Today is February 14th-Happy Valentine's Day! To celebrate, last night the kids and I made heart-shaped chocolate cookies with pink sprinkles. Will you come have one with us? Tonight Heinz and I will go out for dinner together. I hope I can stay awake to enjoy it. As today is also the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, the birthday of Zhao Gong Ming, 赵公明, a Taoist Deity considered to be the Martial God of Wealth, I was awoken at 5:37 a.m. to a 15 minute barrage of celebratory fireworks from the parking lot across the street from our house. It was pretty but really, don't you people ever sleep during Chinese New Year? Amazingly Heinz and the kids slept through! 2 hours later I can still hear a constant booming in the distance, even though it is raining.
Xin Nian Kuaile! Happy New Year! (again) 2013 - the Year of the Snake.
Saturday night was New Year's Eve so at midnight Heinz and the kids and I dressed very warmly, as it was about 32 degrees F, and walked around our complex watching all of the beautiful fireworks by our neighbors, both inside our complex and out. When was the last time you wore a snowsuit to watch fireworks?
This month's Buzzy Bee Box has many crafts involving the Chinese New Year's theme. This project was titled "Fireworks".
Viola! Fireworks on the skyline!
The Red Packet or Envelope, Hong Bao, 红包, is used for holding money as gifts during auspicious occassions. This year Xiu, our Ayi, gave one to each of the kids.
Each envelope had 66 RMB, about US$10.00. Vivienne's had a green 50 note plus a ten, while Conrad's had three brown 20RMB notes.
Conrad, my little Scrooge McDuck, likes to take his money out and play with it. Eventually Vivienne came running up to me saying "Look Mommy! I have 36 RMB!" Even though green is her favorite color, somehow her brother had convinced her that she wanted to give him her 50 in trade for a brown 20. At least he's using his math skills! Apparently now we need to focus on hers. I am left to wonder what the God of Wealth would have thought of that little transaction? Perhaps when we move to Thailand the Kharma will catch up with him.
This banner stands in the main lobby of my friend's apartment complex, celebrating "the Spring Festival Party". (As always you can click on the picture to see a larger image)
Partnered with the Ox and the Rooster, the Snakes, "although fixed and rigid in opinions and views, are geniuses in the art of meticulous planning. They are hardworking, discreet, modest, industrious, charitable, loyal, punctual, philosophical, patient and good hearted individuals with high moral standards". (wikipedia.com) Perhaps that is the origin of the 'Guide the Community Culture' statement at the top of the banner. I cannot however, understand or explain the statement after it:
We have enjoyed seeing this year's decorations around town.
I believe the coins symbolized in the decoration below are called "I Ching" coins and are meant to be displayed or shared as a symbol of wealth and propserity, based on the Chinese characters stamped on their faces. Feng Shui dictates that such coins be arranged in prescribed combinations and hung on a red tassel in the "Wealth Sector" of your living quarters.
"Feng Shui", litreally translated as "Wind Water", is a cultural shorthand taken from a long-lost passage indicating that the all important "Qi", life energy or life force, "rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water". In case you are curious, fengshui.com describes the wealth sector of you home as being "derived from the House Birth Chart"....do you have yours handy?
In general the decorations are really fun to see. Interestingly, as the Lunar New Year and Easter are both tied to the phases of the Moon, often Chinese New Year coincides with Mardis Gras. Such is the case this year so I am left to wonder about the following item, which appeared in the grocery store about a week before the Lunar New Year. Perhaps these are meant to be Mardis Gras masks instead?
恭喜發財 (gōng xǐ fā cái) A happy and prosperous New Year to you all!
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