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Thousands of Britons are planning to get out the bunting, balloons and fold-up tables and hold street parties across the country to celebrate next month's wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
About two thousand requests have already been made to local councils for road closures to allow street events to be held on April 29th when the couple tie the knot at London's Westminster Abbey, the Local Government Association said on Saturday.
London has received the most applications with 70, followed by Essex, the county northeast of the capital, which has had 46. Dozens of requests have also been sent to local authorities in Wales, western, northern and central England.
"Street parties are an established part of British culture, they're a great way for people to meet their neighbors and strengthen community bonds," said Chris White, chairman of the LGA's Culture and Tourism Board.
"It's great that we're seeing such community spirit sweeping the nation. And these applications are only for parties which require a road closure, there will be many more celebrations in gardens and homes across the country."
In order to help, some councils have waived the usual fee to close roads while others are offering party packs for organizers, with free bunting and flags.
"The eyes of the world will be on William and Kate on April 29 and I am sure that many Britons will use the excuse to celebrate," said Claudia Joseph, author of "Kate: The Making of a Princess."
"After all it is a public holiday -- and everybody loves a party."
One company that could be benefitting from the interest in street parties is the firm founded by Middleton's mother Carol.
Party Pieces is offering a "Best of British" range with all the accessories to hold a traditional street party, with plates, cups, bunting, hats and a host of other items featuring the British "Union Jack" flag.
(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)
(Agencies)
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為了慶祝威廉王子和凱特?米德?tīng)栴D下月即將舉行婚禮，成千上萬(wàn)名英國(guó)民眾計(jì)劃掛出彩旗和氣球，擺上折疊桌椅，在全國(guó)各地舉辦街頭派對(duì)。
英國(guó)地方政府協(xié)會(huì)上周六表示，各級(jí)地方政府已收到大約兩千份道路封閉申請(qǐng)，要求在威廉王子婚禮當(dāng)天舉辦街頭派對(duì)。威廉王子和準(zhǔn)王妃將于4月29日在威斯敏斯特教堂舉辦婚禮。
倫敦收到的道路封閉申請(qǐng)最多，為70份。位于倫敦東北部的艾塞克斯郡收到46份申請(qǐng)，位列第二。威爾士地區(qū)、英格蘭西部、北部、中部等地方政府也已收到幾十份申請(qǐng)。
英國(guó)地方政府協(xié)會(huì)文化與旅游部主席克里斯?懷特說(shuō)：“街頭派對(duì)是公認(rèn)的英國(guó)文化的一部分，也是鄰里歡聚、增進(jìn)社區(qū)凝聚力的好辦法。”
“這種社區(qū)精神遍及全英，真讓人高興。類(lèi)似申請(qǐng)僅適用于需要封閉道路的派對(duì)，還有很多民眾會(huì)在花園和家里慶祝。”
為協(xié)助活動(dòng)舉辦，不少地方政府決定免除封閉道路服務(wù)費(fèi)，還有一些則向組織者提供彩紙和彩旗等“派對(duì)大禮包”。
《凱特：平民王妃》一書(shū)的作者克勞迪亞?約瑟夫說(shuō)：“4月29日，威廉和凱特將吸引全世界的目光，我敢肯定，很多英國(guó)人會(huì)借機(jī)狂歡。”
“畢竟這一天是英國(guó)的公共假期，而且大家都愛(ài)開(kāi)派對(duì)。”
米德?tīng)栴D的母親卡羅爾創(chuàng)辦的一家派對(duì)禮品公司還可以大賺一筆。
這家名為“派對(duì)用品”的公司正出售舉辦傳統(tǒng)街頭派對(duì)的必需品，名為“全英最佳”系列產(chǎn)品，包括盤(pán)子、杯子、彩旗、帽子、以及印有英國(guó)國(guó)旗的其它用品。
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（中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津 Julie 編輯：馮明惠）
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