Chinese New Year
Yes it's already Chinese New Years Eve here in Shanghai and things are crazy here as everyone is doing last minute shopping before the shops shut and many people head off to family all across China.
They say it's the greatest movement of people on earth as millions take trains, planes and cars to travel away from the big cities back to smaller towns and villages. By millions I mean hundreds of millions
It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper cuttings to encourage good fortune and longevity and include lighting firecrackers and giving family and friend money in red paper envelopes.
In addition to red envelopes, which are usually given from older people to younger people, small gifts (usually food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (typically oranges, but never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, and candies.
The New Year festival is centuries old however in 1967 during the Cultural Revolution, Chinese New Year celebrations were banned in China, but celebrations were reinstated 13 years later in 1980.
This year it the year of the Monkey (feb 8th) last year was year of the Goat (feb19th) and next year it's the Rooster (jan 28th).
This is my 4th year now working and teaching in China, so to all my WA friends I am wishing everyone a happy and prosperous year, or as they say in China "Gong Xi Fa Cai" from Shanghai, China
Recent Comments
17
Well describe of the Chinese festive season. Wishing you well and prosperous in Shanghai. Gong Xi Fa Cai and Xing Nian Kuai Le.
Gong Hei Fait Choi! Wishing you a very Prousperous New Year and your loved one's...nice post!
Blessing's,
Linda
Happy New Year! May it be a prosperous and happy one for you there. Thanks for telling us about it. Sounds interesting and fun.
Yes... One month off teaching so gives me time to write ebooks and content for my site. :)
See more comments
Thanks for sharing the festivities. I knew about the red envelopes. What is the significance of oranges but NO pears?
Year of the Monkey -- may it be happy, healthy and prosperous. ~Debbi
It's about family, togetherness, good luck and fortune. Apparently Pears are considered 'unlucky' because it symbolises 'leaving' or 'parting'... So no pears.... :)
Interesting perception -- thanks.