VOA常速英语:Lunar New Year Tradition Continues in U.S. With Annual Parade

People are flocking to Chinatown in the heart of Los Angeles, to experience the sights and sounds of the New Year, and welcoming in the year of the dog.“It’s very important for us to celebrate Chinese New Year, because of our Chinese heritage.”In its 119 years this golden dragon parade has become a Lunar New Year tradition. For many people, including Henry Hua who has been watching this parade since 1980, but this is not his only tradition of the season.
人们成群结队地涌向洛杉矶市中心的唐人街，体验新年的景象和声音，迎接狗年的到来。因为我们的中国传统，庆祝农历新年对我们非常重要。在这119年间，舞龙已经成为春节的一项传统。和很多人一样，华先生自1980年就开始观看这项节目，但是除此之外春节期间华先生还有其他传统。

“We would decorate our house with flowers, lights.We would do all that to give it a festive New Year’s feeling and then loved ones will celebrate with us. You give red envelopes, at night we would gather together.”“In Hong Kong we have relatives, in LA we have friends,so, it’s, you know, just a lot of more culture, you know, different type of people celebrating Chinese New Year.”
我们会用鲜花和彩灯装扮家里，为家里带来春节的气氛，然后跟亲朋好友一起庆祝。也会给红包，晚上一起守岁。我们在香港有亲戚，在洛杉矶有朋友，所以你瞧，不同文化背景的人，大家都在庆祝春节。

Different types of people all with an appreciation for Chinese culture.Washing everyone a happy and prosperous new year in Mandarin, Avery Schott learn his Mandarin in school.“It’s just about bringing the family together and, you know, honoring the Chinese culture. And just keeping the tradition and keeping that culture alive,so that the little ones can enjoy and many generations to come can enjoy it.”
很多人都很喜欢中国文化。艾佛瑞·肖特用在学校里学的普通话祝愿大家新年快乐，恭喜发财。这是为了让家人团聚，尊重中国文化。只有保持传统，保持文化的活力，才能让孩子们享受，并让后代享受。

A view echoed by authorities about these celebrations.“Bring it together everybody from everywhere in the world right here in Los Angeles. I think there are a few places in the world that could be able to pull this off,to be able to bring a hundred thousand people together and celebration of this culture as an full life.”
当局对这些庆祝活动作出回应。把来自世界各地的人都聚集在洛杉矶。我觉得这是世上少有的，把上千人都聚集在一起共同庆祝，庆祝这一文化成为一种完整的生活。

For many families attending this parade,the hope is that their children will gain an appreciation for the annual cultural festival and continue the tradition in decades to come.
对于参加这次游行的许多家庭来说，他们希望他们的孩子能够欣赏一年一度的文化节，并在未来的几十年里延续这一传统。

Elizabeth Lee for VOA News Los Angeles.
VOA记者伊丽莎白·李洛杉矶报道。