【新唐人2012年2月16日訊】【看新聞學英語】
London Hosts Chinese New Year Celebration
倫敦舉行中國新年慶祝活動
By Daniel Chen, David Lee
【新聞關鍵字】
1. Festivity /fɛst’ɪvəti/ n. 歡慶
2. Pole jump ph. 撐竿跳
3. Lend a hand ph. 幫助
4. Testimony /t’ɛstəm,oni/ n. 證據
5. Immense /ɪm’ɛns/ adj. 極廣大的
6. Spokeswoman /sp’oksw,ʊmən/ n. 女發言人
7. Popularity /p,ɑpjəl’ɛrəti/ n. 名聲;受大眾歡迎
8. Nowadays /n’ɑʊəd,ez/ adv. 當今;時下
9. Symbolism /s’ɪmbəl,ɪzəm/ n. 象徵
10. Mythological /m,ɪθəl’ɑdʒɪkəl/ adj. 神話的
11. Zodiac /z’odi,æk/ n. 十二宮圖
12. Fortuitous /fɔrt’uɪtəs/ adj. 偶然的
13. Eventful /ɪv’ɛntfəl/ adj. 多事的
14. Reign /r’en/ n. 執政
15. Diamond Jubilee ph. 第六十週年慶典
On Sunday, thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square in London to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, which officially began on January 23. London is home to the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia.
上週日,數千名民眾聚集在倫敦的特拉法加廣場,慶祝1月23日龍年的正式開始。倫敦是亞洲以外,最大的中國新年慶祝活動地。
The festivities featured 100 world-class performers, including the Chen Brothers, who currently hold the Guinness World Record for the highest pole jump in the lion dance.
慶祝活動精選了100個世界級表演,包括目前舞獅撐桿跳最高的金氏世界紀錄保持者陳氏兄弟。
The London Mayor Boris Johnson was on site, lending a hand in the Dotting of the Eye Ceremony, which traditionally brings the lions and dragons to life.
倫敦市長鮑里斯•約翰遜也在現場幫忙點睛儀式,傳統上這是讓獅與龍活過來的儀式。
[Boris Johnson, Mayor of London]:
“The incredible crowds here I think are a testimony of the immense contribution of the Chinese community to London.”
倫敦市長鮑里斯•約翰遜說:「這兒令人難以置信的人潮,我想是倫敦華人社群的巨大貢獻的見證。」
London Chinatown spokeswoman Lucy Mitchell commented on the rise in popularity of the Chinese New Year celebration compared to when she was a child.
倫敦華埠發言人露西‧米切爾針對中國新年慶祝活動的普及成長,與她孩堤時期做了個比較。
[Lucy Mitchell, London Chinatown Spokeswoman]:
“I used to sit up and watch the lion dancing come down the street and it really was about the Chinese community then, all the local shops and just bringing good luck for the coming year, but if you look around you today, 300,000 people are expected. It is truly multi-cultural now-a-days, not just Chinese but people from all different cultures.”
倫敦華埠發言人露西‧米切爾說:「我過去是坐著觀看舞獅從街上走來,所有當地商店希望為來年帶來好運。那真的就只有華人社區。但今天你看看四周有大概30萬人。在今天它是個真正的多種族文化,不只是中國人,而是來自不同文化人們的活動。」
Mitchell also explained the symbolism of the dragon in Chinese culture.
米切爾還解釋了龍在中國文化的象徵。
[Lucy Mitchell, London Chinatown Spokeswoman]:
“The Year of the Dragon is very important because it is the only mythological animal in the Chinese zodiac so it is very fortuitous it brings good luck, it is very powerful and strong animal, so it is power, good luck and strength.”
倫敦華埠發言人露西•米切爾說:「龍年是非常重要的,因為龍是在中國生肖中唯一的神話動物,它正是代表幸運,會帶來好運,它也是非常強大的、強壯的動物,所以它代表權力、好運,和力量。」
2012 is an eventful year for London, which will host the Olympic Games and also celebrate the Queen’s 60-year reign, known as her Diamond Jubilee.
2012年是不平凡的一年,倫敦將舉辦奧運會,以及慶祝女王在位60年,也就是她的六十週年慶典。
本則影音新聞出處:新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_europe/2012-01-31/london-hosts-chinese-new-year-celebration.html
本專欄由前衛英語李德良老師主編 www.davidlee.url.tw
【佳句精選】
The incredible crowds here are a testimony of the immense contribution of the Chinese community to London.
這兒令人難以置信的人潮,是倫敦華人社群巨大貢獻的見證。
【每日一句】
2012 is an eventful year for London.
2012對倫敦而言是不平凡的一年。