[中文版本]

Talking About the Spring Festival: The Chinese "Nian"

When we talk about the Spring Festival, we are referring to what the Chinese call "Nian" (年). To me, "Nian" feels neither near nor far, yet in reality, it seems quite distant. As a child, I had little memory of it—just the impressions of cold and red. Later, as I grew older, the country restricted fireworks and firecrackers for environmental protection, making the festival much quieter. Then came the pandemic, which made the New Year spirit fade even more. That was my personal experience, but in other parts of China, such as the South, especially in Guangdong and Fujian, the celebrations may still be grand and lively.

In the hearts of most Chinese people, "Nian" carries extraordinary significance. It marks both an end and a beginning. People leave behind the troubles and misfortunes of the past year, embracing the arrival of spring and the hope for a better life. With love, excitement, and dreams, they step into the new year’s vibrance, its grand festivities, and endless possibilities. Life is vast, and everyone has different goals and dreams, yet all persist in their pursuits, driven by their beliefs.

What "Nian" Looks Like

The essence of "Nian" is often simple, yet deeply meaningful. Perhaps it is:

• A stack of red envelopes, symbolizing good fortune.
• The red decorations seen everywhere—spring couplets and the character “福” (fortune) pasted on doors.
• The stars shining above as countless homes glow with warm lights.
• The laughter of family members gathered around the dinner table, watching the Spring Festival Gala.
• The joyful greetings from loved ones when returning home.
• The flourishing of a strong and prosperous nation, bringing peace to its people.

This is what "Nian" looks like in people’s hearts.

My Northern Impression of "Nian"

As someone from the North, if I were to describe my impression of "Nian":

• One word: Red—a color that represents prosperity and festivity.
• Two words: Family—the core of warmth and belonging.
• Three words: The Chinese People—the spirit of unity and pride.
• Four words: Based on the Zodiac—for example, this year is the Year of the Snake, so I would say “巳巳如意”, a creative play on "事事如意" (may everything go as you wish).

The Color Red and the Legend of "Nian"

Red is one of the most beloved colors in China, especially during the New Year. According to legend, in ancient times, a mythical beast called “Nian” (年) would appear and terrorize villages. People discovered that wearing red, pasting red decorations on doors, and lighting firecrackers could drive it away. Over time, these customs became traditions, passed down from generation to generation.

The Importance of Family

Family is our "life jacket" in the rough seas of life. As we grow older, we come to truly understand the importance of family. As one of my teachers often said:
"When you are experiencing something, you may not feel it deeply. But when you are about to lose it or have already lost it, regret will be all that remains."

For Chinese culture, family is the foundation of everything. As the saying goes, “修身齐家治国平天下” (cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the country, bring peace to the world)—family is the root of all things. The Chinese people place great value on relationships and traditions, and these ideas stem from family influence. The Spring Festival serves as a precious moment of reunion, a time to reconnect with family. No matter how exciting the world outside may be, home will always be our true utopia.

The Spirit of the Chinese People

During the Spring Festival, beyond the joy of celebration, there is also a deep sense of national pride. Even in the midst of the festivities, there are people still working tirelessly for the country and its people:

• Soldiers guarding the borders, ensuring national security.
• Doctors and medical workers, standing strong to protect lives and health.
• Sanitation workers, delivery drivers, and police officers, ensuring the city continues running smoothly.

Their efforts embody the Chinese spirit—resilience, dedication, and responsibility.

This year, 2024, holds special significance. The Chinese New Year has been officially recognized as a United Nations holiday, gradually evolving into a "global festival." Its recognition as intangible cultural heritage further proves that China continues to promote cultural diversity, inclusivity, and mutual learning among civilizations.

"巳巳如意"—A Special Blessing for the Year of the Snake

Since the Snake is associated with the Earthly Branch "巳", we creatively adapt “事事如意” (may all things go as you wish) into “巳巳如意”. This clever wordplay not only conveys good wishes but also carries a touch of modern creativity, making it uniquely fitting for this year.

The richness of Chinese culture lies in its deep traditions and continuous evolution. Looking back at history, the Spring Festival has always been the most dazzling star in China's cultural sky. It is a festival of both heritage and innovation—from the ancient custom of “总把新桃换旧符” (replacing old charms with new ones) to the modern “cloud-based New Year greetings”, technological advancements continue to shape how we celebrate. The festival’s essence is reflected in both the lively fireworks and the deep-rooted cultural traditions.

Passion: A Theme for the New Year

One of my favorite phrases this year comes from comedian Fu Hang, who often emphasizes “Passion”.

Life is about embracing passion—pursuing what we love, never fearing challenges, and pressing forward with courage.

So, as we step into a new year, let us honor the past and embrace the future. May we carry the spirit of our ancestors, push forward with determination, and create a brighter tomorrow.

May this year be better than the last. May all your wishes come true. May peace and happiness fill every home.

Happy Lunar New Year!

By

刘玥彤 翻译 (Translation) 17/02/25

 [中文版本]

 Chinese Category - Elementary School：

First Prize： Cynthia  Zhang，William Fu (傅梓航)

Second Prize：Alex Kejun Cao (曹可均)，Theodore Wang (王赋言)，Timo Lan (蓝天牧）

Third Prize：Michael Yang （杨骐嘉），Andrew Yang （笑笑），Aaron Ruan（阮兰峻），Gabriel Wang（王宥实），Tei Patel（钱太之）

Honorable Mention:  Shuyao Li（李舒窈），Franklin Wang（汪小洋），Adam Nie （聂亚当），Amelia Song（宋鲁宁），Alex S. Chen（陈世泽），Eli Fu（傅梓源），Gracie Ham（马驰椿），Michael Chen（陈小麦）, Murphy Tu （土豆）, Everly Jing（景云华）, Isabella Wu（伍雅薷）, Sophie  H Zhang （张盈若）, CoCo Li（李师杨）

Chinese Category - Middle  School：

First Prize：Andrew Zhao（赵博言), Neil Xu（徐启宁), Lexi Tang（邓乐晞), Aiden Xiao（肖云瀚)

Second Prize：Ginny Liu （廖慧圆), Iwan chen（王梓辰), Kelly Dai（戴凯丽), Leah Li（李娅), Samanta He（贺琨藏), Kathleen Xin（辛雨薇)

Third Prize：Kyle Zeng（曾祥天),  Eric He（何昊洋), Selina Wang（王姝心), Allen Niu（牛啸天), Alice Zhao（赵嘉一), Alexander Gu（顾沛田), Emma Guo（郭鸿萱), Sophia Wu（伍雅萱), Nili Li（李小叶), Angela Wang（王昱茜), Eric Wang（王浩宇), Nora Ma（马丫然)

Honorable Mention:  Ivan Chang（张博豪)，Keven Ye（叶开为)，Wellington Zhou（周忠轩)，Wenqing Ma（马文情)，Kevin Liu（刘必耀)，Kelly Wang（汪芊颖)，Rani Ziran wei（魏子然)，Ivy Xu（徐家蕙)，Bryce Long（龙道为)，Ava Lin（林莹)，Kevin chen（陈凯文)，Allen Ou（欧志国)，Annie Ou（欧爱妮)，Jinyuan Guan（关金源)，Ethan Chen（陈翼乐)，Benjamin Guo（过德浩)，Andrew  Cai（蔡思恩), Emily  Liu（刘星玥)，Henry Jiang（江季达)，Nathaniel Ni （倪浩轩)，Chloe Deng（邓朵朵)，Angelina Chen（陈欣凌)，Bella Lee（李贝拉)，Jason Xiao（肖泊辰)，Jacob（冯新民)，Daniel Cao（曹兮)，Emily.Qiu（邱重垣)，Chloey Fang（方欣扬)，James Fang（方毅成)

Chinese Category - High School

First Prize： Nathan Tian(田旻楷)， Annie Yang(杨晓玥)

Second Prize：Gracelyn Chen (陈蕙心)， Claire Qi（齐乐乐）， Aaron Tianyi Zhang（张天诣）

Third Prize：Bruce Liu(刘琪煜）， Victoria Wang(王睿真），Crystal C hen(陈子元），Hannah Liu(刘润宇），Jessica Yao(姚嘉璐）， Julia Pitt(强竹涵）

Honorable Mention：Alex Dai(戴宇文）， Aiden Wang(王天笑）， Steven Xu(徐家澍）， Joyce Fang(方心）， Zai Ye(叶子濛）， Jaylina Shi(施雨彤）， Bernice Gao(高艺菲）， Jackie Zhu(朱家祺）， Sophie Zhu-Yun Pitt(强竹韵）， Annie Wang (王欣昕）， Kelin Du (杜科霖）， Venita wang(王诗礼），  Anthony Zhuang， Beckett Murphy(马千令）， Elle Murphy(马心梅）， Benji Kurtzig(吴恩杰）

Chinese Category - Non-Chinese Descendant：

First Prize：Helena Hill(琳娜）

Second Prize：Alex Suh(住彬）

Third Prize： Rai Goswami(艾玛）,  Haze Warren(王真）

Honorable Mention：Anton Jordan(安东）,  Sofia Vakis(王淑菲）,  Lena Schwartzman (蓝娜）,  Liam McCuaig(马和奇）

English Category - Elementary School

First Prize：Gloria Teng(滕楚萌) 

Second Prize：Aimee Chen(陈婧怡) 

Third Prize：Jason Fan(范陆安) 

Honorable Mention：Sophie Shuyan Chen,  Mollie Hu(胡墨莉),  CoCo Li(李师杨),  Sophie H Zhang (张盈若), Amelia Song (宋鲁宁)

English Category - Middle School

First Prize：Larissa Deng(邓睿莎),  Emma Guo(郭鸿萱)

Second Prize：Alex Huang(黄四之),  George Hong(洪浩淋)

Third Prize： Ivy Wang(王一辰),  Sherry Wei(魏西雅),  Paloma Naftulin,  Peter Guo(郭靖)

Honorable Mention：Alice Zhao(赵嘉一),  Kelly Wang(汪芊颖),  Summer Lu(卢好),  Aaron Wu(武子舟),  Melodie Li(李伊一),  Jasper Song(宋玉), Hannah Liu(刘子悠),  Joseph Xu,  Callum Seay-Lee,  Neil Xu(徐启宁), Chloey Fang(方欣扬)

English Category - High School：

First Prize：Gloria Liu(刘蒜苗)

Second Prize：Mark Li(李润麒)

Third Prize：Daisy Jin(金樂彤) 

Honorable Mention：Wenqing Ma(马文情), Joyce Fang(方心), Tansy Yu(余丹婵), Sophia Li, Alissia Dupriez(汪丽霞)

English Category - Chinese Student

First Prize：Ziming Zhai(翟梓铭)

Second Prize：Lucarlevia(刘玥彤)

Third Prize：Ziyu Zhu(朱子钰)

English Category - Non-Chinese Descendant - Middle School

First Prize：Isabella Tamayo (伊萨贝拉)

Second Prize：Sana Baig (贝莎娜)

Third Prize：Carah Cerutti (苏静怡)， Alan Mateo-Berganza Echebarria (蒙艾伦)

Honorable Mention：Mia Taylor(米小雪)， Charlotte Warren(王佳琪)， Ian Rivera(炎泽泰)， Stella Batteh， Jack Beardow(毕杰克）， Zahra Halakhe(何雅薇）

English Category - Non-Chinese Descendant - High School

First Prize：Sheridan Henneberg(何喜丹）

Second Prize：Ali Campbell(乔安莉）

Third Prize：George Demekas-Ruiz(戴朝智）,  Kiera Kumar(柯可娜）

Honorable Mention：Julia Cerutti(苏莉雅）, Abigail Dauchy， Thomas Adler(安天睦）， Alexandre Mousset， Cécile Nelles(艾西西）

Internet Popularity Award:

Victoria Wang(王睿真)， CoCo Li(李师杨)， Jessica Yao(姚嘉璐)， Gloria Teng(滕楚萌)， Julia Pitt(强竹涵)， Samanta He(贺琨藏)

By

载道 翻译 (Translation) 18/11/24

[中文版本]

At five o'clock in the afternoon, my mom starts cooking, and it's usually ready by six. I can smell the delicious food. As my mom calls me, my sister, and my dad to come eat, I run quickly from the living room to the dining room. I also make sure to call my dad because sometimes he's outside in the yard or in the basement. The whole family sits by the dining table and starts eating. We talk together while we eat. Everyone shares what happened during their day, sharing happy or unhappy things and showing care for each other.

My mom can cook many different things. Sometimes she makes dumplings, and other times she makes fried rice. We eat with ceramic bowls and metal forks, spoons, and chopsticks. Sometimes I don't like the food, like if it's too spicy, but sometimes it's very delicious. We spend about thirty to forty minutes eating dinner each day, and we eat until we are full and satisfied. Every day before dinner, I put cat food in the ceramic dishes for my cats. Then, my two cats start eating from their bowls.

I'm always very happy when I eat dinner because I'm really hungry when I come home from school. My sister isn't as excited as I am, but she also likes to come and eat. Our dinner time is always happy. After dinner, I go to the living room to do my homework. My dad washes the dishes, my mom goes to dance and do yoga, and my sister goes to do her homework.

I believe everyone deserves a good dinner. My sister is very funny; she always tells me amusing stories. My mom is very capable and affectionate; she always asks me what I did at school and if I'm happy. My dad is very hardworking; he's always the last one to come to the dining room to eat because he's always busy. I'm also very capable; I take care of my own things and look after my two cats.

I love my family dinners. We eat until we're full to keep our bodies healthy and so that we won't be hungry at night. I love my family, and they all love me. We are a happy and joyful family, and every day we enjoy having family dinner together.

By

任聚豪 翻译 (Translation) 6/07/24

[中文版本]

On January 26th, the "Zai Dao" website held its annual meeting, marking the debut of its new leadership team. In the new year, the team plans to enhance visual content creation, including videos and images, and leverage social media to better spread Chinese culture.

Co-Founders: Emily Jia, Doris Wang
Editors-in-Chief: Daniel Shen, Hannah Liu
Event Managers: Sophia Li, Lin Zheng, Sophie Huang
Multimedia Directors: Nathan Tian, Angie Shen
Reporting Leader: Allen Du

By

载道 翻译 (Translation) 17/02/25

[中文版本]

Voting Link: Zaidao Website http://thez.us

"Popularity Award" Voting Deadline: Sunday (11/17)  ALREADY ENDED

The Second Washington Chinese Culture Festival Youth Essay Contest received over 170 submissions from participants in the Greater Washington area, Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Illinois, and more. There has been a significant increase in submissions from non-Chinese Descendant students, and students from China have also actively participated. The contest features outstanding works in both Chinese and English, reflecting a deep understanding and creative expression of Chinese culture.

To ensure a fair and just evaluation, each participant has signed a declaration affirming that their work was not created by AI, plagiarized, or ghostwritten. The judging panel has conducted multiple rounds of assessments. Currently, the judging process is in its final stages, and the results will be announced soon!

Now, all 170+ contest entries are online. Use your keen eyes to help select the "Popularity Award" winning works and show your support and encouragement to these talented young writers!

How to Vote: 

Please visit the Zaidao website: http://thez.us
On the homepage, click on "Essay Competition". Scroll down to find: Chinese Group, English Group, Non-Chinese Descendant Group, and Chinese Student Group.
Click on the group that interests you, and the webpage will display the directory of all the essays in that group.
Click on an essay title to enjoy the work.
To vote, simply click the heart icon below the author's name.

The Chinese Culture Festival is one of the largest and most important cultural exchange events for the Chinese community in the Greater Washington area, receiving widespread attention and praise in American society. On August 31, 2024, the 21st Chinese Culture Festival was held grandly in Washington, D.C. The second Youth Essay Contest of the Culture Festival is organized by the Chinese Culture Festival Committee and hosted by the Zaidao website (thez.us). Zaidao is a bilingual platform founded by Chinese American youth in the United States, dedicated to inspiring youth to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture.

The Chinese Culture Festival Committee is jointly organized by the U.S.-China Business Association, the Federation of Alumni Associations of Chinese Universities in the Greater Washington Area, Harvey Chinese School, the Chinese Community Alliance of Washington, the U.S.-China Economic and Cultural Exchange Association, the U.S.-China Experimental School, the United Chinese American Professional Association, the Hope Chinese School, and the Washington Area Chinese Community Association.

By

载道 翻译 (Translation) 13/11/24

[中文版本]

When I was in sixth grade, the school organized an unforgettable outdoor experience activity – Outdoor Ed. Outdoor Ed not only enabled me to learn a lot of new knowledge, but also to make many good friends, and it left me with wonderful memories.

Outdoor Ed is located at a camp far away from the city. The camp is located on a peninsula surrounded by a wide and calm river，and it is arranged simily. Besides the cabins where teachers and students live, the area is either open grasslands or dense woods. Participating in Outdoor Ed was the first time I lived with my classmates, so I was very excited and thought it would be fun to live in the same dormitory with them. Our cabin included six bunk beds and a bathroom. As usual, I chose a bed on the top. There was a girl I didn't know sleeping across from me, and that's how we got to know each other. Her name is Faye, she is of medium height and always puts her hair up in a ponytail. She is a cheerful girl who is always happy. Soon, we became familiar with each other. We went to the cafeteria together, played together during free time, and talked in the cabin until lights out. To this day, Faye is still a very good friend of mine.

Different activities are arranged every day at Outdoor Ed, among which my favorite is a game called Predator and Prey. Predator and Prey is a survival game played in the woods. Each participant will play a role in nature. Most students will act as animals, including carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Each animal has a certain number of life cards at the beginning of the game – each life card represents one life. A few students also act as viruses – the viruses’ job is to catch the animals and take life cards from them. Carnivores and omnivores are tasked with hunting herbivores and taking life cards from them.Teachers placed cards representing water and plants in the woods in advance. All animals seek water cards. Omnivores and herbivores seek out edible plants. In this game, the predators have to hunt for prey, and the prey have to avoid being caught by the predators. At the end of the game, if you still have life cards, water cards, and edible plant cards (only herbivores and omnivores need edible plant cards), you have successfully survived. Unfortunately, I did not survive.

In addition to the interesting activities, the food served at Outdoor Ed is also worth mentioning. There are different options for every meal in the cafeteria. A sample of food served: breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, and juice. When you are hungry after running outside for a long time, lunch is served with bread, BBQ pulled pork and a fresh salad bar, which is perfect for filling your stomach. For dinner there are tacos stuffed with chicken, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Because it's so delicious, I can't help but grab another serving every time. When I first arrived at the camp, I only saw a few simple cabins, and I didn’t expect the food to be so yummy! And because school lunches are generally not very tasty, every meal in Outdoor Ed seemed particularly delicious.

 Now that I am in seventh grade, I still often think of last year’s Outdoor Ed experience. I think of the days living with my classmates, meeting new friends, participating in interesting activities, and eating delicious food... I really hope there will be Outdoor Ed every year!

Mentor: Dan Tian, Xiaofang Diao

By

刁宜萱 翻译 (Translation) 2/06/24

[中文版本]

The highly anticipated results of the Second Washington Chinese Culture Festival Youth Essay Contest were officially announced on November 18. In total, 16 students, including William Fu, Cynthia Zhang, Andrew Zhao, and Neil Xu, won first prizes across the Chinese, English, and Non-Chinese categories. Meanwhile, Victoria Wang, Coco Li, Jessica Yao, and three other students claimed the Online Popularity Awards. The full list of winners can be found in the appendix and is also available on the Zaidao website: http://thez.us.

This year’s contest stood out for its large number of submissions, high-quality entries, wide coverage, and enthusiastic participation by non-Chinese youth. Over 170 essays were received from the Greater Washington area and 10 other states including Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Illinois.

In addition to the enthusiastic participation of many Chinese American students, non-Chinese youth also actively contributed, expressing their deep interest and love for Chinese culture through their essays. Furthermore, Chinese students took on the challenge of writing in English, demonstrating their enthusiasm and ability for cross-cultural exchange.

The success of this contest was supported by Chinese schools and educational institutions. Students from various campuses of Hope Chinese School in the Greater Washington area (Potomac, Rockville, and Herndon), the Chinese School of the Chinese Americans, and Harvey Chinese School actively participated. The Arizona-based newspaper 《China Press》 mobilized several local Chinese schools to join. Washington International School also encouraged its students to submit essays, showcasing their passion for learning Chinese.

The entries covered a wide range of themes and topics, reflecting the participants' understanding and love for Chinese culture. Some students wrote about their experiences participating in the Chinese Culture Festival, vividly recounting their impressions and reflections. Others shared stories about traveling or engaging in cultural exchanges in China, demonstrating a deep appreciation for Chinese culture. Several essays started from everyday life, illustrating the role of cultural inheritance within families and communities. Many works also explored U.S.-China relations from the perspective of youth, offering unique insights and thoughtful observations.

Innovation in form and expression was a major highlight of this contest. Some essays conveyed traditional culture through family stories and ancestral experiences, while others explored the inheritance and development of Chinese culture in modern society. The Chinese and English entries complemented each other, not only showcasing the participants' profound understanding of Chinese culture but also reflecting their talents in language and creative expression.

To ensure fairness and integrity, all participants signed a declaration stating that their work was original and not generated by AI, plagiarized, or ghostwritten.

The judging panel consisted of authoritative experts, adding professionalism and credibility to the contest. The Chinese group was chaired by Jiange Chen, former director of the Washington office of 《China Press》 and a historian of Chinese diaspora. Other judges included Shanying Li from Hope Chinese School, Yingzhe Tao from Howard Chinese School, Hongwei Zhang from the the American Chinese School, and Shu Liu from Baltimore Chinese School. The English group was judged by veteran writing expert John Noran (周虎安), who has conducted writing workshops in over 350 schools and libraries across the U.S.

The Chinese Culture Festival is the largest and most influential cultural exchange event in the Chinese American community in the Greater Washington area, garnering attention and acclaim from American society. On August 31, the 21st Chinese Culture Festival was grandly held in Washington, D.C. The Youth Essay Contest, organized by the festival committee and hosted by the Zaidao website (TheZ.us), served as a platform for Chinese American youth to showcase their talents and encouraged them to express their understanding and love for Chinese culture through writing.

The contest not only enhanced the participants' sense of identity and belonging to Chinese culture but also promoted the inheritance and dissemination of Chinese cultural heritage.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of December 7 in Maryland, where the winners will be recognized, and the Bo Le Awards and Excellence Organization Awards will also be presented. Further details will be announced later.

Special thanks to sponsors such as Universal Stones, New Light Sign Company, Richen Group, and Hibachi Seafood Buffet for their generous support of this contest.

Appendix: Second Washington Chinese Culture Festival Youth Essay Contest Winners

Chinese Category - Elementary School
First Place： Cynthia Zhang，William Fu (傅梓航)
Second Place：Alex Kejun Cao (曹可均)，Theodore Wang (王赋言)，Timo Lan (蓝天牧）
Third Place：Michael Yang （杨骐嘉），Andrew Yang （笑笑），Aaron Ruan（阮兰峻），Gabriel Wang（王宥实），Tei Patel（钱太之）
Honorable Mention: Shuyao Li（李舒窈），Franklin Wang（汪小洋），Adam Nie （聂亚当），Amelia Song（宋鲁宁），Alex S. Chen（陈世泽），Eli Fu（傅梓源），Gracie Ham（马驰椿），Michael Chen（陈小麦）, Murphy Tu （土豆）, Everly Jing（景云华）, Isabella Wu（伍雅薷）, Sophie H Zhang （张盈若）, CoCo Li（李师杨）

Chinese Category - Middle School
First Place：Andrew Zhao（赵博言), Neil Xu（徐启宁), Lexi Tang（邓乐晞), Aiden Xiao（肖云瀚)
Second Place：Ginny Liu （刘圆圆), Iwan chen（王梓辰), Kelly Dai（戴凯丽), Leah Li（李娅), Samanta He（贺琨藏), Kathleen Xin（辛雨薇)
Third Place：Kyle Zeng（曾祥天), Eric He（何昊洋), Selina Wang（王姝心), Allen Niu（牛啸天), Alice Zhao（赵嘉一), Alexander Gu（顾沛田), Emma Guo（郭鸿萱), Sophia Wu（伍雅萱), Nili Li（李小叶), Angela Wang（王昱茜), Eric Wang（王浩宇), Nora Ma（马丫然)
Honorable Mention: Ivan Chang（张博豪)，Keven Ye（叶开为)，Wellington Zhou（周忠轩)，Wenqing Ma（马文情)，Kevin Liu（刘必耀)，Kelly Wang（汪芊颖)，Rani Ziran wei（魏子然)，Ivy Xu（徐家蕙)，Bryce Long（龙道为)，Ava Lin（林莹)，Kevin chen（陈凯文)，Allen Ou（欧志国)，Annie Ou（欧爱妮)，Jinyuan Guan（关金源)，Ethan Chen（陈翼乐)，Benjamin Guo（过德浩)，Andrew Cai（蔡思恩), Emily Liu（刘星玥)，Henry Jiang（江季达)，Nathaniel Ni（倪浩轩)，Chloe Deng（邓朵朵)，Angelina Chen（陈欣凌)，Bella Lee（李贝拉)，Jason Xiao（肖泊辰)，Jacob（冯新民)，Daniel Cao（曹兮)，Emily.Qiu（邱重垣)，Chloey Fang（方欣扬)，James Fang（方毅成)

Chinese Category - High School
First Place： Nathan Tian(田旻楷)， Annie Yang(杨晓玥)
Second Place：Gracelyn Chen (陈蕙心)， Claire Qi（齐乐乐）， Aaron Tianyi Zhang（张天诣）
Third Place：Bruce Liu(刘琪煜）， Victoria Wang(王睿真），Crystal C hen(陈子元），Hannah Liu(刘润宇），Jessica Yao(姚嘉璐）， Julia Pitt(强竹涵）
Honorable Mention：Alex Dai(戴宇文）， Aiden Wang(王天笑）， Steven Xu(徐家澍）， Joyce Fang(方心）， Zai Ye(叶子濛）， Jaylina Shi(施雨彤）， Bernice Gao(高艺菲）， Jackie Zhu(朱家祺）， Sophie Zhu-Yun Pitt(强竹韵）， AnnieWang (王欣昕）， Kelin Du (杜科霖）， Venita wang(王诗礼）， Anthony Zhuang， Beckett Murphy(马千令），Elle Murphy(马心梅）， Benji Kurtzig(吴恩杰）

Chinese Category - Non-Chinese Descendant
First Place：Helena Hill(琳娜）
Second Place：Alex Suh(住彬）
Third Place： Rai Goswami(艾玛）, Haze Warren(王真）
Honorable Mention：Anton Jordan(安东）, Sofia Vakis(王淑菲）, Lena Schwartzman (蓝娜）, Liam McCuaig(马和奇）

English Category - Elementary School
First Place：Gloria Teng(滕楚萌)
Second Place：Aimee Chen(陈婧怡)
Third Place：Jason Fan(范陆安)
Honorable Mention：Sophie Shuyan Chen, Mollie Hu(胡墨莉), CoCo Li(李师杨), Sophie H Zhang (张盈若)

English Category - Middle School
First Place：Larissa Deng(邓睿莎), Emma Guo(郭鸿萱)
Second Place：Alex Huang(黄四之), George Hong(洪浩淋)
Third Place： Ivy Wang(王一辰), Sherry Wei(魏西雅), Paloma Naftulin, Peter Guo(郭靖)
Honorable Mention：Alice Zhao(赵嘉一), Kelly Wang(汪芊颖), Summer Lu(卢好), Aaron Wu(武子舟), Melodie Li(李伊一), Jasper Song(宋玉), Hannah Liu(刘子悠), Joseph Xu, Callum Seay-Lee, Neil Xu(徐启宁), Chloey Fang(方欣扬)

English Category - High School
First Place：Gloria Liu(刘蒜苗)
Second Place：Mark Li(李润麒)
Third Place：Daisy Jin(金樂彤)
Honorable Mention：Wenqing Ma(马文情), Joyce Fang(方心), Tansy Yu(余丹婵), Sophia Li, Alissia Dupriez(汪丽霞)

English Category - Chinese Students
First Place：Ziming Zhai(翟梓铭)
Second Place：Lucarlevia(刘玥彤)
Third Place：Ziyu Zhu(朱子钰)

English Category - Non-Chinese Descendant - Middle School
First Place：Isabella Tamayo (伊萨贝拉)
Second Place：Sana Baig (贝莎娜)
Third Place：Carah Cerutti (苏静怡)， Alan Mateo-Berganza Echebarria (蒙艾伦)
Honorable Mention：Mia Taylor(米小雪)， Charlotte Warren(王佳琪)， Ian Rivera(炎泽泰)， Stella Batteh， Jack Beardow(毕杰克）， Zahra Halakhe(何雅薇）

English Category - Non-Chinese Descendant - High School
First Place：Sheridan Henneberg(何喜丹）
Second Place：Ali Campbell(乔安莉）
Third Place：George Demekas-Ruiz(戴朝智）, Kiera Kumar(柯可娜）
Honorable Mention：Julia Cerutti(苏莉雅）, Abigail Dauchy， Thomas Adler(安天睦）， Alexandre Mousset， Cécile Nelles(艾西西）

Popularity Award：
Victoria Wang(王睿真)， CoCo Li(李师杨)， Jessica Yao(姚嘉璐)， Gloria Teng(滕楚萌)， Julia Pitt(强竹涵)，Samanta He(贺琨藏)

By

载道 翻译 (Translation) 19/12/24

[中文版本]

On August 31, 2024, at the Chinese Culture Festival held in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, the students from the Zaidao website set up a booth to promote the "2nd Chinese Culture Festival Junior Essay Competition" and organized a "How Much Do You Know About Chinese Culture?" trivia quiz with prizes. This event attracted active participation from all people at the festival.

The Zaidao website students carefully selected and designed questions across 12 categories, covering various subjects such as Chinese traditional festivals, history, literature and art, and geography. They created a spinning wheel that randomly chose a category, then allowed participants to choose questions of varying difficulty levels based on their own knowledge. At the event, more than ten students from Zaidao took turns engaging with the visitors, asking questions, giving hints, announcing answers, and awarding prizes, all in a fun and interactive manner to spread knowledge of Chinese culture.

Many eagerly participated in the activity, showing a strong interest in Chinese culture and demonstrating a certain level of understanding. Chinese-American students, parents, and Chinese international students also took an active part. The event attracted participants of all ages, including young children, teenagers, and family teams. The entire event lasted nearly 7 hours, with a steady stream of visitors at the booth and occasional lines forming for answering questions.

Zaidao (thez.us), created by American Chinese youth, is dedicated to encouraging Chinese writing among Chinese-American teenagers. The website's mission is to convey ideas through writing, build friendships through literature, preserve culture through words, and connect the world through text. Last year, the website successfully hosted the first Chinese Culture Festival Junior Essay Competition. This year, they will continue to host the second contest, further promoting Chinese culture. The theme for this year's essay contest is "Chinese Connection: My Beautiful Encounters with Chinese Culture," inviting all young people who love Chinese culture to participate.

By

贾盈盈 翻译 (Translation) 20/09/24

[中文版本]

Tomorrow is "Mother's Day," and I'm planning to give my mom a gift.

I think my mom would be really happy if I gave her a greeting card. So, I've decided to give her a Mother's Day card. But when should I buy the card without her noticing? At noon, when I go to pick up some medicine, I'll secretly buy a greeting card. I don't have much money, so I searched around and found a card that is both cheap and beautiful. The card is a light beige color, with an adorable Snoopy dog on the front. When you open the card, there's a big, fluffy pink "Love" in the middle that feels soft to the touch! I'm sure my mom will love it. I checked the price, and it was just over four dollars, and I happened to have five dollars, so it was enough. I quickly bought it. When I got back to the car, I wrote "I love you so much" on the card and drew my mom's favorite foods, lobster and durian, which made the card even more beautiful!

The next morning was Mother's Day. I got up at six o'clock to prepare a mooncake for my mom. I heated the mooncake in the microwave for three minutes and also prepared a banana for her. After my mom finished her breakfast, I was ready to give her the card. First, I asked her to sit on our blue sofa and close her eyes. I let her feel the fluffy "Love" first, and then I told her to open her eyes and enjoy the adorable card. My mom was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling, and I was grinning too. She said she really liked the card and added, "My child, I love you so much!"

This was truly an unforgettable Mother's Day. I love you, Mom!

Mentor: Lin Cheng

By

冯新民 翻译 (Translation) 2/06/24

[中文版本]

On December 7, 2024, the Second Washington Chinese Culture Festival concluded with the Youth Essay Contest Awards Ceremony held at the A Plus Adult Medical Day Care in Maryland. The contest, themed "Ties to China," began in July and attracted 170 enthusiastic participants from across the U.S. and China. Through their writing, the contestants showcased the profound charm of Chinese culture, reflecting the cultural confidence and creativity of a new generation.

Over 50 award recipients and their families gathered to celebrate this cultural milestone alongside festival organizers, representatives from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., and distinguished guests from the Washington, D.C. area.

Highlights

Over ten students from the Zaidao website actively participated in the event, handling various tasks. Student representatives Rachel Wang and Emily Jia presented reports on the contest's preparation and evaluation process. Over four months, the contest received 166 submissions, including 109 in Chinese and 57 in English, a 2.2-fold increase from the previous year. Notably, 27 submissions came from non-Chinese participants, eight of which were written in Chinese, showcasing the depth and breadth of cultural integration.

Heartfelt Reflections

During the awards segment, contestants shared their thoughts on the creative process and their understanding of Chinese culture:

• Tian Minkai, the first-place winner in the high school category, described how last year's bamboo dance performance at the festival inspired his essay, reigniting his passion for Chinese language and writing. His essay this year shared his experiences learning Chinese and his connection to Chinese culture.

• Yang Xiaoyue, another high school first-place winner, spoke about how the festival inspired her to narrate life influenced by Chinese traditions, solidifying her love for expressing cultural appreciation through writing.

• Betsana, a student from the Washington International School and a non-Chinese participant, shared her insights on learning Chinese, emphasizing how it was a wise decision to deepen her understanding of the world. She expressed pride in articulating the influence of Chinese culture through this competition.

Award Presentation

The ceremony peaked during the awards presentation. Winners of the first, second, and third prizes, along with honorable mentions and the "Most Popular Online Article" award, took the stage to receive trophies and certificates. Special gifts, including dragon-themed toys and Xinhua dictionaries, were provided by the Chinese Embassy.

The event also honored exceptional educators and institutions with the Bo Le Award and Organization Award for their contributions to Chinese education and cultural promotion. Teachers like Nong Qiumei, Bai Hongjie, and others were among the 20 awardees, while schools such as the Washington International School and Sino-American Student Scholars Exchange Association received organizational recognition.

Cultural Legacy: A Bridge Across Borders

Zhu Di, Consul General of the Chinese Embassy, highlighted the festival as a vital platform for U.S.-China cultural exchange. The essay contest offered youth a chance to showcase talent and express cultural identity.

Chen Jiange, chair of the Chinese-language judges, noted the remarkable growth in both quantity and quality of submissions, encouraging participants to further enhance their writing skills and appreciation of Chinese language and culture.

John Noran, a seasoned English writing judge, praised the contestants' works, expressing admiration for their ability to convey the beauty and power of culture.

Looking Ahead: Writing New Cultural Chapters

The success of the essay contest relied on support from the festival committee, the Chinese Embassy, educational institutions, media, and the broader community. Media outlets like the Chinese American News and New World Times provided extensive coverage. The online voting for the "Most Popular Article" attracted significant attention, with some articles exceeding 50,000 views. The Zaidao website hosted interactive activities such as a cultural trivia contest and essay contest promotions, resonating with the local community's passion for Chinese heritage.

Moving forward, the Washington Chinese Culture Festival and essay contest will continue to use literature as a bridge for U.S.-China cultural exchange, inspiring more youth to embrace and preserve Chinese culture. As one parent noted, "This is not just a competition but a profound lesson in understanding cultural values."

The ceremony concluded with heartfelt blessings. Here's to another successful festival next year, bringing more touching cultural stories to life! Special thanks to sponsors like Universal Stones, New Light Sign Company, Richen Group, Hibachi Seafood Buffet, and Pleasant Gardens Assisted Living for their generous support.

For the full list of winners and to read the essays, visit the Zaidao website (http://thez.us).

By

载道 翻译 (Translation) 19/12/24