Kung Hee Fatt Choy!

chinesedragon.jpgHappy Chinese New Year! When I was in high school my family tagged along on a business trip with my Dad to Hong Kong. It also happened to be Chinese New Year which was especially fun. We learned all about the traditions and enjoyed the many decorations, and the public dragon dances.

It is considered good luck to have a dragon dance at your home or business. I remember seeing a dragon dance in a mall and thinking it was so fun. The dragons have an elaborate head which has expressive eyes that can show emotions. The body is a long train of fabric and several guys stand underneath it to work the body.

redlantern.jpgRed represents good luck and many people give each other little red envelopes with money inside. I think it’s similar to our valentines day in that way. Every year is represented by an animal and 2008 is the year of the rat. Many people don’t really know the year they’re born because nobody asks how old you are. They just say, “I was born in the year of the dragon (that’s mine).” The celebration is 15 days long and I remember sitting in our hotel room watching fireworks on the final day of Chinese New Year. There were barges out on the water where the fireworks were shot from and it was a beautiful show. Great memories!

5 Comments

  1. korby
    Feb 8, 2008

    WOW! Fun family trip. I have heard about the celebration but to see it first hard would be so GREAT.

  2. Auntie Lauralee
    Feb 8, 2008

    I was born in the year of the Monkey. That fits!
    Andy and I spent time in Hong Kong in 1994. In
    fact he celebrated his 16th birthday there.

  3. korby
    Feb 9, 2008

    I am a SNAKE and Scott is a Rabbit.

  4. nana
    Feb 10, 2008

    That was such a great trip! Do you remember the shop owners throwing lettuce at the dragon? It wasn’t like throwing tomatoes at a bad comedian it was to appease him. We were remembering with friends last night and telling them we would all like to go back. Maybe some day we can, at New Years!

  5. Kirsten
    Feb 10, 2008

    That’s great you got to go to China…it’s my dream to go there someday! What a great experience to have with your family.