Sunday, January 25, 2009

Chinese New Year

Today, January 26th, is Chinese New Year. We went to the university's Chinese student presentation/performance to eat and check out the festivities. This is Sloane in her best Chinese New Year outfit: red bow, red coat, red dress. The coming year is the year of the Ox, so that means Sloane was born in the year of the Rat, which on the surface seems unfortunate; however, those born in the year of the Rat are often charismatic leaders. The Rat is the first sign of the twelve animal zodiac calendrical system and Rat people therefore are naturally endowed with intelligence and tenacity. The opposite of Rat, if there is such a thing, is Pig, better known in my family as Pig-dog or Swine. It is last of the twelve. Pig people, in addition to carrying the dubious distinction of a porcine demeanor, are notoriously lazy and belligerent, though there are those who break the mold.

This is a small version of a Beijing Opera mask. All of the little kids got these presents.

Sloane with professors Terry and Faye Kleeman.

On Chinese New Year's eve, Chu Xi, parents or older family members usually give red enevlopes filled with cash to younger children. You cannot give just any amount of money. If the first number in the total amount given is an odd number, as in 100 dollars, then this sum is inappropriate. These sums are traditionally presented at funerals and are placed in white envelopes. Red envelopes given during Chinese New Year must contain even numbers, like 200, 600, etc. For Sloane this was just another thing that she could chew on.

The cash inside must have a sour taste.

2 comments:

mrs. farlanderz said...

Happy new year!!!
Remember how we sent up that lantern last year? Twas a good year.

Anonymous said...

明年在台灣過年,Sloane可以拿到好多紅包喔!