Happy New Year Jianhua!

Yes, OK, I know I am a day early for our friends in China, but I plan to be busy tomorrow (working on the PDB ;D

Happy Chinese New Year. I would love to hear about your celebrations, Jianhua, as well as any others who live in Chinese areas around the world.

Lupine, what a great idea, I would love to hear about that too!

Kathy,

Chinese New Year begins Feb 1st thru the 15th., if i am not mistaken. don't feel bad being early, i see all kinds of commercial about Chinese New Year on tv and radio advertising. here's a link to learn more... http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html , hope the url reveals some info. Happy Chinese New Year to everyone.

Yes, Happy new year Jianhua....Year of the sheep...your year 4701,,,,,,,I shared your Tv..broadcast this morning...on www.cctv.com....so fine...I could not understand most, but such beautiful colors....dancing, plays. famous singers.magic tricks...from your side of the world.. and for the first time one part was in English...hehehe...fine in deed.....wishing you the best for the coming year....

hugs....Diana

Early or not, I wish you and your family and loved ones a very happy new year, Jianhua!

Happy New Year Jianhua!! When you have the time could you tell us of some of your people's celebration of the holiday?

I just returned from Las Vegas, Nevada and saw very many
people from China there. Seemed to be a lot of young people
there, perhaps late teenagers or in their 20s.

Have a great New Year.

Adding my New Years greeting!!! Jo

Happy New Year, Jianhua and family. I trust that this will be a year of joy and blessings for you and your entire family. I hung my fish today and had Chinese food for lunch too in celebration. The year is now 4701. Enjoy your celebrations for the next few days, my friend. Lani

ÅóÓÑÃÇ(friends)
ÐÂ(new)Äê(year)ºÃ(good)!
×£(wish)´ó¼Ò(everyone)
Ñò(sheep)Äê(year)¼ªÏé(luck),
ÍòÊÂ(everything)Èç(as)Òâ(think)!

Happy new year Jinhua.
One customer of mine sent me a card and he translated it to say" make lots of money this year" I hope so.
Some of my customers call it new year, some lunar year, and one customer called it "spring festival.."

Whatver it is hope you have a good one Jinhua, I wish you much happines, good health and prosperity for you and your family.

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year to you all!
The CLNY or called Spring Festival has a history of over 4000 years.It is said that long long ago,a kind of fierce monsters Nian in the mountains would come into villages to eat folks on the eve of the last day of each year.Folks were so scared.At last a saint thought of a way.He had bamboos burned.The burning fire and the cracking sound scared the monsters away.In order to celebrate the victory,folks circled round the fire,dancing and singing and eating and drinking.later on,firecrackers were insted of bamboo burning.And thus the Spring Festival came into being.
The Spring Festival is a festival for family reunion.
Our Chinese has a deep ROOT concept.When the Spring Festival comes,no matter how far away you are from hometwon,you will come back home from your working place to have a family reunion.
On the eve of the festival,family memberes will sit round the dish table,eating and chatting and drinking,while watching the spring festival gala broadcasting by CCTV.During the feast,elders will deliver yashuiqian(money tips) to kids.Mmm,this makes you feel the thick love among family members.and I feel,any modern civilazation seems to be pale and weak compared with this true love atmosphere.When the clock strikes twelve,announcing the arrival of the new year,wowowow,kids will go outside to let off firecrackers and this will last till daybreak.The loud noise will make one ear-hearing lost and the smoking clouds under the dime light are floating about in the air with thick gunpowder smell.
The Spring Festival is a festival of eating
We Chinese do not like to spend money at random in the mean days.But during the festival,money is spent like pouring water Baskets after baskets of food stuff are purchased to home.Neighbors east,are killing pigs and neighbors west are killing sheep.It seems as if they had forecast a third world war would break out.forthe 15 continuous days,the main tasks for us is to eat and eat and eat.
The Spring Festival is a festival for entertainment
From January 1 to January 15 (Lunar calendar),many kinds of entertainment activities will be perfermed on the main streets in towns and cities.The most traditional ones will be the Lion Dance,Running Dried Boats,Walking on Stilts,and Watching Color Lanterns.In the temples,all kinds of operas are showing on.Young gals and boys dressed in fine clothes like to go the temple fairs.If luck enough,he or she might find a heart-lover.):
The Spring Festival is a festival of going relatives
In the usual time people often say'Too busy and have no time'.Well,this long holiday gives them a good time to go relatives.When meeting together,greetings will go on like this:What about you in the last year? Have you made a lot of money? Everyone in your family is okay?Then harvest is not bad,isn't it?What are you planning to do this year?...
Kids like to go relatives with their parents.They want to earn some 'yashuiqian' from uncles and aunts.
Welcome you to my home for the festival some day in the future!

Jianhua, just reading your description makes me already a part of your celebration :) Thank you for telling us about it.

I have been reading about some US Spring Celebration festivals, but they are not anything like what you describe. They last 1-2 days only, then back to work.

My parents were privileged to visit your lovely land a few years ago ('96); they brought back many photos, a few souvenirs, and an experience that was very moving. The silk rug from that trip hangs in a place of honor in our home. I think of you whenever I see it.

Jinhua, thanks for such a great detailed explanation of your activities during this holiday. It is indeed a good time to visit relatives, and catch up with all the news.

Takes me back to our years in Singapore when we were stationed there and it was great fun. I hope I can still remember this Jianhua...........

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI

Louisa, I was going to try to say that, but we of courese say it the way we hear it, and I have found that the Chinese, never understand me when I try to say something in chinese to them. There is an expression in Chinese that means "foggy in the brain" and for years we have been saying "mong cha cha", which is how we learned it, well let me tell you, not one chinese in china ever knew what I was talking about....I think it must have been a very coloquaial saying.....(or my accent just butchered it to no end....)
I must use that expression 3-4 times a day...
Another pronounciation story I have:
I had a customer from taiwan who came to the US and he and I traveled for a week, he barely spoke English, so it was all sign language, his name was written Chou, so I called him mr. Chuo, like the "choo" choo choo train, then a year later I was in Taiwan and he visited me, and again I went on and on "mr. chou" then as I was leaving, he said "who is mr. chou? and I said, you are mr. chou, arent you? and he said, no, my name is is mr. ZHOU, sounding more like
jzhoe...(JOE with a ZH in front of it kinda) well, you can imagine how embarassed I was.....oh well, you live and learn
Jinhua, gong hey fat choi

Here is a card for you Jinhua
(recycled card - lol - I got it from a customer)

does it say "make lots of money"???

Happy Chinese New Year! May the Year of the Sheep bring prosperity and happiness to everyone...but I must admit that I am partial to the Year of the Dog! Jianhu..Ni Hao Ma? I hope many lucky money envelopes came your way!

Thank you Jianhua, for taking time to share the information regarding the holiday season. It is very fascinating!!
farizona

Dear friends,
I am about to leave my birth town,
and to teach in the far southeast.
When all is settled down,
I will come here as usual by school puter.
Happy gardening!

good luck Jianhua

Best wishes Jianhua! I will keep you and your family in my prayers that your life will be good and long with lots of happiness. I will look forward to your return to Dave's Garden.

The very best of wishes Jianhua. God go with you!!

Have a great time! We will be waiting for your posts.

Good luck!

I haven't forgotten about the students.When you get settled,I'll get you connected with a high school here in the US.

Hello dear friends,
Yes,I have settled down in the new school.
The school is very beautiful with hills around it
and a reservor in front of it.
Now new school term is just beginning,
so i am very vusy these days.
I will come and meet all of you soon.
Thanks ,friends!

I am glad you are at your new school. Fill us in when you have the time!

I bet this is an exciting time for you. Let us know what it is like there when you have the time. Can your students email us to practice?