January 28, 2017 - Chinese New Year - Year of the Rooster

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 76 DAYS

Gong Hei Fat Choy!

O M G! That's all I have to say about my day yesterday.  

I finished yesterday's blog a little after 12midnight Thursday night.  As I headed up to bed, my stomach felt kind of funky.  Well, as time went on, I felt worse and worse -pain, nauseous.

And this continued throughout the night - as you can imagine, I did not get the best night sleep.

Well, by the time the morning came, I was literally DEAD.  Stomach pain, full - out viral symptoms - headache, body and joint aches.  I couldn't stand up.  It was so awful!!

I had to head back to bed and when I tell you, I didn't move - I didn't move.  

I never actually got "sick" but something freaky was going on and I could not lift my head.  I was dizzy too.  It was just awful.  

I would say that I hit the world record for sleeping; had maybe the equivalent of 2 ounces of seltzer and 1 piece of dry toast (that my girls brought me) in the full 24 hours.  

Thank goodness I felt 90% better when I woke up this morning. And since I hadn't been on my phone, I had 179 emails and 5 messages! Whew!

Flying into Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport - back in the early 1990's before Hong Kong International Airport was built on the island of Chek Lap Kok, which largely comprises land reclaimed for the construction of the airport itself. (c)travelincousins.com

Well as you may or may not know - today is the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

Going back some (a-hem) number of years, when I was working in the toy industry, I spent a great deal of time in Hong Kong and China.

The Chinese New Year had not become as mainstream as it is today, so I very aware of this almost month long celebration having many co-workers and friends from this part of the world.

Additionally, because of the importance of this holiday, the factories that we worked with would shut down so workers could go back to their respective homes over this celebratory period to spend with their families.

WHEN IS THE CHINESE NEW YEAR?

​Chinese New Year is one of the most important traditional holidays in China. The day is celebrated   on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The festival lasts for about 23 days, ending on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the following year in the Chinese calendar.

It is also known as "Lunar New Year" and the "Spring Festival, in China 

The holiday is rooted in centuries old customs and traditions and is one of the most popular public holidays in China. Apart from China, the day is also celebrated in countries like Korea, Bhutan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong etc., which follows the Chinese calendar.

Chinese New Year tradition includes hanging red lanterns since the color red scares away the mythological beast, Nian. Lighting firecrackers is part of the celebration since Nian is afraid of loud noises. (credit: ebeijing.gov.cn)

THE LEGEND OF NIAN, THE BEAST
Now, according to Chinese mythology, the origin of this day lies in the fight against Nian.

A Nian is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. Once each spring, on or around Chinese New Year, it comes out of hiding to attack people, and prefers children. Weaknesses of the Nian are purported to be a sensitivity to loud noises, and a fear of the color red.

NIAN BEAST (credit: inTheDarkAir -WordPress.com)

As a result, on the first day of every new year, people would hand red paper lanterns and other things red to scare off the beast and they would also light firecrackers in order to scare the beast away. According to legend  after some time, the beast stopped coming to the city.

GENERAL CELEBRATIONS IN CHINA
Chinese people believe that a good start to the year will lead to a lucky year.

​Chinese traditionally celebrated the start of a new year of farm work, and wished for a good harvest (when most were farmers). This has now evolved to celebrating the start of a new business year and wishing for profits and success in various vocations. 

Thought the tradition of fireworks has its origins in scaring off Nian, today, on the evening of the Spring Festival Eve, many people set off fireworks and firecrackers in hopes of casting away any bad luck and to bring forth good luck.

It is customary for children to receive “luck” money. Many people wear new clothes and send Chinese New Year greetings to each other. Various activities such as beating drums and striking gongs, as well as dragon and lion dances, are all part of the Spring Festival festivities.

​OBSERVANCE IN CHINA
The Spring Festival is a national holiday in China. And as I mentioned above, pretty much the entire country shuts down. Government offices, schools, universities and many companies are closed during the period from the Spring Festival Eve to the seventh day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar.

However, some enterprises such as banks often arrange for workers to be on shift duty. Public transport is available during the Chinese New Year period as well.
​

(credit: buildingbeautifulsouls.com)

THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER
​2017 is a year of the Rooster according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle.

​Other Rooster years include: …1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017… If you were born then you’re a Rooster. 

(credit: horoscope astrology.com)

CHINESE ZODIACS
Each sign of the Chinese Zodiac is represented by a different animal and has distinct personality traits.  

Each animal represented in the horoscope is known to have certain characteristics that a person born under the sign would demonstrate. The year a person is born determines their animal sign.

 RAT
1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Quick-witted, clever, charming, sharp and funny. They have excellent taste, are a good friend and are generous and loyal to others considered part of its pack. Motivated by money, can be greedy, is ever curious, seeks knowledge and welcomes challenges. Compatible with Dragon or Monkey.

OX
1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Steadfast, solid, a goal-oriented leader, detail-oriented, hard-working, stubborn, serious and introverted but can feel lonely and insecure. Takes comfort in friends and family and is a reliable, protective and strong companion.
Compatible with Snake or Rooster.

TIGER
1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and they’re ready to pounce at any time. Compatible with Horse or Dog.

RABBIT
1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rabbit enjoy being surrounded by family and friends. They’re popular, compassionate, sincere, and they like to avoid conflict and are sometimes seen as pushovers. Rabbits enjoy home and entertaining at home. Compatible with Goat or Pig.

DRAGON
1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Energetic and warm-hearted, charismatic, lucky at love and egotistic. They’re natural born leaders, good at giving orders and doing what’s necessary to remain on top. Compatible with Monkey and Rat.
(FOLKS - THIS IS MY SIGN!!)

SNAKE
1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Snake are seductive, gregarious, introverted, generous, charming, good with money, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, they rely on gut feelings, are hard-working and intelligent. Compatible with Rooster or Ox.

HORSE
1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Love to roam free, energetic, self-reliant, money-wise, and they enjoy traveling, love and intimacy. They’re great at seducing, sharp-witted, impatient and sometimes seen as a drifter.
Compatible with Dog or Tiger.

GOAT
1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Enjoy being alone in their thoughts, creative, thinkers, wanderers, unorganized, high-strung and insecure, and can be anxiety-ridden. Need lots of love, support and reassurance. Appearance is important too. Compatible with Pig or Rabbit.

MONKEY
1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Monkey thrive on having fun. They’re energetic, upbeat, and good at listening but lack self-control. They like being active and stimulated and enjoy pleasing self before pleasing others. They’re heart-breakers, not good at long-term relationships, morals are weak. Compatible with Rat or Dragon.

ROOSTER
1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Practical, resourceful, observant, analytical, straightforward, trusting, honest, perfectionists, neat and conservative.
Compatible with Ox or Snake.

DOG
1982, 1994, 2006
Loyal, faithful, honest, distrustful, often guilty of telling white lies, temperamental, prone to mood swings, dogmatic, and sensitive. Excel in business but have trouble finding mates.
Compatible with Tiger or Horse.

PIG
1983, 1995, 2007
Extremely nice, good-mannered and tasteful. Perfectionists who enjoy finer things but are not perceived as snobs. Enjoy helping others, good companions until someone close crosses them, then look out! Intelligent, always seeking more knowledge, and exclusive.
​Compatible with Rabbit or Goat.

​

My trip throughout China began on May 17, 1991. Click Image for the full trip! (c)travelincousins.com

Back in 1991, I took the trip of a lifetime around China - from Hong Kong to Shanghai to Beijing and Xi'an.

You might enjoy reading the entire account which was taken from my very detailed journal from this trip in May of 1991.  
Elisa's China Adventure.
​

PLEASE CHECK OUT TANYA'S SCOOP - 
She has been cooking up a storm for the Chinese New Year - all Vegan, of course - and has a wonderful overview of the many Chinatowns here in the U.S.A.

I'm going to go rest a bit more - I'm 90% better, but I have to kick the other 10% of this little bug.

GONG HEI FAT CHOY!!
 
-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
​NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 9 DAYS

Happy Chinese New Year!

Hello Hello!
​
Happy Chinese New Year to you!

As you know we are not Chinese, but do like to celebrate as much as possible. And the Chinese really have it going on with celebrating and ringing in their New Year. 23 Days worth of celebrations and festivals!!! That's my type of thinking!

So of course with such meaningful traditions, we wanted a piece of the action...
But to let you know, we started doing this a few years ago and it really just started out because of FOOD!
It was a good excuse for me to make a Chinese feast, what better day to make a Chinese feast than on Chinese New Year! 

I was busy at work in the kitchen yesterday for hours upon hours and hours. So much prep work.
I was making:

• Steamed Wontons
• Spinach and Edamame Dumplings (a family favorite)
• Spring Rolls (Chun Juan)
• Glazed Chinese Long Beans
• Long Life Noodles
• Pork style Chinese TVP with vegetables

Here are some of the meanings behind the food:

Chinese dumplings are one of the most important foods in Chinese New Year. Since the shape of Chinese dumplings is similar to ancient gold or silver ingots, they symbolize wealth. Traditionally, the member of a family get together to make dumplings during the New Year's Eve. And this is exactly what we did - even little Chaplin got in out it!

Chaplin wearing her new special Chinese New Year panda shirt (c)travelincousins.com

Spring rolls (chun juan) take their name from the holiday for which they're traditionally prepared: the Spring Festival (chunjie), also known as Chinese New Year. The crisp golden rolls are meant to symbolize bars of gold and bring wealth and prosperity in the year to come.

Long Life Noodles (yī miàn, 伊面), symbolize longevity and can always be found on the banquet table at Chinese celebrations.

Chinese Long Beans = longevity

---

Long life noodles (c)thewoksoflife.com

New Year's Eve Dinner
The New Year's Eve dinner is the most important dinner for the Chinese. Normally, this is the family reunion dinner, especially for those with family members away from home.  
The majority of the Chinese will gather together to eat New Year's Eve dinner at home instead of a restaurant.

My gang happened to be traveling during last years Chinese New Year (go figure) and I found out that in addition to cooking and eating the food, the rest of my family began also following the tradition of preparing a plate of:  Good Fortune Fruit

Good Fortune Fruit
Because Chinese New Year always falls at the tail end of winter, the fruits available tend to be limited to those that thrive in colder months—namely, oranges, tangerines, kumquats, and pomelos.

The fruits are given as gifts, their round shape and gold color said to symbolize prosperity and bring the recipient good fortune throughout the year.

They might be presented still growing on a small tree, which can then be used to decorate the home, or given as part of a fruit basket and intended for eating over the festive period, usually at the end of the meal.  
​
Apricot, dried (杏脯; xìngfǔ) - gold, wealth
Orange (柑橘; gānjú) - wealth, good fortune, gold
Peach - immortality
Peach, pair of (桃; táo) - wealth, abundance, long healthy life, great fortune for many generations

Chaplin ate the Apricots and we added Peaches to our Good Fortune plate (c)travelincousins.com

As I mentioned we happened to be traveling at this time last year and in one of my very favorite cities - Quebec City 

Related reading:
A Maple MUST DO in Quebec

But the Chinese New Year celebration was still going on when we got back home!
​So we planned on going to a local temple for some Chinese culture...
*Which we also plan on going to again this year.

Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights (c)travelincousins.com

Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights (c)travelincousins.com

Chinese New Year History

It is unclear when the exact beginning of the New Year celebration in China is. Normally, it was said to start from the year end religious ceremony during the Shang Dynasty (1766 BC - 1122 BC). A few believe that it started from as early as Emperor Yao and Shun (~2300 BC). At the beginning, the date of celebration varied from mid-winter to early spring. With the maturity of the solar base calendar, Emperor Wu (157 BC - 87 BC) of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220), established the first day of the first month as the beginning of the year, where it remains. The following is a brief list:

• Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun (~ 2300 BC):

small scale New Year celebration type of activities.

• Shang Dynasty (1766 BC - 1122 BC):

New Year celebration started from religious ceremony.

• Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220):

New Year celebration is official at the first day of the first month and crack bamboo appeared. (Crack bamboo will create loud cracking sound when put on fire. It is believed that the sound drives away evil.)

• Wei Dynasty (220 - 265) and Jin Dynasty (265 - 420):

Fireworks used in New Year celebration. The tradition of Shou Sui formed.

• Song Dynasty (960 - 1279):

Fireworks using gun powder began.

According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the "Nian".

The "Nian" looks like an ox with a lion head and inhabits in the sea. CHECK OUT Elisa's column for further detail on the "Nian".

Chinese New Year Activities

Before the New Year's Day
Shopping, cleaning, decorations

New Year's Eve
Family dinner, Shou Sui, Launch Fireworks

First Day of the New Year
In some places, people stay at home on the first day. In other places, people greet each other, especially younger people and will visit and greet older relatives and friends.

Second Day
Some people will host a religious ceremony to honor the gods. Married females will visit their parents.

Third Day
Ceremony to honor the ancestors.

Fifteenth Day
This is the Yuan Xiao festival, also called The Lantern festival. This is also the end of the New Year celebrations.

As you can imagine each and every Chinatown around will be celebrating and having festivals throughout the New Year.
​So let's take a quick peek at some of North America's famous Chinatowns!

​SAN FRANCISCO, CA

​San Francisco's Chinatown, around Grant Avenue, is often touted as the "oldest" and "largest" East Asian district in the U.S. 

​MANHATTAN, NY

The Chinatown in Lower Manhattan is the largest of nine Chinatowns in New York City. To many people, it is simply known as THE New York Chinatown. By most measures, this is the largest and oldest Chinatown in the Western Hemisphere (a distinction that San Francisco's Chinatown also claims). 

​LOS ANGELES, CA

Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA (c)travelincousins.com

​LA's original Chinatown was established in the 19th century. Overrun by opium houses and brothels, it was condemned and eventually demolished to make room for the city's Union Station. "New Chinatown" was established in the 1930s. 

​VANCOUVER, BC

Chinatown, Vancouver (c)David Ohmer

Vancouver’s Chinatown, the third largest in North America, traces its roots to the late 1800s when immigrants came to work on Canada’s railways and in her mines. Its streets, like that of most Chinatowns is filled with markets and ethnic restaurants, temples and businesses.​

​TORONTO, ON

​Toronto’s Chinatown resembles New York’s more than San Francisco’s. Here you don’t find an abundance of colorful ethnic architecture, not even a traditional arch at the entranceway to the area. But you still find the shops and markets filled with exotic fruits and vegetables and plenty of other places with elegant Chinese characters on storefronts, as well as street signs, which transports you to the culture of Asia.

Chinese New Year Greetings

• Wan Shi Ru Yi: everything follows your will
• Ji Xiang Ru Yi: harmony and everything follows your will
• Sui Sui Ping An: harmony and safety year around
• Gong Xi Fa Cai: congratulations and prosperity. (mostly used in southern China)

In between cooking yesterday I took Dominic to get his hair done. He is going to be adding another fun color to it, but needed to get a cut and have some of it bleached...

Dominic under the dryer (c)travelincousins.com

Oh goodness (c)travelincousins.com

Time for a cut and style (c)travelincousins.com

All done and all blond! (c)travelincousins.com

Even I was surprised by the amount of hair he had bleached!

Anyhow, fun day ahead in LA for us today. We are going to the observation deck that we were suppose to go to last Saturday, and then we have an 80's concert to rock out to tonight!!! FUN STUFF!

See y'all back here tomorrow,
​-T