Chinese New Year is in full swing. It’s the Year of the Goat/Sheep/Ram depending on where you are (it’s all the same, really). So HAPPY NEW YEAR to all those celebrating the Lunar calendar years. The holiday is also known as the Spring Festival here in China and has a sort-of quasi-religious feeling to it (though not strictly) that combines the elements of Christmas and New Year’s. It’s a time for family, which includes paying respects to deceased family members, setting off fireworks, eating traditional foods, among other activities. The holiday lasts for about a week, from the evening of February 17th until the 22nd. After that, it’s back to work. There are quite a few things to do in Beijing as the temples host several traditional celebrations and fairs. I have yet to be to any so I can’t say much more than that.
The last time I celebrated the Lunar New Year was back in 2013 when I was in Georgetown, Malaysia for the winter. I posted a video about the traditional Lion Dance that they perform for good luck in the new year.
One of my favourite songs, however, is the Gong Xi Gong Xi song. The song is about health and prosperity for the new year. In case you want to follow along, the lyrics are below:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/g_IS5BycMzE[/youtube]
每 条 大 街 小 巷，每 个 人 的 嘴 里
mei tiao da jie xiao xiang, mei ge ren de zui li
见 面 第 一 句 话，就 是 恭 喜 恭 喜
jian mian di yi ju hua, jiu shi gong xi gong xi
恭 喜 恭 喜 恭 喜 你 呀（２X)
gong xi gong xi gong xi ni ya (2X)
冬 天 已 到 尽 头， 真 是 好 的 消 息
dong tian yi dao jin tou, zheng shi hao de xiao xi
温 暖 的 春 风，就 要 吹 醒 大 地
wen nuan de chun feng, jiu yao cui xing da di
恭 喜 恭 喜 恭 喜 你 呀（２X)
gong xi gong xi gong xi ni ya (2X)
皓 皓 冰 雪 融 解，眼 看 梅 花 吐 蕊
hao hao bing xue rong jie, yan kan mei hua tu lei
漫 漫 长 夜 过 去，听 到 一 声 鸡 啼
man man chang ye guo qu, ting dao yi shen ji ti
恭 喜 恭 喜 恭 喜 你 呀（２X)
This next version is rather cute (and shorter). It features three animated children who I think are the Upin & Ipin kids (an animated show here), but I’m not sure. Anyway, the video is pretty accurate and reminds me of my childhood!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSY5r0XnOlE&feature=share[/youtube]
If I were more traditional this would be the 3rd new year for me: January 1 (Gregorian/Western calendar), January 17 (Julian calendar) and now February 18 (Lunar calendar). But I’m not. I didn’t go out for Dec 31/Jan 1 and without a Ukrainian community in China, January 17 was a non-event as well. Alas, Chinese New Year is the first New Year I actually celebrated. Happy New Year to all!