Gong Xi Fa Cai

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year! Although I’m just half Chinese (from my mum’s side), I’ve always celebrated Chinese New Year along with all my friends and relatives. As a child (at least once I was old enough to help out with chores), I quite dreaded the whole CNY deal…the endless cleaning, the multitudes of superstitions, being subjected to wear bright red and pink clothing (the so-called auspicious colors), and the exhaustion of being dragged from house to house “visiting” everyone we know.

Now, as a “stranded” adult in a faraway land, I can’t even begin to express how much I miss all the CNY preparation (although I can’t say I miss the cleaning frenzy much ;-D) and celebration – I miss being with friends and family, I miss the festive atmosphere (even the cheesy CNY music), I miss all the CNY treats, and who would have thought I would even miss the deafening sounds of firecrackers set off at midnight to usher in the new year, as well as the suffocating smoke that follows. :-D I remember my Dad (back in the days) tying strings and strings of firecrackers together (as with every other Chinese family probably) so that the firecrackers would hang all the way from the top of the roof to the ground…LOL!

This year for the first time, I finally got Alex really excited about CNY…we talked about the “big feast” on CNY Eve (which we had with great friends), we made lanterns to decorate the house :-D, and since he’s been saving up for a new Wii game, he has been really excited about getting his “ang pau” (a red packet containing money). In addition, I’ve been making all sorts of CNY treats as I reminisce about all my childhood CNY days :-D and I’m not done yet…so keep an eye out for more treats!

May the Year of the Rabbit bring everyone a joyful, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Love,
Chris and Family