Lunar New Year in Washington, D.C.

 A celebration of traditions
華盛頓特區歡慶農曆新年 - 慶祝傳統

Gongs and drums, dragon dances and kung fu demonstrations. You could imagine you were somewhere in Asia celebrating the Lunar New Year. But this is Washington, D.C., the United States capital. A Chinese New Year's parade and festival take place here every year. People must work and go to school, so this holiday could be neglected. But in D.C., a large number of Chinese keep the holiday traditions alive.

The parade in Chinatown is the most memorable part. Different groups from the Chinese community participate in  a variety of activities - martial arts, ribbon dances, traditional drums and tai chi. Hundreds of tourists flock to view this parade. Lanterns and red envelopes are given away.

The mall is also impressive during this time. For two weeks, the mall lobby is decorated with spring-festival couplets and red lanterns. Different kinds of entertainment go on every day - Chinese and Cantonese music performances, acrobatics, Chinese calligraphy, and traditional dances. All are the essence of Chinese culture Parents take their children shopping and let them enjoy this exhibition of a great culture.

Students at Saturday morning Chinese schools celebrate Lunar New Year a different way. Not every child enjoys learning Chinese because it is more difficult than English. But Chinese parents still encourage them to learn the language and culture.

To celebrate, the students do Chinese calligraphy and paper cuttings of "spring" or "fortune."  The feast on New Years  Eve is very important. People crowd Asian supermarkets for weeks before the celebration. Especially popular are traditional foods like sticky rice cake, fish, oranges and dumplings. 

Chinese restaurants provide takeout service, or people can reserve a table and eat there. After the feast, parents put money in red envelopes and give them to their children. The custom of staying up late doesn't apply here because work and school are waiting the next morning. Children are in bed. No loud firecrackers. No phone calls of "Gong Xi Fa Tsai. " (恭喜发财 ) This is Lunar New Year in D.C. The best part is celebrating with family. Happy New Year everyone!

Grammar Gym:
*People crowd Asian supermarkets for weeks before the celebration. Especially popular are traditional foods like sticky rice cake, fish oranges and dumplings.
= Traditional food like sticky rice cake, fish , oranges and dumplings are especially popular.
"write a sentence that you want to bring things up in specific detail.  Switch the sentence in reversed way."
This snack shop is famous for its desserts. Especially delicious are the pies.
There are many trails in this national park. Especially beautiful is the trail to the waterfall.

Vocabulary Tips:
demonstration -teach or show people how. represent.　实地示范，证明。
*Mary's cooking demonstration on TV helped the sales of our frying pan rise by 15%.
demonstrate (v)- show how to do it.示范。
*The mechanic demonstrated how to replace the tires.。。。示范如何更换轮胎。
neglect -not get attention. I feel neglect.忽略，忽视。或是“疏于照顾”
*Jason put all his time into his work and neglected his family.
*The boy was neglected by his parents and didn't even go to school.　疏于照顾。
essence - very important part of something.元素，本质，精髓。（不可数）
*The essence of the doctor's theory is that learning should be inspired from within.博士论文的精髓。。
*The essence of this novel is the greed of human beings小说的.精髓。或使最想要叙述的。。。
exhibition (n)- display. show.展示，展览。
*The exhibition of Morel's paintings will start next month.
exhibit -展示，展览，单独的展示品。
*Exhibit No.1 is a vase from the Ming Dynasty.　一号展示品是明朝的古花瓶。
Lunar - something to do with moon.　旧历年。
keep something alive - don't let it die, or don't let it be forgotten.　使其精神永在。。
lobby - a large open area.
*This hotel serve coffee at its lobby.
lantern (n) -中国的大红灯笼。
acrobatics -中国的杂技表演，卖艺者的，惊险表演。　
calligraphy -中国的书法。笔迹，墨宝，缮写。
couplets -　对联。（中国新年的习俗挂对联或春联在门两边）
spring couplets. 春联。
crowd (n) - whole bunch of people.　一群，群众。
crowd (v) -pack of people. Don't crowd in this area - don't spent too much time here.　拥挤，将某处塞满。挤满。
crowded (adj)- full of people.　很拥挤的。
*Movie fans crowded (v) the theater at the premier.
*Passengers crowd (v) the buses during rush hours.
takeout  - take food to go.　外带的，外卖的。
*I asked the server to give me the takeout menu.
* Let' get takeout tonight.
* Mom will buy takeout pizza for dinner.
takeout -外卖店，外卖食物。
*The couple runs a Chinese takeout.
The custom of staying up late doesn't apply here.
apply - fit in, suitable.适用，适合。
*The rule only applies to official employees, not the part-time staff.
firecracker -鞭炮。
*The firecracker didn't go off at first, but after a few minutes it suddenly went bang.　突然“轰”发出声响。
firecracker (adj)- very energetic.　
*He is very firecracker.
fireworks -烟火。
*The fireworks were lit according to our careful calculations.
fortune - good luck, blessed, rich in money.福，幸运，财富。
He make a fortune - he has a lot of money.
sticky rice cake - the cake made of with very sticky rice.年糕。
stay up late - stay up not go to bed at normal time.　此指“新年守岁”。
artistic - people very talented in craft art. you can say that person is very artistic.

Language Tips:
capital -首都，首府。
Washington. D.C. -美国的首府，首都。国家的首都，首府。
capital -州也有州的首都，首府。州的首都。
Albany -是纽约州的首都，首府。
capital -工业或活动重镇。
the fashion capital of the world.(巴黎)时时尚之都。
capitol　－指美国国会大厦。
the Capitol -美国国会大厦。
capital /capitol －发音相同但意思不同。拼法也不同，（tal），（tol).
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"ABC" - American-born Chinese.　美国出生的中国人。
immigrate - not born in America, move in by one'self or with family member and became an American.移民过来的，移民。


Taking notes of study "Studio Classroom"