛绍的第一次会面恰好发生在元宵节期间。当时太平公主偷偷溜出宫殿参加元宵灯会。当时有身份的人都会戴着面具逛灯会，以隐藏自己的身份。当薛绍摘下面具那一刻，公主立即爱上了他，因为她从未见过像他一样美丽的男人。
Via thebeijinger.com
在古典戏曲和诗词中，也有很多这类故事。比如北宋欧阳修的《生查子·元夕》就描绘了元宵之夜，游灯街花市，通宵歌舞，蜜约幽会的景象。
去年元夜时，花市灯如昼。
Last year at the Lantern Festival
The flower-market lights were bright as day；
月上柳梢头，人约黄昏后。
When the moon mounted to the tops of the willows，
Two lovers kept their tryst after the yellow dusk。
今年元夜时，月与灯依旧。
This year at the Lantern Festival
The moon and the lights are the same as then；
不见去年人，泪湿春衫袖。
Only I see not my lover of yesteryear，
And tears drench the sleeves of my blue gown。
Via thebeijinger.com
你去年和今年的元宵节都是和谁过的呢？是不是还会想起和你一起看花灯的那个人呢？
文：小亮亮
责任编辑：张申
