Last Saturday, the first Auckland East Chinese Culture and Art Festival / was celebrated by the locals at the China Town in east Auckland. The festival organized by Pakuranga Chinese Association     1     (support) by a local art organization and the local government.

Barry Hung, chairperson of the Pakuranga Chinese Association, was proud of his community members     2     have worked hard to show the Chinese culture and art at the festival. “It is the first time we do this event. Many of the     3     (performer) and artists are volunteers. And     4     Chinese performances are performed by our neighbors aged over 60,” said Hung.

Peking opera and Chinese classic dances and drum dances as well as the exhibition of photos, paintings and handicraft works     5     (be) among the highlight s of the festival which attracted a large audience from across the city.

“Chinese traditional culture is important to New Zealand Chinese. It is     6     (equal) important to get more people involved and let the mainstream New Zealand society understand the     7     (tradition) Chinese culture and art,” said Auckland councillor(议员) Paul Young.

Auckland’s east suburbs are home     8     many Chinese communities, with     9     (increase) local acknowledgement of the Chinese culture. Well-organized local Chinese associations often work with the local government and communities     10     (hold) Chinese cultural events.

Best Time of Year

Depending on your in-laws or your uncles, this might be your best holiday season ever.

Fewer families plan to travel to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together     1     the corona-virus pandemic. Even those who were originally planning large family celebrations are warier of doing so     2     they were last month, according to a recent poll. Nearly 71% of people in the United States now believe that there is a large or moderate risk     3     (associate) with “attending in-person gatherings of friends and family outside your household,” the Axios-Ipsos poll found. That’s a 9-point increase since this time last month.

There is a reason for their concern. Hospitalizations in several states are increasing rapidly, and much of the country is experiencing a surge in positive cases     4     cannot be completely explained by increased testing. And given recent studies that prove family gatherings contribute to the spread of the coronavirus, cautious people are right to downsize. This is a huge sacrifice for many, especially     5     who live across the country from their mother, father, brother, or sister and rarely get to see them. For others, it’s a mercy: no fights with your social-justice-warrior nieces, no embarrassment at Uncle Brad’s overindulgence (沉溺于) in merlot, and no awkward questions from Aunt Jennie about why you’re not dating anyone.

For those who     6     (decide) to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas as they normally would, don’t worry: The holidays have always been a dangerous time of year, even     7     a global pandemic. Binge-drinking (狂饮) incidents skyrocket around this time each year, and any medical professional     8    (tell) you that deep-fried turkey accidents make up a good chunk of the hospitalizations they see on Thanksgiving Day. So, what’s a little     9     (risky), right?

Either way, the holiday season is bound to be unforgettable. Those who choose to stay home and celebrate with immediate family only will experience a much more intimate setting that might just make this year’s Thanksgiving the most meaningful yet. And those who choose to gather with their loved ones for Christmas will do so,     10     (know) that familial (家庭的) connection is one of the best cures to this year’s many woes. As with anything, it’s all about perspective.

The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. Originally     1     (celebrate) in the US, it has also become popular in China as a way to express thanks to mothers with gifts and greetings. Some experts suggest China    2     (have) its own Mother’s Day, instead of “borrowing” from the US. Should China create its own Mother’s Day? 

Stephanie: I think maybe it is those retail(零售) businessmen     3    want as many special days as possible, so that they can earn more money. On Mother’s Day, things are double the price than usual and    4     is super difficult to book a table for dining. Something with Chinese traditions     5     (sound) nice, but I hope the special day would light our love for mothers, instead of following the fashion and falling into     6     trap dug by businessmen. 

Francisco: As a child, I just took my mother’s love     7    granted. But now I realize how much my mom has sacrificed     8     (selfless) and how great she really is! Mothers deserve our respect as well as our care and love. We Chinese have the tendency    9     (keep) everything to ourselves. In this regard, we should learn from Americans. Say “I love you” to your mom whenever you feel it and give her a hug or have a heart-to-heart chat or do some housework.     10     matters is that you should do something to show you love her, not just on Mother’s Day.