In the month of December we celebrated the commencement of the new year 2011 , in January we celebrated the new year itself. Its February now, and we are celebrating the new year all over again!! Its the Chinese New Year!!!! A quarter of the year gone by- celebrating!!
The Lunar new year is the most important festival for the Chinese. It is celebrated for 15 days , every day signifying something traditional. The houses are cleaned thoroughly, sweets and gifts are exchanged. The color Red and Gold is everywhere! Red is believed to be auspicious by the Chinese. The houses are decorated with red lanterns, Mandarin orange trees..
This year I went for a shopping spree to the China Town. I walked the full length of the street hoping to find the traditional Chinese dress- "Cheong Sam" and finally bought 2! Everywhere food , antiques, chinese art and trinkets were being sold. The local and the foreigners shopping and bargaining with the street vendors. The whole street was lit up.
2010 was the Year of the Tiger. It proved to be a fierce year too. 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. I hope to hop my way to happiness and prosperity. Theres a legend about the Chinese New Year animals. As heard from my colleagues and also my French professor the story goes like this:
According to Chinese legend, the animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest, whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to finish the race, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last. The cat who was also a part of the race never got a month named after it as it was cheated by the rat and that is why they are mortal enemies to this day :)
Apparently you exhibit the qualities of the animal under which sign you are born. :) Lot of couples get married during the year of the rabbit. Also it is good to have children during the year of the Dragon (2012..) Hmmm now you know why they get married in the year of the rabbit :) The Chinese try to have Dragon babies( as heard from my collegues) because dragon babies have the qualities the leaders . hmmm My hubby was born in the year of the dragon.. no wonder he is so dominating!
The Chinese and the Indian cultures have a lot of similarities. For eg: the belief in reincarnation, too many gods. Theres so much more to discover here. So much more to learn and absorb. One thing at a time..
But for now a very HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!!
The Lunar new year is the most important festival for the Chinese. It is celebrated for 15 days , every day signifying something traditional. The houses are cleaned thoroughly, sweets and gifts are exchanged. The color Red and Gold is everywhere! Red is believed to be auspicious by the Chinese. The houses are decorated with red lanterns, Mandarin orange trees..
This year I went for a shopping spree to the China Town. I walked the full length of the street hoping to find the traditional Chinese dress- "Cheong Sam" and finally bought 2! Everywhere food , antiques, chinese art and trinkets were being sold. The local and the foreigners shopping and bargaining with the street vendors. The whole street was lit up.
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| China Town, Singapore |
According to Chinese legend, the animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest, whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to finish the race, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last. The cat who was also a part of the race never got a month named after it as it was cheated by the rat and that is why they are mortal enemies to this day :)
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| Cheong Sam Chinese Zodiac Signs |
Apparently you exhibit the qualities of the animal under which sign you are born. :) Lot of couples get married during the year of the rabbit. Also it is good to have children during the year of the Dragon (2012..) Hmmm now you know why they get married in the year of the rabbit :) The Chinese try to have Dragon babies( as heard from my collegues) because dragon babies have the qualities the leaders . hmmm My hubby was born in the year of the dragon.. no wonder he is so dominating!
The Chinese and the Indian cultures have a lot of similarities. For eg: the belief in reincarnation, too many gods. Theres so much more to discover here. So much more to learn and absorb. One thing at a time..
But for now a very HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!!
yowzaaah!!! Must say that u have picked out one cool dress daa!
ReplyDeletenice exploration..keep it going, and u must try more of those chinese attires :) to feel reincarnated often hehe
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