Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year (the Year of the Rabbit) is just around the corner and families all around Hong Kong are preparing for the New Year. On Friday our school is going to have a Chinese New Year celebration (more pictures to follow hopefully). The city is decorated with red signs, streamers, fake cherry blossom trees and lanterns. Shops are crammed full of red envelopes from the simple to ornate (and don't forget Hello Kitty), ready to be taken home and stuffed full of money (even numbers only please) for the children and unmarried family members.
This is the year of the Rabbit. At first I thought they had their seasons mixed up as all the pictures of fuzzy cute rabbits everywhere made me think of spring time! Superstition says the year of the Rabbit is "a time to catch your breath and calm your nerves." Sounds good to me!

With this lucky time of year there is(of course) special food eaten and symbolism found in that food:

fried rice - Rice (米饭; mǐfàn) - fertility, luck, wealth, rice symbolizes a link between Heaven (Gods) and Earth (Men)

fried noodle with soy sauce & pork - Noodles (面条; miàntiáo) uncut - long life, Pork (猪肉; zhūròu) - strength, wealth, abundant blessing

red "togetherness" tray with candy/nuts - Candy and nuts are served on a round tray, the form resembling togetherness, hence the tray is called the 'Tray of Togetherness'. If items on the tray add up to the number 8, eight is a lucky number and symbolises fortune. Candy, (糖果;tángguǒ) - safety, good fortune and 'sweeten' the new year, Seeds - lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc. - having a large number of children 籽 [zǐ], Peanuts (花生; huāshēng) - health, long life, birth of prosperity, continuous growth, multiplication in wealth and good fortune, stability, Walnut (核桃仁; hétàorén) - happiness of the entire family, Cashew nut (腰果, yāoguǒ)- gold, money (the nut's shape symbolises the gold bar of ancient times)

mandarin oranges or other citrus - Orange (柑橘; gānjú) - wealth, good fortune, gold , Mandarin (瓯柑; ōugān) - gold, wealth, Tangerine (橘; jú) - luck, Pomelo (柚子; yòuzi) - abundance, prosperity, having children, good health, family unity, Kumquat (金橘; jīn jú) - gold, hence fortune, wealth

As I am an avid cleaner and love a chance to re-organize my home, I found some interesting trivia about cleaning house for Chinese New Year.

" It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that the newly arrived good luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and window-frames a new coat of red paint. Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and couplets. Purchasing new clothing, shoes, and receiving a hair-cut also symbolize a fresh start." (Wikipedia)

Good thing we just bought a new vacuum and Brad rid our house of the "bad luck dust bunnies". Now all I need is a new pair of shoes.....