蒙哥馬利市華協 鞭炮迎新春
February 28, 2016
記者王宇平／阿拉巴馬報導, February 17, 2016
為慶祝農曆新年到來，蒙哥馬利市僑胞今年特別舉辦兩場聯歡活動，分別是阿拉巴馬州中區華人協會的「送羊迎猴」農曆春節聯歡會，和蒙哥馬利奧本大學孔子學院的春晚。
華協春節聯歡會有會員、眷屬和華洋來賓150多人參加，氣氛熱鬧，蒙市媒體和電視台均派員現場採訪。聯歡表演活動在華協全體幹部向大家賀年和兒童「鞭炮迎新春」之後開始，節目包括青少年才藝表演、蒙哥馬利奧本大學學生民族舞蹈、經典老歌演唱及黃梅調小品等，壓軸為十名女士擔綱演出的民族服裝秀，她們身著不同少數民族服飾登場，並配合表演各族裔代表性舞蹈，讓觀眾大飽眼福。
華協還進行新舊會長交接儀式，新會長莊麗麗並代表協會頒贈獎牌給卸任會長侯健敏，感謝他去年為協會的貢獻。之後來賓開始享用由協會準備的年菜自助餐，大家圍著圓桌邊吃邊話家常，充分享受圍爐過年的樂趣。
另外由孔院舉辦、華協協辦的蒙市第二場春晚，則於農曆除夕登場，聯歡會吸引超過300多名華洋來賓參加，蒙哥馬利奧本大學校長韋瑞斯（John Veres）和中國駐休士頓總領事館領事楊松等出席活動，並分別向來賓致新年賀詞。
在活動中，來自亞特蘭大的金獅隊首先表演祥獅賀新春，從佛羅里達州來的李莉演出「轉碟」和「頂技」特技，孔子學院夏令營的四名美國學生則示範功夫拳術，該院中文班韓裔學生彈唱中文歌曲「朋友」。另外還有民族舞蹈、古箏合奏和跆拳道等節目，均獲全場熱烈掌聲， 表演結束後，孔院準備年菜招待參加會眾。
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Chinese New Year rings in Year of the Monkey
Kym Klass, Montgomery Advertiser 10:38 p.m. CST February 6, 2016
Those celebrating the Chinese New Year in the River Region use the opportunity to bridge together the Chinese and local communities.
On Saturday, the Central Alabama Association of Chinese (CAAC) in Montgomery did that, as it hosted its annual celebration at Frazer United Methodist Church to welcome the Chinese New Year with a festival of celebration to commence the Year of the Monkey.
“We have held this kind of celebration every year during the Chinese New Year time,” said Richard Wang, CAAC spokesman. “It can be educational. We like to get together both the Chinese and local community to celebrate. We like to introduce the culture to the community. It is kind of an outreach or promotional activity for the community. Every year, we have several hundred in attendance. Usually, during the celebration we’ll spend time showing the Chinese performances.”
At the celebration on Saturday, there were almost 20 performances by children, who played the piano, guitar, and who sang, recited poetry and danced.
“Most of the children here, at this age, they are born here,” said Tammy Zhang, who oversees the children’s program, and who said the celebration is to help the children appreciate and understand their heritage, culture and tradition. “We do this every year to make sure they remember our Chinese background.”
The evening included a folk fashion show and the transition to the new CAAC president. Over the years the CAAC has conducted scheduled events including the Dragon Boat Festival, a Moon Festival Celebration, educational seminars for members and Chinese students, and the Chinese New Year Celebration.
”Our organization was founded in 1982, and our association is run by volunteers,” said Harvey Hou, outgoing president of CAAC, and who added the association works to help the Chinese and other cultures understand differences. “To kind of serve as a bridge. Every year, we have a large celebration of the Chinese New Year. It’s just like Christmas in America. All the family comes together and celebrates together and we wear new clothing.”
And they wear a lot of red, a color that symbolizes wealth.
“In China, it is a lucky color,” Wang said.
As is tradition, usually eaten on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the fish represents the hope for “surplus,” while dumplings are a symbol of prosperity, and prepared to resemble silver ingots, or money, and packaged to infer luck inside the dumpling. The most abundant fruit during the Lunar New Year, oranges, also represent luck and fortune, while rice cakes are popular treats enjoyed for a more prosperous year. Families generally serve uncut noodles on the new year to represent long life.
The Chinese New Year also is a much-anticipated time for children younger than age 10, as they typically receive red envelopes with “lucky money” inside as a special gift of the holiday.
“It has mainly been a showcase for Chinese families to showcase their children,” said Irene Wong of Montgomery, who moved to the region in 1991 and has attended every CAAC New Year celebration. “There has been piano and dance and recitals and all kinds of things. It’s just wonderful to see children growing up and having their talents and things recognized. You go to piano lessons for years and you give recitals to your families, but this is like giving recitals to the community. I like coming to these because the women, the community, they put on a show. They are educated, and they’re part of the culture, and they bring it here. It’s very authentic. It’s not for show.”