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Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington - on behalf of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani - tonight
hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion in honor of the Lunar New Year, celebrated
by many of the City's Asian American communities. Representatives of the Chinese,
Korean, and Vietnamese communities joined the Deputy Mayor to celebrate the
start of the Year of the Snake - 4699 on the Chinese calendar, 4334 on the Korean
calendar, 2001 on the Vietnamese calendar - which began on January 24th.
"The Lunar New Year is a unique holiday because it looks both to the future and the past - merging optimism and hope with a respect for tradition," Deputy Mayor Washington said. "It's a celebration of history and heritage while also looking with eager anticipation to what the coming year will bring. This is a wonderful lesson for all New Yorkers - we are always tied to the past, but we should never lose the opportunity to make a new start and build a better future.
"As we begin the Year of the Snake, I want to wish you all a happy and prosperous year," the Deputy Mayor concluded.
As part of tonight's celebration, Deputy Mayor Washington presented a proclamation on behalf of the Mayor, to Chair of the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. Wayne Wong, declaring Lunar New Year Week in New York City.
The sponsors of the reception included, among others: Waitex International Co.; Eastern Group, USA; Professional Business Institute; Yung Kee Group; Chinatown Optical; Sino Radio and Sino Television; Seoul Plaza; Joe's Shanghai; Ruby Foo's; Seoul Plaza; Fay Da Bakery Corp.; Brooklyn Brewery; New York Chinese Cultural Center; and the Praying Mantis Martial Arts Institute.