Happy Water Tiger Year

It’s Chinese New Years time. This Spring Festival (Lunar New Years) is going to be more subdued than usual because of the Covid – again. This is the year 4719 in the ancient Chinese calendar. I enjoyed some great holiday celebrations during the twelve years I lived in China. We would travel, along with literally a billion others. It was truly the largest party in the world. The photo is from my wife’s family home. I got to place the door guardians on the front door.

Chinese New Years Fireworks – 2008 My first Chinese New Years Celebration. Hangzhou.

Check out my China Collage pages for photo-essays about my time in China. China Collage

My wife and I first met face-to-face on New Years. Because of the long holiday we could have time together. Her family went back to the hometown and we had the family apartment to ourselves. To say our time together was magical would be an understatement. My wife (then future wife) called her family and for the first time I spoke to them her brothers and sister wished me Happy New Years. In my wife’s family, her mom was the boss. So if mom liked you, you were in. I will never forget her mom’s happy laugh when I told her Gong Hei Fat Choi – Cantonese for wishing you great happiness and prosperity. My wife’s family are Cantonese. Cantonese are wonderful to celebrate holidays with.

The photo is a blessing my mother-in-law gave us. I have reverently placed it on the back of the door in every place we have lived.

Good Luck Celestial Lion Ceremony at Family Home

Like me, my wife’s mom and dad passed away so the holidays are a little less festive. My mother-in-law always made sure to have the candy we both liked. Her favorite New Years food was kou rou – taro with braised pork belly. Each year, I was honored when she would pluck a hunk of fatty pork from the dish and place it in my bowl with a nod of the head, saying “Lao Zhuang” (My family nickname).

Celestial Lion in my Wife’s Home Village. Although the ambiance isn’t so great, the food is tasty in this little restaurant. It is next to the village’s sacred tree. Every Chinese village has an ancient tree spirit which brings prosperity to everyone who offers respect.

Check out the wildest celebration you will ever see!

WITF New Years Firecracker Dragon Battle. One of my brave students filmed this for me.

Beautiful artistry. Awesome New Years Dragon Dance

Lantern Day is the last day of the Chinese New Years When I was the managing editor of a monthly magazine, I went to a food festival with my wife and my friend and fellow magazine editor Candice. It was a crazy time.

Check out my YouTube channel Positive Light for more videos.

All across Asia family and friends are calling, texting, video chatting and wishing friends and family a Happy New Year! HAPPY NEW YEARS – Xin Nian Kuai Le!!!