CCTV9英语新闻：中国农历新年

In China, people are saying farewell to the Year of the Horse and welcoming the Year of the Sheep in their own special ways.

Not long to go until New Year's Day. Two neighboring villages in North China's Hebei Province hold a Waist Drum Competition, which has 600 years of history dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

The competition is called "Duigu" in Chinese. Both teams beat the waist drums long and hard, but whoever can persevere¹ the longest will be declared the winner.

Meanwhile, in East China's Shandong, a dumpling-making competition attracts huge crowds. Upon the order, the competitors put on their aprons², and whoever can produce the most dumplings in three minutes will win.

"I am a housewife. For me, I don't mind whether I win or not. The most important thing for me is not to win but to have fun," said a woman.

In South China, there are various kinds of celebration. More than 300 people in the Longtan Village of Southwest China's Chongqing municipality prepare the "Hundred-Family Banquet³", for their family reunion dinner.

Villagers, showing their special culinary skills, cook a wide variety of foods. And in east China's Jiangxi Province, buildings along the Ganjiang River are lit up one after the other.

The lead role of the light show -- named "Mengmeng" -- is jumping among the buildings, bringing joy and happiness.

 

1 persevere   

v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• They are determined to persevere in the fight.他们决心坚持战斗。
• It is strength of character enabled him to persevere.他那坚强的性格使他能够坚持不懈。

2 aprons   

围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份）

参考例句：

• Many people like to wear aprons while they are cooking. 许多人做饭时喜欢系一条围裙。
• The chambermaid in our corridor wears blue checked gingham aprons. 给我们扫走廊的清洁女工围蓝格围裙。

3 banquet   

n.宴会，盛会，酒席

参考例句：

• We had a banquet,which ended up with soup.我们举行了一个宴会，最后一道菜是汤。
• He is in the person of his father for the banquet.他以他父亲的名义赴宴。