2018年CRI Fireworks light up New York sky to mark Chinese New Year

 

Spectacular fireworks lit up the night sky over the Hudson River in New York City on Wednesday as part of the celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Friday.

The fireworks display, themed "Happy Spring Festival", was held near Pier¹ 84 over the Hudson River, close to the Chinese consulate³ general in New York.

In mostly red and gold, the two major auspicious⁴ traditional Chinese colors, the display created images representing Chinese cultural elements, like the dog, one of the 12 traditional zodiac signs, and the Chinese knot.

Prior to the display, Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul² general in New York, hosted a celebratory gala for 300-odd local celebrities⁵ and officials.

Designed and organized by China's Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), the display was executed by Fireworks by Grucci, a New York-based fireworks company.

"It (was) fantastic, especially on Valentine's Day," Scott C. Cooper, director of business development at Fireworks by Grucci, told Xinhua.

He said Grucci was excited to work with CAFA to stage the event, which is already a must-see for New Yorkers and international visitors to the city during the Lunar New Year. The two sides initiated⁶ the cooperation in 2014.

Aside from the fireworks show, the week-long Lunar New Year celebrations in the U.S. city also include a performance by the New York Philharmonic, the lighting⁷ of the Empire State Building, and the annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival in Chinatown.

The headline event of this eight-day-long festival is a special "Students Day" on Friday at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

New York City became the largest urban school district in the country to recognize the holiday for its public school children in 2016.

1 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

2 consul   

n.领事；执政官

参考例句：

• A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。
• He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。

3 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

4 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
• With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。

5 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

6 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

7 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。