Chinese New Year 2010 - Year of the Tiger

(Bailey, clearly does whatever she wants and we let her for some reason. Now the table is a place to beg from when we are on the couch and easy access from her orange throne to the right)

We have a 4 day weekend for Chinese New Year. Mark and I don't really do much celebrating of Chinese New Year, at least not like the locals who have a big family get together and meals together over these few days.

This is the year of the tiger and people born in 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010 are “tigers". I'm a rat. (that's 1972, 1984, 1996 and also 2008 by the way)

Mark's mom is going to our niece Ella's school this coming week to talk about Chinese New Year and asked for some info from us.

Here's some basics for her reference and anyone else who is curious. Chinese New Year is officially 15 days long. But in Hong Kong, we have a 3 day celebration starting with Feb 14th which is the 1st day of Chinese New Year.

Feb 13th is Chinese New Year Eve and that's the night families get together at the most senior person's home usually, and have a big family dinner.

Today, the 1st day of Chinese New Year, I walked Bailey in the morning and enjoyed seeing all the families walking all dressed up in their CNY best on their way to see relatives.

These cute little girls loved seeing Bailey.

Even the little dogs get dressed up in their silky red best. On the second day, (that'll be Feb 15th the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

The third and fourth days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their parents-in-law. So, I'm sure Mark will be calling Gene and Maureen for a friendly chat.

The rest of the days are celebrate various things and family visits, all ending with the Lantern Festival which is held on the 15th night.

For Hong Kongers, this is like Christmas. Of course, the gifts are red envelopes with cash, which is much easier shopping than we put ourselves through for Christmas.

Also, all stores are selling nuts, cookies and candy so people can bring yummies when they visit people. Even setting up easy to access purchasing and gift wrapping stations outside of 711.

A few Chinese New Year sights from our neighborhood. Common to see people carrying giant bunches of flowers home, especially pussy willows.

An entire pig, hanging at the market, right next to the escalator that we took on our way to the subway station to see Avatar. Yum.

At the MTR (i.e. Subway) to Avatar, I enjoyed seeing a Dana sized door. I'm so tall in Hong Kong.