Tomorrow is the Chinese Lunar New Year, the first day of the Year of the Horse. Since I have a release-related blog and giveaway scheduled tomorrow, I thought I'd wish my readers New Year's greetings a day early.
Chinese New Year has a different sort of tone than our western holiday. No kisses at midnight (alas, for a romance author!), no glasses of bubbly, no funny hats and noise makers. (Actually I take that back - if you consider firecrackers in the noisemaker category, there will be plenty!)
The focus of this festival is on family, including one's ancestors, and on securing good fortune for the upcoming twelve months. Red and gold decorations hang from the rafters indoors and the eaves outdoors. Lion dancers parade along the streets, beating drums you can hear from blocks away, holding out a donation basket to passers by. The dragon-roofed temples are packed with worshippers, burning joss sticks and praying for health, prosperity and happiness.
And that's what I hope for all of you: a fulfillment of all your needs, both material and spiritual, a year of comfort, hope and plenty.
Gong Xi Fa Cai !
4 comments:
Happy New Year to you as well! I miss the lion dances from where I grew up very much, but I also miss the sound of the firecrackers and the blanket of red paper from the firecrackers that would cover the sidewalk around the houses of Chinese people in the neighborhood.
Happy Chinese New Year... it will be my Mother's year! :)
Hi, Annabeth,
Are you actually of Chinese descent, or is that just your pseudonym? (Feel free to demur if this is private).
Thanks for dropping by, Colleen! Happy New Year!
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