二千六百年前，佛陀誕生於藍毘尼園，為淨飯王之太子，佛經記載，當日天空有九龍吐出香水為太子洗浴、沐浴佛身，所以佛誕節又名「浴佛節」。
2,600 years ago, the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden. He was the son of King Suddhodana. As recorded in the Buddhist scriptures, when the Buddha was born there were nine dragons in the sky spitting out water to bathe the prince. Therefore, the Buddha's Birthday is also known as "Bathing the Buddha Festival".

星雲大師是最早倡議佛誕節應比照南傳佛教國家成為國定節日的佛教領袖，佛教徒在佛誕節應深刻體會浴佛滌心的意義。VenerableMaster Hsing Yun is the first Buddhist leader in Taiwan who suggested that Buddha's birthday should be a national holiday in the same way as in other Buddhist countries. Buddhists should deeply appreciate the meaning of bathing the Buddha on Buddha's birthday.

經過多少年的推動助緣下，1999年內政部正式宣布每年農曆四月八日訂為國定佛誕節，並與母親節合併在五月第二個周日放假一天。After years of effort, in 1999, the Ministry of the Interior officially announced that the 8th day of the fourth lunar calendar was designated as the National Buddha's Birthday. It was celebrated together with Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May.

1954年星雲大師率領宜蘭念佛會慶祝佛誕節，活動持續四天，有遊行、念佛、放映幻燈片、浴佛典禮、表演晚會，並演出佛教話劇、音樂布教，可謂開創佛誕節現代化之始。
In 1954, Master Hsing Yun led the Yilan Chanting Association to celebrate the Buddha's birthday. The event lasted for four days. There were parades, Chanting Buddha's name, slide shows, Bathing the Buddha ceremonies, and Buddhist dramas and music.

1958年佛誕節遊行隊伍還綿延了十公里之長，蔚為壯觀。
In 1958, the Buddha's Birthday parade stretched for ten kilometers, which was spectacular.

1959年，共有三萬餘人參加，造成宜蘭空前未有的熱鬧場面。
In 1959, more than 30,000 people participated in celebrating the Buddha's Birthday, creating an unprecedented scene.