Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year!
Tue Feb 08, 2005 3:39 am
As the subject says, Happy Chinese New Year to those who celebrate it! I know not many people do but hey 
9th February is CNY and the day before (or days before) is for...CLEANING! A tradition to welcome the new year
On the first day of CNY, according to tradition, you are not to clean as that would clean all your good luck away. On the night before (yes I'm jumping, shhh 
) many people would go and walk around the flower market; it is to be said that you "walk good luck". I suppose the larger the circle you walks (flower markets are arranged so you end where you began the entrance and exits are next to each other) the more luck you would get for the following year.
There are a few days for CNY and the three major ones are the first three days. The first day is to visit your father's side of the family, second is your mother's side and I'm not sure what the third day is because we don't go anywhere. It is said that the third day isn't that good for visiting as you may get quarrels.
For kids and those who are not that old and not married, we get red packets Usually married couples give two to one kid. These red packes contain money! I suppose this is to wish people good luck for the following year.
FOOD! I love the food during CNY Partly because my mum buys nice food to serve the guests, so naturally I would get to eat them too 
On the first biggie day of CNY, I'm used to waking up and getting ready and then serve tea to my parents (with a date inside I think, can't remember ). This shows respect for your parents After that we have breakfast! I love CNY breakfasts because there are different kinds of Chinese "dim sum" such as turnip cake (tastes terrific ) and taro cake and the sweet cake that I do not know the english name for.
Usually you just have big meals during CNY to celebrate the new year. It's similar to chilling on the Jan 1st but more traditionally.
And now something blew up my train of thought (I ALWAYS get this), I wish you all a happy Chinese New Year! (and perhaps happy early Valentines but that's not related to this topic teehee)
9th February is CNY and the day before (or days before) is for...CLEANING! A tradition to welcome the new year
On the first day of CNY, according to tradition, you are not to clean as that would clean all your good luck away. On the night before (yes I'm jumping, shhh ) many people would go and walk around the flower market; it is to be said that you "walk good luck". I suppose the larger the circle you walks (flower markets are arranged so you end where you began the entrance and exits are next to each other) the more luck you would get for the following year.
There are a few days for CNY and the three major ones are the first three days. The first day is to visit your father's side of the family, second is your mother's side and I'm not sure what the third day is because we don't go anywhere. It is said that the third day isn't that good for visiting as you may get quarrels.
For kids and those who are not that old and not married, we get red packets
Usually married couples give two to one kid. These red packes contain money! I suppose this is to wish people good luck for the following year.
FOOD! I love the food during CNY
Partly because my mum buys nice food to serve the guests, so naturally I would get to eat them too On the first biggie day of CNY, I'm used to waking up and getting ready and then serve tea to my parents (with a date inside I think, can't remember ). This shows respect for your parents After that we have breakfast! I love CNY breakfasts because there are different kinds of Chinese "dim sum" such as turnip cake (tastes terrific ) and taro cake and the sweet cake that I do not know the english name for.
Usually you just have big meals during CNY to celebrate the new year. It's similar to chilling on the Jan 1st but more traditionally.
And now something blew up my train of thought (I ALWAYS get this), I wish you all a happy Chinese New Year!
(and perhaps happy early Valentines but that's not related to this topic teehee)
Last edited by _jaye_ on Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 3:49 am
I've already had fireworks courtesy of Beijing
Tue Feb 08, 2005 3:51 am
Also its good luck to cut your hair before CNY to "cut away the past and start fresh" or something like that.(got mine cut yesterday) But not to cut you hair on CNY as it is bad fortune. Very fun time of year.=D...Ooo...and its also the year of the Rooster and the ending of the year of the Monkey.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:03 am
That too; that explains that I won't have my hair cut any time
Here in HK it's illegal to have your own fireworks and fire crackers. They are both to celebrate this event. Some places have dragon dances and such. Very fun and traditional festival
Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:08 am
In America, on CNY, I celebrate it, but a bit differently.
That sweet cake should be Rice Cake.
That sweet cake should be Rice Cake.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:11 am
Oooh, my family doesn't celebrate Chinese New Year, but I remember in second grade I went to this great private school that celebrated all the holidays and we had a dragon parade around the playground and the room mothers brought in excellent food and we learned about the various traditions. It was great fun!
Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:47 am
Yay! Chinese New Year! The Year Of The Rooster... I think.
Money money! MONEY! My grand parents are Chinese, and they always give my brother and I MONEY!!!!!! We also get to go over to my uncle's house for dinner, and then we EAT EAT EAT!!! I'm pretty happy! How about you?
Money money! MONEY! My grand parents are Chinese, and they always give my brother and I MONEY!!!!!! We also get to go over to my uncle's house for dinner, and then we EAT EAT EAT!!! I'm pretty happy! How about you?
Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:10 am
pattypus wrote:Yay! Chinese New Year! The Year Of The Rooster... I think.
Money money! MONEY! My grand parents are Chinese, and they always give my brother and I MONEY!!!!!! We also get to go over to my uncle's house for dinner, and then we EAT EAT EAT!!! I'm pretty happy! How about you?
Teehee, that's good for you! I will be happy when I'm done with the cleaning. My mum gave me a job of cleaning the whole of the bathroom
Let's see...nothing much on the first day since I don't have any grandparents any more and we don't like my father's side of the family. They're evil.
I love the eating part
Looks like after CNY I'm going to need to do more exercise. And I want to get more money this year because I have so many things I want Baaad J, too many wants.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 5:21 am
Lillie and I decided to call it the Lunar New Year, as to not exclude everyone else who celebrates it. =P
I think we're skipping the traditional mad cleaning this year. It falling on weekdays is rather inconvenient.
I think we're skipping the traditional mad cleaning this year. It falling on weekdays is rather inconvenient.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:10 am
I was born in the year of the rat. (Ironically, it says i'm not compatible with horses. *grins*)
I love Chinese new year. I used to go watch the festivities when I was in Edmonton. And now that theres that super great asian supermarket... *drool* I can just imagine the food.
I love Chinese new year. I used to go watch the festivities when I was in Edmonton. And now that theres that super great asian supermarket... *drool* I can just imagine the food.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:19 am
Sadly, I won't be celebrating with my family since they're on the other side of the continent. My mother is ill and my father is getting a root canal. This coming "new year" isn't looking so bright. 
Since it's on a Wednesday, I guess I'm celebrating it alone. That makes me rather sad.
Since it's on a Wednesday, I guess I'm celebrating it alone. That makes me rather sad.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:29 am
Awww it's not necessary to spend it with everyone Think of all the things you can achieve There's always the whole PPT to spend it with you
And think of all the things you can eat by yourself.
vkceankraz: I think it's technically called the Lunar New Year anyway since the calender is according to the moon, hence Lunar.
Think of all the things you can achieve There's always the whole PPT to spend it with you
And think of all the things you can eat by yourself.
vkceankraz: I think it's technically called the Lunar New Year anyway
since the calender is according to the moon, hence Lunar.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:49 am
_jaye_ wrote:And think of all the things you can eat by yourself.
No mum = no good food. Upstate New York doesn't have a lot of Chinese cuisine available.
Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:57 pm
Aww, Spira. *many hugs* Something lovely may happen yet to bring you luck in the new year. If not, well, this year may still be good.
*virtual sends peach flower blossom*
Happy Lunar New Year to everyone who celebrates it, and also to those who don't!
*dances* Tomorrow there's a Chinese New Year (yes, that's the official name here, probably because Chinese are dominant in China) Parade. Apparently there's one every year but this year is the first time I was aware of its existance. Some observer I am! Then there will be fireworks the next day -- yay!
We had dumplings today, but no fish. And we called up my grandmother in Beijing, who had some relatives with her. It's the first year I remember not having a huge family reunion on my dad's side, to my relief.
Oh no! I'm missing the whole new year program on CCTV! *rushes off*
*virtual sends peach flower blossom*
Happy Lunar New Year to everyone who celebrates it, and also to those who don't!
*dances* Tomorrow there's a Chinese New Year (yes, that's the official name here, probably because Chinese are dominant in China) Parade. Apparently there's one every year but this year is the first time I was aware of its existance. Some observer I am! Then there will be fireworks the next day -- yay!
We had dumplings today, but no fish. And we called up my grandmother in Beijing, who had some relatives with her.
It's the first year I remember not having a huge family reunion on my dad's side, to my relief.
Oh no! I'm missing the whole new year program on CCTV! *rushes off*
Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:29 pm
Is this year going to be the Year of the Rooster?