It's the Chinese New Year-welcome to the Year of the Dragon!
It's thought to be the most auspicious of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. There are 15 days of activities (starting today) to celebrate the new year.
Day 1-Everyone honors their elders, and also abstains from meat.
Day 2-Married daughters visit their parents' and relatives' houses. This is great---it is also believed to be the birthday of all dogs.
Day 3-The day of the God of Blazing Wrath, believed to be an uncharacteristically inauspicious day. People don't visit anyon, but have their fortunes told instead
Day 4- Son-in-laws pay their respects in in-laws.
Day 5- Dumpling day. Again, no visiting.
Day 6-Visiting
Day 7-Day of whole fish and noodles. Also a day to imbibe a drink made with seven vegetables....V8, anyone?
Day 8-Jade Emperor Day, and everyone goes back to work.
Day 9-Jade Emperor's birthday observed
Day 10-Jade Emperor's birthday celebrated on different days in different regions
Day 11-Visiting friends and family for dinner.
Day 12-Same as Day 11
Day 13-Guan Yu day, the Chinese God of War and Success.
Day 14-Everyone prepares for the Lantern Festival.
Day 15-Lantern Festival. Lamps and lanterns are lit to guide spirits back home. The Chinese also eat rice dumplings and tangerines for good luck.
My cousin is Chinese, and she and her sister attend Chinese School to learn Chinese to help Jade keep in touch with her heritage, and to give Rachel a tie to her sister, I suppose? Or just because it's a really cool thing and they wanted both girls to do it, I suppose (Jade is Chinese, and Rachel is not, in case that was unclear). Anyway, this upcoming weekend, their Chinese school is having a New Year program thing which I get to go see! I'm very excited, especially because I've never really lived anywhere where Chinese New Year was celebrated, except perhaps by getting take-away :)
Happy Chinese New Year!
Posted by: Carlin | January 23, 2012 at 11:42 PM
so amazing, especially like the bit about one day being the birthday for ALL dogs!!
My wee one is celebrating the Chinese New Year at school and so far has made a dragon lantern and come home with a bun and chopsticks in her hair. So fun..:)
Posted by: Jilly Parrish | January 25, 2012 at 08:20 AM