从「华人节庆」走向「全市盛事」

一、从「华人节庆」走向「全市盛事」

农历新年游园会从社区自办，走进休斯敦市政府广场（City Hall / Hermann Square），代表这个节日不再只是华人或亚裔的小圈子活动，而是整个城市共同庆祝的官方节日。

• 市政府广场是城市政治与公民生活的象徵，把农历新年放在这裡，就是在告诉大家：

亚裔的文化，就是休斯敦的文化；华人的新年，也是休斯敦的「城市新年」。

二、肯定亚裔社群对城市的歷史贡献

大休斯敦地区亚裔人口已超过五十万人，是增长最快的族群之一，华人更是当中重要的一支。

• 在经济上，从早期小商家到今日医疗、科技、能源、金融，亚裔企业与专业人士為城市带来投资、就业与税收。

• 在社会上，亚裔积极参与慈善、教育、医疗与公共事务。

农历新年在市政府广场举行，是市政府对这段歷史与贡献的公开肯定与感谢。

三、反歧视、反仇恨的城市宣言

疫情期间，全美各地曾出现针对亚裔的偏见与仇恨事件。在这样的歷史背景下，

• 市政府以官方活动的方式，邀请全城一起来过农历年，就是一种最温暖、最具象的「反仇恨宣言」。

• 市长、议员与各族裔市民同台，象徵城市坚决捍卫多元、反对歧视，让亚裔长者、移民新住民觉得：

「我们不是局外人，我们是这个城市的主人之一。」

四、市中心活化与世界城市形象的提升

休斯敦正积极打造世界级城市品牌，而农历新年本身已是全球性节庆：

• 将游园会放在市中心地标广场，可带动观光人潮，结合周边餐饮、商圈、博物馆，形成「城市春节週」。

• 媒体画面中，市府大楼、龙狮鼓乐、烟火与各族裔市民同欢，将成為国际报导与城市宣传的最佳画面。

这不仅是文化活动，更是城市行销与软实力外交。

五、下一代的身分认同与文化教育

对华人与亚裔的第二、三代来说，在市政府广场过年，有着特别深的教育意义：

• 让孩子明白：父母、祖父母带来的语言与文化，不是「落伍」或「需要隐藏」的，而是能在城市舞台上骄傲展现的。

• 在龙狮舞、书法、剪纸、美食摊位中，孩子可以自然学习「我是美国人，也是华人／亚裔」，建立健康而自信的双重认同。

六、族群之间的桥樑与对话平台

游园会在市政府广场举行，最重要的不是「我们自己人来」，而是各族裔一起来：

• 透过音乐、舞蹈、美食与互动摊位，让不同背景的市民用最轻鬆的方式认识东方文化。

• 从「好吃、好玩、好看」开始，慢慢发展出更多商业合作、教育交流与社区互助。

这是用节庆搭起的一座跨族裔大桥。

七、為未来公共政策与政治参与铺路

当亚裔文化活动成為市府广场的年度重点之一，也意味着：

• 未来亚裔在教育、经济发展、公共安全、移民政策等议题上，更有正当性与能见度，向政府发声。

• 农历新年成為更多亚裔参与选举、登记投票、关心公共议题的入口活动，推动真正「有声有票」的公民力量。

From a “Chinese Festival” to a “Citywide Celebration”

The Lunar New Year fair has moved from being a community-organized event into being held at Houston’s City Hall (Hermann Square). This signifies that the festival is no longer just a small-circle event for Chinese or Asian communities, but an official citywide celebration.

• The City Hall square is a symbol of the city’s political and civic life. Placing the Lunar New Year celebration there tells everyone: Asian culture is Houston’s culture; the Chinese New Year is also Houston’s “city New Year.”

2. Affirming the Historical Contributions of the Asian Community to the City

The greater Houston area now has over 500,000 Asian residents, making it one of the fastest-growing groups, with Chinese people as a significant part of that.

• Economically, from early small businesses to today’s medical, tech, energy, and financial sectors, Asian enterprises and professionals have brought investment, jobs, and tax revenue to the city.

• Socially, Asians have actively participated in charity, education, healthcare, and public affairs.

Holding the Lunar New Year at City Hall is a public recognition and gratitude from the city government for this history and contribution.

3. A City Declaration Against Discrimination and Hatred

During the pandemic, there were incidents of prejudice and hatred against Asians across the U.S. In this historical context:

• By hosting the Lunar New Year as an official event and inviting the entire city, the city government is making the warmest and most tangible “anti-hate declaration.”

• The mayor, council members, and citizens of all ethnicities standing together on stage symbolize the city’s firm commitment to diversity and opposition to discrimination, making Asian elders and new immigrants feel: “We are not outsiders; we are one of the owners of this city.”

4. Revitalizing Downtown and Enhancing the City’s Global Image

Houston is actively building a world-class city brand, and the Lunar New Year is already a global celebration:

• Hosting the fair at a downtown landmark square can attract tourists and link nearby dining, shopping areas, and museums into a “City Spring Festival Week.”

• Images of the city hall, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and people of all backgrounds celebrating together will become the best international coverage and city promotion. This is not just a cultural event but also city marketing and soft-power diplomacy.

5. Identity and Cultural Education for the Next Generation

For the second and third generations of Chinese and Asian Americans, celebrating the New Year at City Hall has a particularly profound educational meaning:

• It shows children that the language and culture their parents and grandparents brought over are not “outdated” or something to hide, but something to proudly display on the city’s stage.

• Through dragon and lion dances, calligraphy, paper cutting, and food stalls, children can naturally learn “I am American and also Chinese/Asian,” building a healthy and confident dual identity.

6. A Bridge and Dialogue Platform Between Ethnic Groups

The most important aspect of holding the fair at City Hall is not just “our own people coming,” but people of all ethnicities joining in:

• Through music, dance, food, and interactive booths, citizens from different backgrounds can get to know Eastern culture in the most relaxed way.