Spring Festival
It's New Year's Eve, all over again!
I woke up this morning to the sound of roosters crowing; not a normal sound for 21st century urban China! This is because over the past couple of days, people here have been buying chickens and roosters to keep on their balconies until today. They stuff them full of grain, and then later today there will be a great slaughtering of all these chickens, because the big Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) feast is traditionally held tonight.
Everywhere are red decorations; red is a very propitious colour and will supposedly bring good luck. Children get given money in small red envelopes (hong bao) for good luck, and tonight there will be fireworks - the traditional firecrackers have been banned for years.
My family has been given lots of fruit, melon seeds, and zongzi, which are triangular bundles of sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. The ones we have are made with small kidney beans and have chestnuts hidden inside.
To add to all the excitement, there is a stray cat on heat wandering around our campus, yowling at the most inappropriate moments. People don't normally get their cats speyed or neutered here.
Bring on the festivities. It's nice to be on holiday finally.
I woke up this morning to the sound of roosters crowing; not a normal sound for 21st century urban China! This is because over the past couple of days, people here have been buying chickens and roosters to keep on their balconies until today. They stuff them full of grain, and then later today there will be a great slaughtering of all these chickens, because the big Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) feast is traditionally held tonight.
Everywhere are red decorations; red is a very propitious colour and will supposedly bring good luck. Children get given money in small red envelopes (hong bao) for good luck, and tonight there will be fireworks - the traditional firecrackers have been banned for years.
My family has been given lots of fruit, melon seeds, and zongzi, which are triangular bundles of sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. The ones we have are made with small kidney beans and have chestnuts hidden inside.
To add to all the excitement, there is a stray cat on heat wandering around our campus, yowling at the most inappropriate moments. People don't normally get their cats speyed or neutered here.
Bring on the festivities. It's nice to be on holiday finally.
2 Comments:
Hey Estie,
It's great to be able to catch up so quickly and from so far away! Good to hear you're having fun. Life in Chch is pretty usual. Navs this year will be pretty full on which will keep me busy! Yay for Navs! Guess what?! I have the answer to your poll thingy!!! The real one too! Hermil is now inhabited by four new girls called ShaRon, Chantell, Lisa and Chrissy! Mostly Christians & the first two are Navs people! How funny is that? I had a good laugh when I showed up at their house the other day. For some reason they are trying to find a new name though...
I'll email you proper sometime, but for now God bless!
Emilie :)
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