Happy New Year 2008 - The Year of the Rat! This is one of the biggest celebrations in China. Decorations are everywhere - in shops, along walkways and in homes. Red is the preferred color as it means good luck. It's all about luck and good fortune around here. This holiday is a time for families to get together, homes are cleaned from top to bottom, everyone gets new clothes, school lets out for 2 weeks and most shops are closed.
The decorations are only the beginning of the festivities. Thursday night was the Night Parade along the harbor in Kowloon - it included dancers, bands, floats, rats, and of course, dragons. Friday had an amazing fireworks display. Five barges in the harbor sent off fireworks continuously for about 25 minutes while buildings all around the harbor put on a laser light show. (A smaller laser show is presented every night at 8pm). A thunderous sound echoed off all the tall buildings. Sorry, but none of my pictures did it justice.
One of my favorite aspects of this holiday are the flowers! The New Year heralds the coming of spring around here and there are huge flower markets all week as well as displays around town. You buy flowers according to your needs for the coming year: Prosperity, romance, good health, etc.
We spent Saturday serving in the Temple. It's one of the busiest Temple days of the year and a favorite day for the Philippina sisters to come to the Temple and remember their families back home.....
Kung Hei Fat Choy!
Happy New Year 2008 - The Year of the Rat! This is one of the biggest celebrations in China. Decorations are everywhere - in shops, along walkways and in homes. Red is the preferred color as it means good luck. It's all about luck and good fortune around here. This holiday is a time for families to get together, homes are cleaned from top to bottom, everyone gets new clothes, school lets out for 2 weeks and most shops are closed.
The decorations are only the beginning of the festivities. Thursday night was the Night Parade along the harbor in Kowloon - it included dancers, bands, floats, rats, and of course, dragons. Friday had an amazing fireworks display. Five barges in the harbor sent off fireworks continuously for about 25 minutes while buildings all around the harbor put on a laser light show. (A smaller laser show is presented every night at 8pm). A thunderous sound echoed off all the tall buildings. Sorry, but none of my pictures did it justice.
One of my favorite aspects of this holiday are the flowers! The New Year heralds the coming of spring around here and there are huge flower markets all week as well as displays around town. You buy flowers according to your needs for the coming year: Prosperity, romance, good health, etc.
We spent Saturday serving in the Temple. It's one of the busiest Temple days of the year and a favorite day for the Philippina sisters to come to the Temple and remember their families back home..... Kung Hei Fat Choy!
1 comment:
Wow these are great pictures. It's great to hear you are enjoying yourselves. I do miss seeing Dr. Jones at work but I guess he's just doing different work and with this blog and can see it too.
Post a Comment