Chinese New Year

Did you know Chinese New Year starts Sunday, February 18th of this year? We had hoped to go to an official celebration but the weather and other things are going to prevent that this year. Hopefully, next year we will be able to go. We will plan a mini-celebration here at home this year.

Here are a few facts about Chinese New Year:

1. Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

2. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.

3. The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.

Just for fun, I looked up our signs. I'd say they were spot on!

Randy: Dog: Dogs have a keen sense of right and wrong and are duty bound. Their mantra is: "live right, look out for the little people, and fight injustice whenever possible"
Jan: Tiger: Sensitive; emotional; and stubborn about what they think is right. (I think that is the same as saying "control freak")
Judson: Horse: High capacity for hard work; energetic; fond of travel
Sawyer: Monkey: Charming; energetic; craving fun, activity, & stimulation; upbeat; show offs
Ansley: Rooster: Definite in decision making; flashy dresser; extravagant to the extreme (she's showing signs of all of these!)