VOA常速英语2016--纽约市民庆祝中国传统新年（在线收听）

纽约市民庆祝中国传统新年

According to ancient legend, a mythical beast would emerge on the night before new year, and devour the inhabitants of a small Chinese village.

相传，每到除夕一头中国古代神话中的怪兽就会出现，并在一座小乡村吞食牲畜伤害人命。

That is, until one of the villagers realized that the monster was afraid of bright light, the color red, and sounds of thunder.

直到一位村民察觉这头怪兽害怕亮光、红色及雷声才将其驱赶。

Today, the beast, known as the Nian Monster-has become a major symbol of the Chinese New Year.

现如今这头名为“年”的怪兽已成为中国新年的主要标志。

Across China and in cities around the world, there are joyous celebrations including in New York city, home to more than 500,000 Chinese-Americans where Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public school holiday in observance.

中国及世界各地的城市都会举行喜庆的庆祝活动，纽约也是如此，这座城市有超过50万的美籍华人，纽约市市长白思豪宣布了一项公立学校的庆祝节日。

Historically, however, authorities have not always been so accommodating.

然而纵观历史，政府当局却并非一直这样友好。

In the late 19th century, the US Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which until 1943 banned Chinese immigration into the United States.

在19世纪末，美国国会通过了禁止国人移民美国的《排华法案》，而直到1943年这项法案才被废除。

And in Hollywood, the discrimination made its way to the silver screen where Chinese were cast only by non-Chinese actors to portray villains.

而在好莱坞，由非华人演员饰演恶棍的歧视也被搬上了大银幕。

New York's Museum of Chinese in America , MOCA, displays the harsh contrast between America's treatment of Chinese citizens then and now.

纽约美国华人博物馆（MOCA）展示了美对华态度的显著区别。

“It's vast difference. There is so much more interest in Chinese culture, in US-China relations, in Chinese food, in Chinese arts.”

“这是天壤之别。他们现在对中国文化非常感兴趣，还有中美关系、中餐、中国的艺术也是如此。”

Today, in New York's Chinatown neighborhood, kids of all ethnic groups gathered at MOCA to learn about the culture while making colorful lanterns to scary away the Nian Monster.

今天，在纽约的唐人街社区，各民族的小朋友们来到美国华人博物馆学习了解中国文化，制作五颜六色的灯笼驱赶怪兽“年”。

“Awareness of it brings them out to kind of explore whether they are, you know, celebrating at their homes or whether they're coming out to these bases to learn about the customs and traditions behind the holiday.”

“这样的意识使他们萌生出一些探索精神，你知道，是选择在家中欢度这个节日还是来到这里了解节日背后的习俗及传统。”

Apart from the lanterns, another mythical creature, the lion, is part of the festivities.

除了灯笼，另一个神话动物狮子也是庆典的一部分。

Performing a traditional dance, the lion not only keeps Nian away, but also brings good fortune and prosperity to all.

舞狮这种传统舞蹈，不仅能够把“年”赶跑，而且还能带给人们新一年的好运和昌盛。