Chinese New Year

We waited for great anticipation for Chinese New Year.

We'd heard so many wonderful things.

Fireworks.

Parades.

Dragon dances.

Good food.

Fun traveling.

Red envelopes.

It sounded intriguing to us.

Here is what the Encyclopedia Britannica says about the origin of the holiday:  "The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years ago a monster named Nian (“Year”) would attack villagers at the beginning of each new year. The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the color red, so those things were used to chase the beast away."

As it turns out, the holiday was quite uneventful for us.  We don't have family here to celebrate it with and that is the focus--time off work to spend with family.  For a country who works ALL of the time, it is a very welcome break.   

The eve of the New Year is the most important to them.  They look forward to this like we do Christmas Eve.  They gather with family and friends and have a very big meal.  We learned, that historically and even currently for those living in the country, it is the only time of the year they have meat.  They just can't afford it more than that.  Then after the meals they do fireworks.  

We were out and about on the eve on the lunar new year and the streets were empty.  The shops were closed.  It was quiet.  We thought we would hear and see fireworks that night, but we didn't hear but a few.  It was a very boring night for us.  We went to bed early.  The next day also passed quietly.  

Tom had a week off of work, but the girls still had school so we kept our activities to a minimum.  We did go to Nanjing for a night and had lunch with Branch members the next day before catching a train back home.  

All through the week we kept waiting to see dragon dances, fireworks, parades etc, but it was not to be.  Then at last minute (as we are learning everything functions here) we were invited to the company New Year's dinner.  There we saw the dragon dances, ate a big meal (although it was NOT good) and the girls received red envelopes and heard 15 minutes of straight fireworks blown up in the middle of the day. (You couldn't see them a bit!  But it is all about the noise, so I guess it was an effective use of money!)  Tessa also sang a number for the variety show.  It was fun for her to sing for a crowd of over 1,000 people.  She did amazing and the crowd loved it!

President Hu joining in the dragon dance.

Beef tendon, intestine, jelly fish, and other unidentifiable food....but this is the table after 12 people ate from it, so you can see not even the Chinese cared much for it....

Tom and I holding the good luck chest.  

All in all a very interesting experience, but I think we'll travel next year....