1 . The Chinese Students and Scholars Association in the UK held a Spring Festival gala (庆典) on Wednesday in London to count down to the Chinese New Year. More than 900attendees, including representatives from British universities and education institutions, as well as Chinese students and scholars, joined to enjoy a feast of Chinese culture.

This year’s Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, and 2024 is the year of the dragon based on the Chinese zodiac. The dragon is considered by the Chinese people to represent dignity, prestige, and fortune.

The festival gala, with a theme of “Soaring Dragon’s Spring Melody”, featured Chinese folk music, dance, singing, martial arts performance and more.

During the event, Zheng Zeguang, China’s ambassador to the UK, made a speech to the attendees, highlighting major accomplishments achieved in the past year and stating China’s future development focuses.

He pointed out that China will determinedly pursue high-quality development and Chinese modernization to advance the great rejuvenation (复兴) of the Chinese nation. China will also call for an equal and orderly multipolar (多级的) world as well as for inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, Zheng noted. “Our motherland has bright prospects for future growth,” he said.

The ambassador praised Chinese students and scholars for being hardworking and behaving in a controlled way, saying that the number of Chinese students in the UK has significantly increased due to the transformation of China. “I hope you will carry on the tradition of patriotism. I hope you will ai m high and work hard. I hope you will unit e and help each other, as well as make friends widely. I hope you will grow into the backbone of the nation in the near future,” he said.

Alistair Fitt, vice-headmaster of Oxford Brookes University, extended warm wishes of good fortune and prosperity in the year of the dragon and expressed hope for progress in Sino-British relations. “I am very sure that our two great nations will continue to expand all of our very successful relationships,” he said.

China will become the guest country of honor for the 37th International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer from April 20 to 28. It’s the first time that the festival     1     (introduce) the concept of guest countries since its     2     (establish) in 1987.

During the nine-day event, the China Cultural Center in Paris will join hands with Weifang city in Shandong province,     3     is known as the “kite capital of the world”,     4     (show) the most authentic Chinese kite art and cultural experience to the audience. Various cultural activities will take center stage,     5     (include) kite competitions, cultural performances and workshops on intangible cultural heritage.

The International Kite Festival in Berck-sur-Mer is the largest and     6     (influence) kite-themed event in France. Visitors can not only observe     7     wide variety of kites, traditional and modern, small and giant,     8     also engage in kite-making workshops, art performances and experiential activities.

In addition     9     regular kite displays, this year’s festival will debut the international kite stunt competition,     10     (call) “The World Kite Cup Berck-sur-Mer”. Kite-flying masters from ten countries and regions will compete for the world champion title in a showdown of skills and creativity.

5 . You’ve heard the phrase “home for the holidays”, but I would like to introduce a new phrase: hygge for the holidays. A hygge holiday is all about peaceful, quiet and cozy(温暖舒适的) surroundings. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Holiday hygge is easy and comforting. Most people are already doing at least some of these simple hygge holidays without even knowing it.

Hygge is a Danish word originally coming from an old Norwegian word meaning well-being and protection from the outside harm. It’s known that winters in Denmark are severe and last long. The concept of hygge has been used by Danish people to keep themselves mentally positive in the dark winter season and fill their homes with comfort and love.

Hygge is a very important word to Danish people, often used to describe what their culture is all about and it is not necessarily a thing, something you can buy, but rather more of something you feel. Hygge really is a reflection of one aspect of Danish living, and, happily, in the last five years the concept of hygge has made its way to the US and many other countries. I mean what’s not to like about nurturing(培育)peace and quiet and coziness?

Here are some more descriptive words for hygge: comfort, familiarity, friendship, laughter, and even seasonal homemade food and drinks. While it is possible to achieve hygge any time of the year with hygge activities-an outdoor BBQ with friends and a movie under the stars with family are good examples of summertime hygge, it is most commonly associated with the colder months because of its ability to lift one’s spirits during dark winter months.

Hygge is the most suitable for the November and December holiday season because it’s all about peaceful and cozy surroundings that fill you with contentment. There is indeed something you can do to bring holiday hygge into your home this season.

6 . Coming from India, Vikash Kumar Singh has been living in China for more than ten years and speaks Chinese very fluently. He now works as a teacher at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Vikash had been translating Qinqiang, a famous novel by Jia Pingwa, for almost two years. When the winter holiday began, Vikash had more time to work on the translation and managed to finish it before the Chinese New Year.

As part of a Chinese and Indian literature translation program supported by both governments, Vikash thought that the translation of literary works like Qinqiang would open a window for Indian people, through which they could have a better understanding of China and Chinese literature.

“I would like to thank both governments for their support for this culture program, ”said Vikash. “This is quite helpful on the mutual understanding of people from both countries.”

Getting this long-lasting work done, Vikash felt very buoyant. He could enjoy the Spring Festival in a more relaxed way.

Vikash told the reporter that most of his friends also stayed in Beijing. They visited each other and talked about how they celebrate the New Year in their home countries such as Indonesia and Bulgaria. And they felt it was also cool to stay in Beijing and enjoy the Spring Festival.

As a typical “Haidian District” parent who highly values children’s education and future development, Vikash actively interacted with the parents of his child’s classmates during the holiday.

Vikash also spoke to his family in India about his experience of the holiday by phone. Besides, he introduced the customs of celebrating the Spring Festival in detail.

Through the transnational dissemination (传播) of traditions and cultures, such as festivals and novels, Vikash deepened the mutual understanding of people from China and India with his profession.

The 18th China Theater Festival is set     1     (show) in Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang province, from Nov 8 to 27, local media reported.     2     (found) in 1988, the festival is held     3     (two) a year and serves as a significant platform for the national     4     (drama) community to show excellent creative achievements.

The festival will host     5     total of 48 performances in Hangzhou, offering     6     (rough) 36,000 tickets, with prices ranging from 50 yuan to 480 yuan. Over 20, 000 tickets priced at or under 100 yuan will be available. The organizer will also introduce an online discount of at least 20 percent. Theater lovers can purchase tickets online through platforms such as Damai, Maoyan,     7     buy tickets     8     person at the appropriate theater box offices. Free viewing opportunities     9     (offer) to representatives from the Asian Games and Asian Para Games as well as volunteers and staff     10     are working behind the scenes.