每條大街小巷
每個人的嘴裡
見面第一句話
就是恭喜恭喜
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你
On every street and alley,
On everyone's lips,
The first words when meeting
Are just congratulations.
Congratulations, congratulations to you!
Congratulations, congratulations to you!
Against all odds, it may have appeared that this year's Chinese New Year celebration slated for February 8, 2025, was doomed to failure or cancellation. Two weeks before the celebration, the flooding of the Seneca Stake Center resulted in a frantic search for another venue. Within a few days, the Potomac Chapel was reserved for the activity. However, issues of the untidy stage filled with storage items and the unusable stage curtain soon loomed over the planning. Luckily, they were both resolved satisfactorily. Then a few days before the event, the weather forecast predicted sleet and snow and rain for the day of the celebration. Yet, luckily, the sleet and snow accumulation were limited.
Despite all of these obstacles, the Chinese New Year celebration not only kicked off and finished on time. It was successful on all fronts. Having set up for 120 seats, we were pleasantly surprised to see over 150 people at the party. The food was abundantly arrayed with a novel cross arrangement of 4 tables, allowing for 4 simultaneous food lines. This facilitated the dinner part of the evening and prevented long lines.
Brother Jason Liu brilliantly served as the emcee this evening, presenting his remarks in both Chinese and English. He welcomed everyone at 5pm. Brother Ben Tsai gave the invocation and blessing on the food. Then in another unique twist of events, the dinner was delayed 15 minutes to allow guests to participate in the various cultural booths. Jason explained the various booths: an art exhibition displaying Chinese art from various branch members; a table to practice and learn calligraphy; a chance to learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls; a table to play board games; a video to watch Church history movies; a table to create a paper snake and lion head crafts; a Chinese puppet theater with history lessons; and a photo booth to dress up with Chinese costumes and props.
After dinner, in the usual Branch celebration tradition, the lion dance began without announcement. The beating of the drum by Sister Kelsey Berges called for the two lions to emerge. Together with Elder Everett Allen clashing the cymbals and Jacob Ly hitting the gong, they provided the percussive rhythm to which the red lion and the yellow lion paraded gracefully through the cultural hall, dancing around the tables. At the end of the dance, the lions went up on stage and revealed the lion dancers: Daniel Ly, Amelia Ly, Greg Dickens, and Michelle Zheng.
The full-time missionaries (Elders William Proctor and Colin Whisenant; Sisters Kelsey Berges and Chelsea Allen; and Elder Everett Allen) sang The Ballad of a Small Town (小城故事). At the same time, Sister Li-Fang Tsai announced a puzzle contest. About ten children volunteers descended upon the center table, arrayed with ten puzzles to unlock. They physically were to unlock two things tangled together. The first three children to finish received a toy medal.
Four Primary children (Maddie, Elaine, Alison, and a young man) from the Kentlands Ward danced to the song The Arrival of This Year (今年到). Sister Shucheng Liu Zhang danced The River of Life (生命之河). The young women sang the hymn, Count Your Blessings, accompanied by Joanna Fugal on the guitar. Then Sister Li-Fang Tsai and the young women displayed the Subject 3 (科目三) dance on the stage, while some enthusiastic volunteers followed them on the cultural hall floor. Finally, the branch choir, directed by Sister Li-Fang Tsai and accompanied by Sister Kelsy Berges on the piano, sang "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." Then the choir sang a capella the Chinese New Year Congratulations song (恭喜恭喜).
Immediately after the program, four honorary seniors were invited to sit in front of the stage. They handed out red envelopes filled with tokens to all those who wished them "Happy New Year." Then they could use the tokens to participate in some games to earn prizes. These games included a ring toss, a shooting game, and a snack store.
Many people worked hard to make this successful. We're especially grateful to Li-Fang and Ben Tsai who served as the organizers of the celebration. Thanks to the branch presidency for the support and assistance, Jason Liu for his role as emcee, all of the performers in the program, those who set up and cleaned up, those who assisted with the food arrangement, and also to the bishoprics of the Bethesda and Potomac Wards. So after the several obstacles to holding this celebration, we were very fortunate and grateful to gather in this large gathering to usher in the Year of the Snake. Happy new year!
經過多少困難
經歷多少磨練
多少心兒盼望
盼望春的消息
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你
After passing through so many difficulties,
After experiencing so many enduring trials,
How many hearts are looking forward
To the news of spring?
Congratulations, congratulations to you!
Congratulations, congratulations to you!
