Gong Xi Fa Cai or Gong Hey Fat Choi! These terms all loosely translates to “Congratulations and Be Prosperous”.
Today begins the Lunar New Year in the Chinese calendar. It is traditionally celebrated for fifteen days, from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. There are so many customs and traditions involved during Chinese New Year along with myths and superstitious beliefs.
In Dallas (Texas), there aren’t many Chinese New Year festivals found, compared to other cities that have large Chinatowns such as in San Francisco or New York City. But our family has casually started celebrating and practicing some of its customs and traditions for about a few years now.
Yesterday, I went to our local Asian store and bought red paper cut-out decorations to hang on our door. I interrogated a young Chinese woman who was looking at the paper cut-outs and red packets (envelopes) next to me. I asked what each character meant. She told me I can’t go wrong with any of them since they all represent good luck and good fortune.
I also purchased red envelopes to put money in for the two boys.
This morning the boys were excited to see money inside their red envelope. The amount of money must be given in even numbers, and the luckiest numbers are 8 and 6. Never give money amounting to odd numbers such as 3 or 5 as this represents funeral. Also, the number 4 is bad luck as it means “death” in Chinese character. I gave $10 each because I didn’t have change last night. I would’ve preferred to have given $8 or $6. I need to be better prepared next time.
Last night I also made sure our house was thoroughly cleaned with the belief that a clean house will sweep away ill-fortune and to give way to incoming good luck.
In the past years, I have prepared noodles for longevity,
shrimp for wealth and abundance,
and dumplings for prosperity.
This year, I will add spring rolls because the shape represents “gold bars” and perhaps a whole chicken. I haven’t prepared a whole steamed fish yet since I really don’t think the fish they sell at the stores here are very fresh. Perhaps someday…
If you are visiting someone, don’t forget to bring tangerines or oranges to wish them good fortune. Tangerine in Chinese sounds similar to “luck’ and orange sounds “wealth”. The bright orange color of the fruits symbolizes “gold”.
This year is the Year of the Goat/Sheep/Ram. It is believed to be a year of tranquility and stability. I was born in the Year of the Sheep. I am hoping that the lunar Chinese calendar will bring me better luck than the traditional new year we all celebrate (January1st). Because on the first day of January, I found out my dad fell sick and eventually passed two weeks later so I am excited to rid of all that ill-fortune I had in the beginning of 2015.
Good luck to you all! May the Chinese New Year bring you good fortune, prosperity, and most important of all, good health!
Was the Korean New Year, too. Beautiful pix!
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Happy Chinese New Year to you and your adorable family. Thanks for the posts and the lovely photographs. Keep em’ coming.
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Thanks Linda! You are the only one I let in my secret blog (consider yourself lucky hehe). Love you! And I miss you guys so much. We will definitely get together soon. I promise!
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Happy Chinese new year to you and our family. 🙂
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Happy Chinese new year to you as well and to your family!
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Wishing you all the best this Chinese New Year, Boots! I really enjoyed your post and photographs. Wonderful! 🙂
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Thanks so much!! I’m glad you enjoyed it and have a prosperous lunar new year!!!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Kung Hei Fat Choi! Monkey has plenty of Lai See too! Your dishes look fantastic! I’m very lucky, my mum and grandma are cooking our feast! May the year of the sheep be a happy, healthy and properous for you and your family 😄
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Oh thanks so much! Happy Chinese New Year to you and your precious family as well!!
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Oh and also I can just imagine how yummy those dishes are that your mom and grandma had cooked up!!!
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Years ago I was in Saigon for Chinese New Year, and it was fantastic. When I think of it, I think of ornamental orange trees pruned in assorted shapes (a dragon was very cool) and fireworks.
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Wow that must have been qiute an experience! I’d love to go to Vietnam and if my plans push through, I’m going there next year 🙂
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That was back in 96 when Vietnam hadn’t been influenced by the west yet. From what I understand it’s changed A LOT since then.
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I’m sure it has! That’s why I can’t wait to see Cuba now. It may also change as soon as we lift the embargo.
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Happy celebration Boots! Wishing you a happy Goat year..it’s bit confusing whether it is goat or sheep actually 😀
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Thank you so much Indah! Yes I know I get confused too if it’s Sheep or Goat or Ram. They all don’t look the same and quite different from each other so why call this year all three names? LOL!
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