國發會與ICRT共同製播的時事英語廣播“The World in Brief”固定於每周三在雙語資料庫學習資源網更新，與大家一起聽時事學英文。

本周主題：台灣燈會

台灣燈會睽違23年重返台北，各式造型花燈散佈於都市街頭。除了台灣燈會外，台灣各地還有各式不同的元宵節活動，例如，鹽水蜂炮、台東炸寒單、苗栗𪹚龍和平溪天燈等。想知道更多嗎？讓我們用3分鐘的時間一起來聽聽記者Max McGrath怎麼說吧！

Nora: The biggest news …the best guests …the boldest events …This is ‘The World in Brief’ with Max McGrath

Nora: Roving reporter Max McGrath joins us live from Taitung, where he’s about to take part in a tradition unlike any other … Max?

Max: Thanks Nora. I’m here on the streets of Taitung City, where everyone’s getting ready for a very unique slice of Taiwan culture. That means it can only be enjoyed right here, on this island! To tell us more, we’re joined by legendary Taoist god, Master HanDan. Master, welcome. What name do you prefer?

Geoff: What do you mean?

Max: What would you like me to call you? HanDan? Master HanDan? …

Geoff: This is a costume. I’m Geoff.

Max: So, Geoff, talk us through your costume.

Geoff: Well, I’m wearing a pair of bright red shorts, some safety goggles and … that’s it!

Max: Wow, you must be cold! Why are you dressed like a Taoist god?

Geoff: I’m not the only one, there’s maybe five of us. You could say we’re a handful of HanDans!

Max: And you’re here as part of a special Lantern Festival tradition, right?

Geoff: Yes! It’s a centuries old custom. People here have been taking part in this procession for hundreds of years.

Max: Procession?

Geoff: Yeah, like a parade. One by one, each of us HanDans will be carried through the streets of Taitung by four volunteers on a big grand chair. The procession ends at a place we all call ‘the bomb site.’

Max: ‘The bomb site’?! What happens there?

Geoff: Everyone throws live firecrackers at Master HanDan, of course!

Max: You mean, explosives?! Don’t they hurt?!

Geoff: Apparently, I don’t know! It all comes from the legend of a great military leader. When he died, he was made responsible for all celestial finances …

Max: Celestial finances?

Geoff: He was in charge of all the god’s money! The story says he was afraid of the cold, so he would ask folks to throw firecrackers at him to keep warm. It’s believed the stronger the firecracker you throw, the more money you’ll make.

Max: There’s a similar money-making tradition in Miaoli, isn’t there?

Geoff: You mean the Bombing Dragon Festival? It is kind of like ours, since they throw firecrackers too. But it’s different. In Miaoli they have people dancing with a traditional Chinese dragon, avoiding the explosions. Here in Taitung, we want them to hit us!

Max: You have to be really careful when using firecrackers, one nearly hit me in Tainan last year! At the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival …

Geoff: That one’s great, it’s the third largest folk celebration in the world! They have hundreds and thousands of firecrackers all being lit at the same time, the sound is incredible! Like a billion bees!

Max: I remember it was super loud … I’d like to go to a quieter lantern festival next, I think!

Geoff: Then you want the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City. They release thousands of lanterns into the sky at the same time, it’s really peaceful. Ooo! And while you’re up north, you’ve got to check out the biggest festival of them all!

Max: What’s that?

Geoff: The Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei, of course! It’s returned to Taipei after 23 years of touring the country. This year they’re calling it the world’s first Urban Lantern Festival!

Max: There’s so much to see! I had no idea I would be so busy this Lantern Festival.

Max: Geoff, thank you. Reporting live from Taitung, this is Max McGrath. Back to you, Nora.

Nora: Thanks Max! From all of us here, have a happy Lantern Festival! I’m Nora Yu.