To borrow a phrase from my Christmas-celebrating friends: It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the festive period for those of Chinese descent; be they from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Overseas Chinese such as myself. Imagine 15 days of festivities beginning with the reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year (when the entire family converge to commemorate the past year with a splendid feast. Roasted suckling pig compulsory) until the Lantern Festival, with many visits to friends in between. There will be fireworks! There will be calorific snacks (pineapple tarts, sweet pork jerky, mandarin oranges, peanut and sesame cookies)! There will be hong bao (red envelopes of cash for the unmarried)!
Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and so the date changes every year, usually between mid-January to mid-February. Each year is defined by one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger (yours truly), Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. This year, 2019 is the Year of the Pig, and begins on February 5th. Ahead of the Year of the Pig 2019 I have not only test run my new year resolutions to see which are feasible (if I break them, it doesn’t count - at least according to the lunar calendar) but also added adorned both myself and my London home for Chinese New Year. As you would...!
|
 |
A CAMPHOR WOOD CONSOLE IN MY MOTHER'S DRAWING ROOM. |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment