Chinese New Year

Next Sunday the Chinese will start celebrating the new year on their lunar calender. This time it's the year of the pig. Everywhere in the city you find decorations with pig themes. I even got some pig shaped oven mitts when buying kitchen equipment...
They take The New Year very seriously. It's the largest holiday of the year and comparable in size to our Christmas celebrations. The preparations start days earlier with mostly cleaning the house and buying new clothes. New things bring luck. Cleaning the house during the new year is not good since the belief is that you're sweeping out the luck with the dust....So this must be done ahead.
Traditionally it was a celebration of harvest and a wish for good years ahead. Over the years some spicy elements got woven into it. One of these being the story of a dragon that comes down from the mountain into the valleys to eat the people. In order to scare the beast away the people started making a lot of noise and wearing red. The lighting of firecrackers and the use of red decorations is a result of this.
The festivities kick off on New Year's Eve with a visit to the flower market. Flowers are supposed to bring good luck and apparently you can witness families battling for the best bouquets. I can't wait to witness this (next year since Carl and I will be travelling that day)...A big dinner with the family is also part of the evening. Some people play mah jong till early in the morning. And throw in some fireworks for a good start.
The first day of the year falls on Sunday February 18th. The temples are being visited in the morning to pay respect to the gods and to pray for good luck in the coming year. After that it's all about visiting family, eating lots of food and giving presents. Fruit (especially oranges and mandarins), candy, cookies and chocolates are big favorites as presents. The unmarried people and kids receive Lai See pockets. Little red envelopes with money in it. The total should be an even number for good luck.
In the evening of the first day there is a Parade. There will be drums, dragons and plenty of drama during the procession of decorated floats.
The next day most of the celebrations will be repeated. Except for the parade. Instead there will be a spectacular fireworks show at the waterfront. It's supposed to be the biggest one in the world. Luckily we will be back to see it with the kids on Monday.
The celebrations continue for another 5 or 6 days. Each day is used for different kinds of celebrations since there are strict rules as to what can be or should not be done. For instance the third day is Red Mouth day. Out of fear for arguments and receiving insults people are adviced to stay home. I wonder if the Chinese are smarter than us westeners...Just think of all those family arguments during Christmas time.
A few other superstitions: put away your scissors and knives. They will cut out good luck...Eat as much candy as you can since it brings a sweeter year (I am making a note of this one). And don't buy new shoes. The word shoes also means 'rough' and you don't want a rough year...
Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!