Kung Hei Fat Choi!

The Chinese New Year season is upon us. For the uninitiated, the CNY coincides with the Lunar New Year. Which this year happens to fall on the 3rd of February and is the year of the Rabbit. In Hong Kong,  Christmas and the traditional New Year are celebrated but this is the biggie. Kids out of school for a week, Julie off for three extra days and the decorations and shows are on in full force. Red and gold are the colors and Mandarin Orange trees are one of the many traditional plants that are supposed to bring good luck.

Here are a few other interesting traditions:

1. Sweeping and cleaning is strictly forbidden. It is thought that good luck will be swept out the door. I like this already!

2. Book stores are closed because in Cantonese, the word book is a homonym for "lose."

3. Eating candies is said to deliver a sweeter year. This is my kind of holiday!

4. You should pay off people you owe money to. It is thought that if you start the year in debt, you will finish the same way.

There's plenty more but it kind of gives you the idea.

We plan to hit the big parade on Thursday night in Tsim Tsa Tsui. Then on Friday night, there is a huge fireworks display in the harbor. Since the parade is the big deal, we may not be up to fighting the crowds two nights in a row but, you never know.

So, here's some preliminary photos.


These were taken at a Lantern Festival display near the HK Cultural Center. Kind of kiddie-ish but still pretty cool.

 

That's all for now but stay tuned because I'll have quite a few more by the time this week is over.