The Year of the Rabbit began with the new moon nine hours ago and celebrations of Chinese New Year will continue for fifteen days until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day with parades and lanterns in communities that celebrate the new year.
I am inspired by my friend Denice to explore Chinese New Year this year as a family celebration.
Special deeds are done on certain days of Chinese New Year Celebrations.
To prepare for the new year, we begin with sweeping out the house (the old, the bad luck) to clear way for the New Year. This is a time for new clothes, new shoes (maybe we can repurpose that old red sweater into something new) and a new hair cut. A pretty bowl of tangerines, oranges and pomelos is set out for wealth and good luck. The house is decorated with Fook and Couplets.
Explanation of some of the symbols and images of Fook and Couplets for Chinese New Year here
For a Gung Hay Fat Choy (Happy New Year) song with gestures, via my friend Denice, here
We can draw couplets and hang them on our homes.
The most important aspect of the first day of Chinese New Year is the family, and that all the extended family spend time with the oldest members of the family.
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
It's the year of the Rabbit this year, last year was the year of the Tiger. :) We love Chinese New Year, thanks for the fab links!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to physically sweep out the old year!! AND THANKS FOR THE LINKS... WILL BE POPPING OVER!
ReplyDeleteIs it not the year of the Rabbit this year? I thought the Tiger was 2010?
Gung Hay Fat Choy to you all!
Pipx