Lesson 96

A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.
日本每年举行一次亡灵节。
This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living.
这个节日是一个欢乐的场合，因为在这一天，据说死者会回到家中，受到生者的欢迎。
As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them.
由于预料到他们长途跋涉后会饿，已经为他们准备好了食物。
Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.
特制的灯笼被悬挂在每间房子外面，以帮助死者找到回家的路。
All night long, people dance and sing.
整个晚上，人们都在跳舞唱歌。
In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.
在清晨，那些为死者摆放好的食物被扔进河里或大海里，因为任何活着的人吃它都被认为是不吉利的。
In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before, are placed into the water when the festival is over.
在靠近大海的城镇里，前一天晚上挂在街上的小灯笼在节日结束时被放入水中。
Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.
成千上万的灯笼缓慢地向大海漂流，引导着死者返回另一个世界。
This is a moving spectacle, for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.
这是一个动人的壮观景象，因为成群结队的人们站在岸边，注视着灯笼漂远，直到再也看不见为止。