KennedysOnline

Chinese New Year is in full force here in Tianjin.  The fireworks and firecrackers that celebrate the new year and scare off any lurking bad luck are a regular feature of each day (and NIGHT).  We decided to take the advice of friends for New Year’s Eve (Sunday, January 26th).  We went to a Holiday Inn in one of the new business development zones in our city – away from the residential areas where the firecrackers are the worst.  From the 22nd floor, we enjoyed the show as spectators.  It was GREAT.

Today is the symbolic day for warding off evil people — lots of firecrackers and eating dumplings together.  Sealing the dumplings closed represents closing the mouths of any who would speak evil of you.  We are considering a short walk to the post office, but with thousands of strings of firecrackers on the ground between here and there, we may have to wait one more day to get that care package!

Chinese New Year also ushers in the Year of the Ox.  As Daniel and I are both oxen, we were pretty happy to read a short description of what the lunar calendar would suggest about us:

“Those born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others.If you need honest, steady and unbiased advice, call on the Ox.The downside is they can have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are generally easy-going, but they can be very stubborn, and hate to fail or be opposed. Oxen don’t care to be pushed, especially since they think they’re the good guys of the Chinese zodiac. There is some truth to that theory, since the Ox is smart, trustworthy, caring and honourable.” (taken from the BBC online)

Goodbye Year of the Rat!  Welcome Year of the Ox!