A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.

日本每年过一次“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.

这个节日是个欢乐的日子，因为在这一天，据说死去的人要回到他们的家里来，活着的人则对他们表示欢迎。

As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them.

因为预料到他们在经过长途旅行之后会感到饥饿，所以为他们摆放好了食品。

Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.

特制的灯笼挂在各家的门外，为的是帮助亡灵看清道路。

All night long, people dance and sing.

整个夜晚人们载歌载舞。

In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea

一大早，人们便把为死者摆放的食品扔进河中或海里，

as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.

因为人们认为活着的人吃了这些东西是不吉利的。

In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before,

在靠海的城镇中，头天夜里挂在大街小巷的小灯笼

are placed into the water when the festival is over.

在节后就放在了水里。

Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.

成千上万只灯笼慢慢漂向大海，指引着亡灵返回另一个世界。

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.

这是一个感人的场面，人们成群地伫立在海岸上，注视着灯笼远去，直到再也看不见为止。