日本亡灵节：灯笼引路，亡灵归家

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Lesson 96 The Dead Return A festival for the dead is held once a year in Japan. 第96课 亡灵归来 日本每年都会举办一次亡灵节。

This festival is a cheerful occasion, 这个节日是个喜庆的日子，

for on this day the dead are said to return to their homes, 因为据说这一天亡灵会回到自己的家，

and they are welcomed by the living. 并且受到活人的欢迎。

As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, 由于他们长途跋涉后想必会饿，

food is laid out for them. 所以会为他们准备食物。

Specially made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way. 每家每户外面都会挂上特制的灯笼，帮助亡灵找到回家的路。

All night long, 整个晚上，

people dance and sing. 人们载歌载舞。

In the early morning, 到了清晨，

the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea, 为亡灵准备的食物会被扔进河里或海里，

as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it. 因为活人吃了会被认为不吉利。

In towns that are near the sea, 在靠近海边的城镇，

the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night 前一天晚上挂在街上的小灯笼，

before are placed into the water when the festival is over. 节日结束后会被放入水中。

Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea, 成千上万的灯笼缓缓漂向大海，

guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world. 引导亡灵踏上返回另一个世界的旅程。

This is a moving spectacle. 这是一个感人的景象。

For crowds of people stand on the shore, 因为成群的人站在岸边，

watching the lanterns drifting away, 看着灯笼渐渐漂远，

until they can be seen no more. 直到再也看不见为止。