Happy 4706!
*Gung Hay Fat Choy*! *Chuc Mung Nam Moi*! or Happy New Year for your English-speakers!
Above are the Chinese and Vietnamese ways of saying Happy New Year. No, our calendars aren’t off. We just traditionally follow a different one than the Western calendar.
Our new year is a huge celebration, traditionally lasting two weeks, that’s based around the lunar calendar. On the Gregorian calendar, that means Lunar New Year can fall anywhere between January 21 and February 20. This past Thursday marked the beginning of the Year of the Rat, which is the year 4706 or 4705 or 4645, depending on whose calculations you go by. Needless to say, the Chinese have been commemorating lunar new year for many generations.
I have fond memories of celebrating the new year at home as a child. The colors red and gold are considered lucky, so those were used in all decorations and garmets as much as possible. I also remember attending community celebrations in Atlanta, full of colorful dragon dances and wonderful food.
Elders always give children red envelopes of money, called *lai see* or *hong bao*, as a token of good luck through the coming year. People also set off fireworks to scare away any evil spirits. It’s also good luck to have the house clean from top to bottom before the new year. You’re to avoid any cleaning or sweeping ON the lunar new year, though, because that’s seen as sweeping away good luck and fortune for the rest of the year.
To find out what the Year of the Rat might hold for you, visit http://www.chiff.com/a/chinese-horoscopes.htm to find your fortune based on the year of your birth in the Chinese zodiac.
Happy Chinese New Year!
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About Me
I was born and raised in the hills of northeast Georgia, in a little town called Gainesville near the sparkling waters of Lake Lanier. My parents are Vietnamese immigrants who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago. The sacrifices they've made for me to have a better life have made them my inspiration. I feel extremely honored that you've chosen to put your trust in me. I'm happy to be here in Panama City, and I look forward to getting to know you.
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