Happy Chinese New Year, January 24th, the Year of the Ox!

I do not celebrate Chinese New Year, but according to the place mats at Chinese restaurants, I was born in the year of the snake. I do not know what that means for me. Funny thing, while we are on this subject: My son loves dragons, and chivalry,etc. Has quite a few collectible dragons--you guessed it, Year of the Dragon. I have always called my daughter Sammie Lambie. I have collected lambs and sheep for her--Yup--Year of the Sheep. My current husband loves all animals, but especially wolves and dogs. Sure enough, Year of the Dog.

As you know here in china before the New Year arrives, we consider it very important to give the house a thorough cleaning, sweeping away any bad luck that may have accumulated over the past year,so each year before the new years eve we will make the house as clean as possible . Then after this cleaning we will have our house decorated such as to hang papercuts on doors and windows. (Paper cutting is an ancient Chinese art form dating back to the Han dynasty). On the new year's eve we will gather together and spend the evening preparing Chinese dumplings (Jiaozi) in the meanwhile we will watch the TV show from CCTV(:China Central Television ). According to Chinese Culture Guide Jun Shan, it is common to hide a coin in one of the dumplings. Whoever gets the dumpling with the coin will supposedly have good luck in the coming year. Here is a tradition on the first day of the new year that is we are not allowed to clean for the first few days of the New Year - if we do any sweeping during this time, we risk sweeping away your good luck.(a kind of superstition~~~) The next few days will be a time for us to visit our friends and relatives ,and more importantly we can receieve the "hongbao" which is a red Envelope filled with money . After six days from the new year's eve(in total seven days),the celebration will be end and all walks of people go back to their normal life ,working ...after ten days from the end of the new yaer ,the school days will begin (different case with the students who are busy prepare for their college entrance examination) Molly;-)

kung hei fat choy to you as well! i am not chinese either but have 2 chinese nieces (my sister in law adopted two little girls from china) and we all celebrated chinese new year at a great chinese restaurant. i am also an ox :-) so its my year! yay!