Xin Nian Kuai Le - The Year of the Rabbit

Thursday marked the start of the lunar new year. 2011 is the year of the rabbit. Other rabbit years are 1951, 1963, 1975 & 1987. (I was born in the year of the rabbit).

The Chinese New Year or Spring Festival begins on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month and, lasting 15 days, is the largest of all Chinese festivals. It’s a time for all families to come together.

Celebrations include big meals of chinese dumplings, fish, long noodles (to symbolize longevity) & spring rolls, firecrackers & lion dances (to scare away bad luck & evil spirits), and lucky red envelopes (hong bao) with money for children.

Preparations for the holiday include cleaning your house & removing “old” dust (out with the old & in with the new), purchasing & wearing new clothes, cutting your hair before the holiday (so as not to cut off good luck) & decorating with lanterns.

Tangerine & oranges (symbolic of good luck & wealth) also adorn most homes.

 

Our celebrations for Chinese New Year will be on Saturday with our local FCC group. We’re also planning a New Year celebration with family at the end of the month…our 1st. Everyone will be bringing a dish and we’ll have crafts & stories for the young kids. It should be a great time.