Reader's Digest is a monthly magazine. Before the 1980s, it belonged to a privately held company, which was started in 1922 by Lila Bell Wallace and Dewitt Wallace. This magazine is small and easy to carry, just half the size of most American magazines, which caused a phrase in 2005, “America in your pocket.” It is the best selling magazine in the USA. At present, its circulation(发行量） in the USA has reached 10 million copies and the number of the readers there is 38 million. Its global circulation outside the USA has reached 40 million people throughout more than 70 countries in 21 languages.
   This magazine's focus(焦点） is not news but more of cultural views because the editors think people now can get timely news from somewhere else. They hope this magazine can give readers something that is about special personal experiences, something the readers can share with their families. In different countries, this magazine provides a window to the world for the local readers. Some parts of the magazine are about the local customs and interests of the local readers. The other parts give the local readers information from all over the world.
   This magazine actually used to be a family business until the Wallaces died in the 1980s. Because they had no children, there was no one to take over the company. Sixteen years ago, this company went public and became a public company.

    You may know the English letters A, B and C, but do you know there are people called “ABC”? You may like eating bananas, but do you know there are people called “banana persons”? If you don't know, I will tell you about it. They are some Chinese people like you and me, but they aren't in China. Why do people call them like that?

    If we call somebody an ABC person, we mean he or she is a Chinese but was born (出生) in America. Sometimes, people also call them “banana persons”. A banana is yellow outside and white inside. So if somebody is a “banana person”, he or she is “white” inside and “yellow” outside. By saying that, we mean he or she has yellow skin(皮肤) but does things in an American way. “Banana persons” were born in America and they live in America for a long time, so they think like Americans and do things like Americans. However, these people still have Chinese blood(血统). Their parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents are from China. They all have black eyes and black hair, so they look like us, Chinese people.

    There are many famous “banana persons” in America. They do very well in America and they are really great in their own fields.

    There are many traditional holidays in China.

    The Spring Festival is the most important one in China. It is as important as Christmas in the West. On the evening before Spring Festival, all the family members get together and have a big dinner.  After dinner, they watch TV and play cards while waiting for the New Year to come.

    The next one is the Lantern Festival. It falls on the 15th night of the first lunar (农历) month. People often go out to enjoy the lantern show.

    Then comes the Dragon Boat Festival. It is on the 5th lunar month. It is a festival to honor an ancient poet Qu Yuan. People often hold dragon boat competition on that day. So it is now a festival of the Chinese traditional sports.

    The next one is the Mid-Autumn Festival. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The whole family sit in the open air and enjoy the bright moon while they're eating moon cakes and fresh fruit.