[Dean]

Today is the first day of the New Year on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The festival starting at midnight last night, is the biggest holiday in China. This is the Year Of The Boar.
I sent my wife home to Shenyang to celebrate with her family. This has been her first opportunity to return home in 7 years. The Chinese culture believes in luck and most of there traditions revolve around it. The amount of food consumed is staggering. In the North, dumplings and fish are eaten at midnight. The feast represents togetherness and abundance for the coming year. The house must be completely cleaned before New Year's Eve and never pick up a broom until after New Year's Day for fear of sweeping out the luck. The "hung bao" is given to the younger people in the family, little red (the lucky color) envelopes, called lai see, that contain money. There is too much to go into here for fear of boredom.

In any case, I know my wife is having one of the best times of her life and with so many relatives to visit, she probably won't get musch rest for the five weeks (although, she will be fed good).

I would like to wish you all "Gong Xi Fa Chai" and may the Year Of The Boar be healthy and prosperous for you all.

Peace, Dean

[Yvonne]

Happy Chinese New Year to you, too, Dean, and thank you for the insight. I speak with many people in China through my work and they really do deserve their week off. I know you must miss Amy terribly, but I am sure that she'll be back before you know it. I hope she's having a real good time in Shenyang with her family.

[voice1]

In America, we refer to this year as the "Year of the Bore" or, "The Year of the Sarbo". Same thing really.

[June]

Happy Chinese New Year to you !

[Gary]

Top post Deano, we have a huge Chinese population in Melbourne and the New Year festivals have come to form part of our own culture now. It is a truly wonderful time of the year.

[johnofphilly]

They must have had a parade in S.F.

Happy Chinese New Year to you too, Dino. A Happy New Year to Amy as well. I hope the next five weeks fly by quickly for the both of you.

[Rhodalee]

A very happy New Year to Amy, and to you too.

Does everyone know what year they were born in on the Chinese calendar? It figures, I was born in the year of the Dog.

Rhodalee

[Dean]

Thanks everyone.

Good question, Rho.

I was born in the Year Of The Rat, which is the first year in the 12 year cycle.

Peace, Dean

BTW, Rhoda, from the Chinese Cultural Center of SF website
People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit.
Socrates, George Gershwin, Benjamin Franklin, Herbert Hoover, and David Niven were all born in the Year Of The Dog.

[Nancy]

Same to you, Dean, from a Dragon! (Pretend that's fire. )

[Dean]

Originally Posted by Nancy

from a Dragon! (Pretend that's fire. )

Thanks Nancy, yes, let's pretend it is fire, otherwise I fear that the dragon may have had a little too much to drink at last night's celebration.

Peace, Dean

<< The amount of food consumed is staggering.>>

Enjoy Dean,but don't make a "PIG" of yourself!

[Rhodalee]

<<People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues.>>

Oy, sorry I said anything, it sounded good at the beginning, but the rest is awful.

Rhodalee

[Dean]

Hey Rho, if there's one thing we know it's that you're not distant at parties. And of course you<<possess the best traits of human nature>>

Peace, Dean

[Rhodalee]

Thanks Dean, and at least I always have money

Maybe I should buy Rick a dinner.

Rhodalee

[Karyn]

Happy Chinese New Year to you too Dean.

My sister in law is Chinese and goes home (she lives in Malaysia)every year for a couple of months to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family and friends. We went out to visit her at the tail end of the celebrations a few years ago, it was a wonderful experience. I am sure Amy is having a wonderful time but the separation must be hard, I know it is for my brother each year, he can't always go because of work commitments.

[donnah]

I,m the year of the Tiger..and born in the month of Leo the Lion. Surrounded by cats

True to form I love cats, and have had a cat in the house since I was born.

[Canela]

Happy Chinese New Years to you and your lovely Amy!

[Dean]

Thanks again everybody, and Amy sends her regards from Zhong guo (that's China in Mandarin).

Peace, Dean

[Susan]

Happy New Year Amy and Dean from a horse!

"The Pig is not a particularly good year for the Horse.

5 favorable and 7 unfavorable months

In general the best you can expect in a Pig year is to maintain your position."