jfuh
DP Veteran
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- Dec 10, 2005
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Today is the Chinese new year. Few ppl, including those of my ethnicity, actually know the real year of the Chinese calendar. This year is the year of the pig, or boar and is the year 4705 (in contrast to 2007 AD).
The Chinese new year represents the end of winter and the beginning of spring. There is no greater holiday during the year for Chinese other than this holiday. In our culture the celebration lasts not for 2 days, but for 15 days, or else known to be until the first full moon, another big festive day also known as lantern fest. Traditionally regardless of nationalities, all Chinese are supposed to return home to our native motherland. However due to the vast distance that many of us have migrated/immigrated to (literally the other side of the world), such a travel is nearly impossible. So when you see someone who is Chinese (Korean, Vietnamese, some Malay too) these next 15 days bid them a happy new year, especially if they are 1st generation immigrants here in the US.
As with all things Chinese, all these holidays involve festive eating - eating is the most important aspect of my culture as it represents coming together as well as wealth and prosperity.
Now a little fun fact or Chinese myth. The Chinese word for year is pronounced Nian (monosyllabic). Nian is actually a mythical man eating monster (if you will) that comes into homes and preys on people. Makes sense if you think about it as the years rob us of youth bestowing age. So in order to "scare" away this beast Chinese would make loud noises using drums bells; of course after the invention of gun powder we were thus able to upgrade this "scare" ability with the lighting of firecrackers in the hope to really scare away the beast. Sadly in the US in most states firecrackers are only allowed during the 4th.
But I'll do my share here anyway hehehehe.:bomb::july_4th:
May all those of you whom were born in this year, being any factor of 12 years before this year ie 1995, 1983, 1971 ect be cautious, for the year of your sign brings to full circle all the events in your life, so be very very cautions. During my year I had to move 16 times and got into 2 traffic accidents, yes this is really just that evil.
To all of those on this forum, happy new year to you, good tidings and good fortune to you.
PS Mods, any one of you able to give me some firecracker sounds on this thread plz?
The Chinese new year represents the end of winter and the beginning of spring. There is no greater holiday during the year for Chinese other than this holiday. In our culture the celebration lasts not for 2 days, but for 15 days, or else known to be until the first full moon, another big festive day also known as lantern fest. Traditionally regardless of nationalities, all Chinese are supposed to return home to our native motherland. However due to the vast distance that many of us have migrated/immigrated to (literally the other side of the world), such a travel is nearly impossible. So when you see someone who is Chinese (Korean, Vietnamese, some Malay too) these next 15 days bid them a happy new year, especially if they are 1st generation immigrants here in the US.
As with all things Chinese, all these holidays involve festive eating - eating is the most important aspect of my culture as it represents coming together as well as wealth and prosperity.
Now a little fun fact or Chinese myth. The Chinese word for year is pronounced Nian (monosyllabic). Nian is actually a mythical man eating monster (if you will) that comes into homes and preys on people. Makes sense if you think about it as the years rob us of youth bestowing age. So in order to "scare" away this beast Chinese would make loud noises using drums bells; of course after the invention of gun powder we were thus able to upgrade this "scare" ability with the lighting of firecrackers in the hope to really scare away the beast. Sadly in the US in most states firecrackers are only allowed during the 4th.
But I'll do my share here anyway hehehehe.:bomb::july_4th:May all those of you whom were born in this year, being any factor of 12 years before this year ie 1995, 1983, 1971 ect be cautious, for the year of your sign brings to full circle all the events in your life, so be very very cautions. During my year I had to move 16 times and got into 2 traffic accidents, yes this is really just that evil.
To all of those on this forum, happy new year to you, good tidings and good fortune to you.
PS Mods, any one of you able to give me some firecracker sounds on this thread plz?
