古代的元宵节灯市热闹壮观，历代文人墨客赞美元宵花灯的诗句数不胜数。充满诗情和浪漫色彩的元宵节，也往往与爱情连在一起。历代诗词中，就有不少诗篇借元宵抒发爱慕之情。

元夕 苏味道

火树银花合，星桥铁锁开。

暗尘随马去，明月逐人来。

游妓皆秾李，行歌尽落梅。

金吾不禁夜，玉漏莫相催。

The Lantern Festival Night by Su Weidao

The light is brightly, tonight the no-go area is opening.

The horse gallop that stirred up the dust,the moon seemed to follow the people.

The young singing girls look more beautiful, they walk and sing songs.

The capital guards does not work tonight, the drum will not urge the people back home.

生查子·元夕 欧阳修

去年元夜时，花市灯如昼。

月到柳梢头，人约黄昏后。

今年元夜时，月与灯依旧。

不见去年人，泪湿春衫袖。

At Lantern Festival - Tune: Song of Hawthorn by Ouyang Xiu

In the Lantern Festival night of last year,

The flowers market was bright as daylight.

When the moon hung behind the willows,

Young people went out on dates under them.

In the Lantern Festival night of this year's,

The moon and the lanterns were the same.

But I could not find last year's date of mine,

My sleeves of festival dress are wet with tears.

青玉案·元夕 辛弃疾

东风夜放花千树，更吹落，星如雨。

宝马雕车香满路，凤萧声动，玉壶光转，一夜鱼龙舞 。

蛾儿雪柳黄金缕，笑语盈盈暗香去。

众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首， 那人却在，灯火阑珊处。

The Lantern Festival Night - to the tune of Green Jade Table by Xin Qiji

One night's east wind adorns a thousand trees with flowers

And blows down stars in showers.

Fine steeds and carved cabs spread fragrance en route;

Music vibrates from the flute;

The moon sheds its full light

While fish and dragon lanterns dance all night.

In gold-thread dress, with moth or willow ornaments,

Giggling, she melts into the throng with trails of scents

But in the crowd once and again

I look for her in vain.

When all at once I turn my head,

I find her there where lantern light is dimly shed.