元夕习俗的形成有一个较长的过程，根源于民间开灯祈福古俗。
The formation of the custom of new year＇s Eve has a long process， which is rooted in the folk custom of turning on lights and praying for blessings．
开灯祈福通常在正月十四夜便开始“试灯”，十五日夜为‘“正灯’，民间要点灯盏，又称“送灯盏”，以进行祭神祈福活动。
On the 14th night of the first month， people usually begin to ＂test＂ the lamp． On the 15th night， people need to light the lamp， also known as ＂send the lamp＂， to carry out the activities of offering sacrifices to the gods and praying for blessings．
当随着社会和时代的变迁，元宵节的风俗习惯早已有了较大的变化，但至今仍是中国民间传统节日。
With the changes of society and times， the customs of the Lantern Festival have changed a lot， but it is still a traditional Chinese folk festival．
元宵在早期节庆形成过程之时，只称正月十五、正月半或月望，隋以后称元夕或元夜。
Lantern Festival in the early formation of the festival process， only known as the 15th， the first half of the month or Yuewang， after the Sui Dynasty known as Yuanxi or Yuanye．
唐初受了道教的影响，又称上元，唐末才偶称元宵。但自宋以后也称灯夕。到了清朝，就另称灯节。
In the early Tang Dynasty， influenced by Taoism， it was also called Shangyuan． In the late Tang Dynasty， it was even called yuanxiao． But since the Song Dynasty， it has also been called the Lantern Festival． In the Qing Dynasty， it was also called the Lantern Festival．
According to one legend, once in ancient times, a celestial swan came into the mortal world where it was shot down by a hunter. The Jade Emperor, the highest god in Heaven, vowed to avenge the swan.
He started making plans to send a troop of celestial soldiers and generals to Earth on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, with orders to incinerate all humans and animals.
But the other celestial beings disagreed with this course of action, and risked their lives to warn the people of Earth.
As a result, before and after the fifteenth day of the first month, every family hung red lanterns outside their doors and set off firecrackers and fireworks, giving the impression that their homes were already burning.
By successfully tricking the Jade Emperor in this way, humanity was saved from extermination.
译文：
有一个传说是这样的，在古代，有一位神界天鹅闯入人间被猎手误杀。天界最高的神玉皇大帝因此发誓为这只天鹅报仇。
他开始制定计划，派出一支天兵天将于农历正月十五来到人间，命令他们火烧所有的人和动物。但是其他神仙并不赞同这一计划，他们冒着生命危险提醒人间的人们。
结果，在正月十五这一天前后，每一个家庭在门外挂起灯笼，并燃放烟花爆竹，给天兵天将造成各家各户起火的假象。
通过这种方式，人们成功骗过了玉皇大帝，人类也因此逃过灭绝的危险。