Spring Festival goes global

西安外國語大學 程佳雯

Jutroduction

中國的春節日益國際化。在國外，中國春節也是盛事一件。讓我們看看外國人是如何慶祝中國新年的。

The Spring Festival is asignificantevent for Chinese people.In recent years,the spread of the Spring Festival to overseas countries has been accelerating.Its influence abroad is also climbing.

Many states in the United States have set Chinese New Year as a public holiday.In 2014,the Spring Festival became a New York State public holiday for schools.This was the first official public Chinese holiday in American history.At present,nearly 20 countries and regions have set Chinese New Year as a nationwide or statewide public holiday.

In foreign countries,the Spring Festival has gradually andunexpectedlybecome a “super event”.

In celebration of the 2015 Chinese New Year,New York held a grand fireworkdisplayover the Hudson River.In 2017,London held the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside Asia.The dragon and lion dance and float parade from Trafalgar Square to Chinatownattractedthousands of cheering audiences.By 2017,the Empire State Building in New York City has displayed special lighting effects for Chinese New Year for 17 years.China's Spring Festival has become a worldwide celebration.

During the Spring Festival—Year of the Monkey,duty-free shops in the Dubai airport held a series of promotions,decorating shops with traditional Chinese festivities.The South Bank Mall in Los Angeles decorated their square dome（穹頂） with hundreds of red lanterns.

More and more foreign figures send greetings to the Chinese people during the Spring Festival.Some politicians and public figures personallyparticipatedin the Chinese New Year celebrations.In 2015,Prince Charles of Wales and his wife,the Duchess of Cornwall,went to London's Chinatown to see the lion dance,learn Chinese characters and join in the Lunar New Year celebrations.In 2017,the United States President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and her daughter Arabella visited the United States Chinese embassy to send greetings for the Spring Festival.

Reading Check

The Spring Festival is a 1. event for Chinese people.In recent years,the spread of the Spring Festival to overseas countries has been 2. .Its influence abroad is also 3. .Each country has different ways to 4. the Spring Festival,and even many countries set the Spring Festival as a （n）5. holiday.

Using Language

Ⅰ.Important vocabulary in the text

1.significant adj.有重大意義的；顯著的

2.unexpectedly adv.出乎意料地

3.display v.顯示；陳列

4.attract v.吸引；引起

5.participate v.參與；參加

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the vocabulary given above.

1.I had always been____________by the idea of working abroad.

2.We want more____________in the decision-making.

3.The talks are____________to continue until tomorrow.

4.The new drug has great____________for the treatment of the disease.

5.The exhibition gives local artists an opportunity to____________their works.

Ⅲ.Complete the sentences based on the text.

1.In recent years,the spread of the Spring Festival to overseas countries____________(accelerate).

2.Duty-free shops in the Dubai airport held a series of promotions,______ (decorate)shops with traditional Chinese festivities.