丛培武大使在2023兔年新春大庙会上的致辞
Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Cong Peiwu, Attended the Chinese New Year Temple Fair and Delivered a Speech
2023年2月5日
5 February 2023
今天是中国传统佳节元宵节。很高兴与这么多的各界朋友们一起过节。我谨代表中国驻加拿大使馆给大家拜年！祝兔年吉祥、身体健康、万事如意、大展宏图！
Today is the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival. I’m so glad to be here celebrating this festival with all of you. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Canada, I’d like to wish everyone a prosperous year of the Rabbit, good health, and great success!
说起中国年，一般是指从农历除夕“大年夜”到正月十五“元宵节”。今年正巧，立春节气也在过年期间。在这三个节日里，中国家庭都有特定的习俗和食物，从一个侧面展示了中国人独特的传统文化、情感世界和家国情怀。
Speaking of the Chinese New Year, it generally refers to the period from the Lunar New Year’s Eve to the fifteenth day of the first month “Lantern Festival”. This year is especially auspicious, as the beginning of spring falls within the New Year period.
半月前的1月22日是春节，是中国传统上最重要的节日，意味着新年的到来。在春节前的除夕“大年夜”，在外辛苦劳作的中国人，不管距离多远都要赶回家，吃年夜饭，包饺子，品年糕，放焰火。饺子寓意招财进宝，年糕寓意步步高升，焰火寓意红红火火。吃完这顿饭，新的一年就要开始了，风调雨顺、国泰民安，是中国人最大的心愿。
Half a month ago on January 22nd was the Chinese Spring Festival, the most important traditional holiday in China, signifying the arrival of a new year. On the eve of the Spring Festival, Chinese people who are away from home and working hard, no matter how far away, will return home to have New Year’s Eve dinner, make dumplings, New Year Cake, and set off fireworks. Dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity, New Year Cake symbolizes steady progress, and fireworks symbolize prosperity. After the dinner, the new year is about to start. Peace and prosperity for our country and its people is the greatest wish of the Chinese people.
昨天是立春，是二十四节气之首。二十四节气是中国古人根据太阳运行规律安排农业生产的产物，立春意味着寒冬已尽，春回大地，万物复苏，生机勃发。在这一天，中国家庭喜欢吃春饼，用面饼卷新鲜蔬菜食用，寓意喜迎春季、祈盼丰收。吃完这顿饭，要开始准备春耕播种了，为农业丰收打好基础。
Yesterday was the start of the 24 Solar Terms, or in other words “The Start of Spring”. The 24 Solar Terms are a product of ancient Chinese arranging agricultural production according to the laws of the sun’s movement. Li Chun symbolizes the end of winter, the return of spring, and the revival of all things with full vitality. On this day, Chinese families like to enjoy spring pancakes, symbolizing a joyous welcome to spring and a prayer for a good harvest. After this, traditionally it would be time to start preparing for spring plowing and sowing, laying the foundation for a successful harvest.
今天是元宵节，是农历春节后的第一个月圆日，标志着春节庆祝活动达到高潮。在这一天，中国家庭都要聚在一起吃元宵、赏花灯。由糯米和芝麻制成的元宵，有团团圆圆和甜甜蜜蜜的寓意；由鲜艳纸张裱糊的花灯，表达了祈求平安的愿望。吃完这顿饭，年就过完了，很多年轻人要离开父母远赴他乡，为事业打拼。
Today is the Lantern Festival, the first full moon after the Chinese Lunar New Year, which marks the climax of the New Year celebration. On this day, Chinese families get together to eat rice dumplings and watch lanterns. Rice dumplings made from sticky rice and sesame symbolize reunion and sweetness; paper lanterns decorated with bright colors express the hope for peace. After this meal, many people leave home to pursue their career in other places.
各位朋友，
Friends,
刚刚过去的虎年是具有里程碑意义的一年。中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会胜利召开，开启了全面建设社会主义现代化国家、以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的新征程，为变乱交织的世界提供了宝贵的确定性和稳定性，也为包括加拿大在内的世界各国带来新机遇。新的一年开启新的希望，在充满希望的兔年里，我们期待加方同中方相向而行，坚持相互尊重、平等相待、求同存异，推动中加关系重回正轨，为两国人民带来更多实实在在的福祉。希望加拿大各界朋友多到中国走一走，亲身体验中国的发展、开放，看一看友好、真实的中国！
The Year of the Tiger that has just passed was a milestone year. The Communist Party of China successfully convened its 20th National Congress. China embarked on a new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, providing much-needed certainty and stability to a world rocked by changes and turmoil, and bringing new opportunities to countries around the world, including Canada.
The new year opens new hopes. In this hopeful Year of the Rabbit, we look forward to the Canadian side meeting the Chinese side halfway, adhering to mutual respect, equality, and seeking common ground while reserving differences, to get the China-Canada relationship back on track and bring more tangible benefits to the people of both countries. We hope that Canadian friends from all walks of life will go to visit China to experience China’s development and openness, and to see a friendly and real China!
今天中华会馆组织的新年大庙会，为展示中国优秀传统文化、促进中加两国人民间的友谊，提供了很好的机会。预祝新春大庙会取得圆满成功！祝愿逛庙会的各位朋友交好运！
Today’s Chinese New Year temple fair, organized by the Chinese Community Association, provides a great opportunity to showcase Chinese traditional culture and promote friendly ties between China and Canada. I wish the temple fair a complete success! I wish all friends good luck!
谢谢大家！
Thank you, everyone!