2023 年馬州洛城元宵節歡慶活動於2月11日在洛城市民中心 (Civic Center) 的菲茨杰拉德劇院 (F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre) 隆重登場。活動由洛克維爾姐妹城市公司 (RSCC)與 WQER-LP 96.7 調頻廣播 (WQER.org)、亞裔美國商會和中華文化研究所 (CC-I.org) 合作舉辦。本地很多亞裔團體共同參與﹐華府千禧世代青少年 (Millennial Global Youth﹐MGY) 和Taiwan Fun 也給予本次文化活動大力支持﹐順利吸引了上千民眾共襄盛舉。駐美代表處公使鄭榮俊﹑馬州蒙郡郡長馬克· 埃爾奇希 (Marc Elrich)﹑郡議員西德尼· 卡茨 (Sidney Katz)﹑洛城市議員莫尼克· 阿什頓 (Monique Ashton)、馬州州長辦公室亞太裔執行主任王佩蓮 (Christina Poy) 及華府僑教中心副主任楊佳欣等貴賓均到場祝賀。王佩蓮還帶來馬州州長韋斯· 摩爾 (Wes Moore) 的賀狀。

許多亞裔都有正月十五慶元宵節的傳統文化習俗。由於馬州蒙郡洛城是亞裔聚居地之一﹐近年來﹐慶祝元宵節也逐漸成為本地的一項重要多元文化活動。郡長埃爾奇希致詞中說﹐農曆新年歡慶持續很長時間﹐這真是個很好的方式﹐讓大家有充份機會彼此互動。他也感謝華裔及亞裔社區在疫情期間的慷慨捐獻。

鄭榮俊公使感謝主辦單位把傳統東方文化介紹給本地社區﹐令不同族裔人士能夠歡聚在一起。他說﹐在臺灣﹐元宵節不僅是新年慶祝的隆重結束﹐也是帶給人們希望的節日。人們把希望寫在紙上﹐借助燈籠放上天空(即「放天燈」)﹐向天祈福。今年是兔年﹐他也希望大家新年的美好願望都能很快實現。

洛克維爾市和臺灣的宜蘭是姐妹市。洛克維爾姐妹城市公司 (RSCC)主席德魯· 鮑威爾(Drew Powell)在現場接受了本地電視台對這一活動的專訪。

今年的舞臺表演非常精彩﹐包括舞龍﹑古箏﹑電音三太子﹑印度舞蹈﹑大鼓﹑悠悠﹑魔術﹑客家採茶舞﹐以及法輪功功法演示。在劇場大廳內﹐還有豐富的文化展位﹐包括臺灣布袋戲﹐臺灣華語文學習中心﹐神韻演出介紹﹐還有傳統小吃等。主辦方還安排了春字剪紙﹑書法春聯﹑麻將賓果（遊戲）﹑坡占卜（遊戲 ) ﹑幸運烏龜講故事和照相亭。客人如果學會用中文說 “新年快樂”，還能得到一份點心。來訪的賓客們在場內彼此寒暄﹑交流﹐互致新年問侯與祝福﹐溫馨熱鬧。

• 僑務電子報報導

The 2023 Rockville Lantern Festival celebration took place on February 11 at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre within the Rockville Civic Center. The event was co-organized by Rockville Sister Cities Corporation (RSCC) in collaboration with WQER-LP 96.7 FM, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese Culture Institute (CC-I). Numerous local Asian American groups participated, with strong support from Millennial Global Youth (MGY) and Taiwan Fun, successfully attracting over a thousand attendees. Distinguished guests included Deputy Representative Robin Cheng of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the U.S., Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmember Sidney Katz, Rockville City Councilmember Monique Ashton, Christina Poy, Executive Director of the Maryland Governor’s Office on Community Initiatives, and Yang Chia-hsin, Deputy Director of the Culture Center of TECRO in Gaithersburg. Christina Poy also presented a congratulatory certificate from Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

Many Asian cultures share the tradition of celebrating the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. As Rockville in Montgomery County is a major hub for Asian American residents, the Lantern Festival celebration has evolved into a significant local multicultural event in recent years. In his remarks, County Executive Elrich noted that the Lunar New Year celebrations last a long time, providing a wonderful opportunity for people to interact with one another. He also expressed gratitude to the Chinese and Asian American communities for their generous donations during the pandemic.

Deputy Representative Robin Cheng thanked the organizers for introducing traditional Eastern culture to the local community, allowing people of different ethnicities to gather. He explained that in Taiwan, the Lantern Festival is not only the grand finale of the New Year celebrations but also a festival of hope. People write their wishes on paper and release sky lanterns into the air to pray for blessings. As it is the Year of the Rabbit, he expressed his hope that everyone’s New Year wishes would soon come true.

Rockville and Yilan, Taiwan, are sister cities. Drew Powell, Chairman of the Rockville Sister Cities Corporation (RSCC), gave an exclusive interview to a local TV station at the event regarding the celebration.

This year’s stage performances were spectacular, featuring dragon dances, Guzheng (zither), Techno Prince (Electric-Techno Neon Third Prince), Indian dance, Taiko drums, yo-yo, magic shows, Hakka tea-picking dance, and a Falun Gong exercise demonstration. The theater lobby hosted various cultural booths, including Taiwanese glove puppetry, the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning, Shen Yun performance introductions, and traditional snacks. The organizers also arranged activities such as "Chun" (Spring) paper cutting, calligraphy for New Year couplets, Mahjong Bingo, Poe divination games, "Lucky Turtle" storytelling, and a photo booth. Guests who learned to say "Happy New Year" in Chinese were rewarded with a snack. Visitors mingled, exchanged greetings, and shared New Year blessings, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

• OCAC News