Sunday, February 10, 2013

Chinese New Year part II

Chinese New Year is a really big deal…really big deal…

I didn't know much about Chinese New Year until I came here.  Chinese New Year is the first day of the lunar calendar, and is THE major holiday of year.  The last week has been spent filling red envelopes or "hong bao" to be given to those who have been helpful to you all year.  The girls have learned a lot about the various customs and celebrations and participated in the school show.  Katie and the rest of the 2nd graders all sang a traditional song in Mandarin.  Emily's entire 5th grade class performed a lion dance.  Emily played the drums, like father like daughter!


Lots of fireworks and firecrackers all last night, with the loudest at midnight. We even saw one of the gate guards lighting up their own box of fireworks, all the while with a cigarette dangling in his mouth.  And these are not the "Monterey Park-freedom fireworks" - not at all.  They are huge, light-up-the-sky professional-level fireworks.  These would never be sold in the US, much too dangerous.

KFC special deal bucket for NY with a string of firecrackers under the KFC logo
Budweiser in the "Year of the Snake" can
Duck gizzards
Duck feet
I added these last two images because I thought the smiling duck with "thumbs up" was a little too cutesy with the web feet and gizzards.  just saying…

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