Kung Hei Fat Choi

Happy Chinese New Year for tomorrow!!

I saw a post on How About Orange... about printable Chinese New Year Decorations from HP and had to make these guys:

I was lucky enough to live in China and Hong Kong from being a toddler untill I was 11 and it made a huge impression on me. Now it has morphed into a magical and almost mystical time. Chinese New Year was always the highlight of the year! Not only would people give you money in red packets. Strangers ( practically) giving you money! Can there be anything better? But the air was always scented with mandarins that just seemed to be in abudance.

The fireworks and the dragon dances gave even the darkest street a warm glow, and watching them snake through the city was awe inspiring. I am a Rooster in the chinese zodiac ( Principle Qualities: Honest, Frank Obliging and Couragous - Principal Defects: Vain, Thoughtless, Preoocupied with Aprearance - hmm thoughtless maybe...vain... never!). I also have a slight penchant for using the I Ching to help me make decisions. I have a old book I keep by my bed with 3 £ coins. I like the little snippets of wisdom you receive like " by fixing your eyes on the horizon you know how to evaluate distances." It always leaves you with something to think about!

Comments

[monika]

Thanks for the links. Looks like you had fun making these guys. I will print them out and make some with the girls to decorate for tomorrow. Sara really likes China. That is where she want to be. This will wonderful craft to make tomorrow. thanks!

[Lynn]

Hi, I read the principle defects for the rooster---and I disagree with them. You are one of the most thoughtful, generous people I know. I am also a rooster and I hope I don't have all of the principle defects. Happy Chinese New Year.

[Rebecca]

Hi, I stumbled across your blog via a link on Crafty Crafty to the baby owls. I may actually have to remember how to crochet just so I can make them!

Quick question for you: are there any traditions associated with the coins at CNY? What are you meant to do with them once you have them?

I only ask because I took part in the CNY celebrations in London this year, and there was a man from the Bank of China dressed as the Money God handing out those little red envelopes... I have mine in my handbag, but that's more because I'm not sure what to do with it now!

[Sonya]

Hi there, I'm another blog stumbler - from The Needle - and this post caught my eye, because I lived in HK for 8 years when I was a kid and have the same feelings about Chinese New Year. Ah, lai see.