Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Congratulations and be prosperous! Happy Chinese New Year! This year, January 22nd, was the first day of the New Year....which is based on the first day of the first month in the Lunar Calendar. It is customary for family and friends to gather and share in traditional food (dumplings) & festivities to welcome the New Year. Chinese New Year festivities last for two weeks, although most people return to work after the first week.
A special tradition at this time of the year is for children to receive red envelopes filled with money, as a way of wishing them success and a Happy New Year. Everyone is expected to be in good spirits, since displaying unpleasant attitudes or speaking unlucky words is thought to bring on an unsuccessful year. Cleaning is to be done before New Year's Day, because if you do it on the first day of the New Year it is said that you are "sweeping your luck away." The same goes for cooking, because if you use knives or scissors it is said that you are "cutting you luck."
Mandarin orange trees can be found everywhere, as they are thought to be "lucky trees bearing fruit." The fruit is symbolic of good fortune, and exchanged often throughout this holiday.

These are the mandarin orange trees that were placed outside of our building.


Red paper lanterns also lined our streets. Most decorations used during Chinese New Year are red because this color will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune.


Firecrackers are also a big part of the Chinese New Year celebration. They are strung together by the hundreds and then lit, creating deafening explosions that "scare away evil spirits." This photo is the aftermath of firecrackers set off at midnight at our local pub.

If you are interested in learning more about Chinese New Year, just search those words on Google. I found all the information EXTREMELY interesting, but obviously...I can't go on here forever!! :)