Jan. 30th, 2006 10:08 pm
chinese new year
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toastykittenJust a few years ago, Chinese spent the Lunar New Year — their most celebrated holiday — preparing feasts at home. But now, increasingly wealthy and busy, they are splurging on restaurant banquets.
I think it's cruel to have people work on the Lunar New Year.
I spent New Year's Eve dinner with my family. We arrived late because of all the San Francisco traffic. I wish they would just build the damn bridge already. It took us nearly two hours to get to Oakland, and my dad got pissed off at me, which isn't a good way to start off the new year. Anyway, it was quickly forgotten, and we sat down to a very yummy meal, full of symbols of long life and good fortune. We had nine plates exactly, the number nine being symbolic of a long life. Mark and I bought my parents some chocolates, and I picked up a pummelo on the way home. The cashier wished me a happy new year.
The next morning, I arrived at our house, too late to watch my dad set off firecrackers. The rest of my family gathered to have a vegetarian breakfast. (I think you're not supposed to have meat on the first day.) This time there were six plates. I forget what the number six means. When we were much younger, we would wake up extra early, five in the morning, before my sisters had to leave for school and work, to eat together.
New Year's is my favorite holiday. It's about the only time of the year when my family doesn't fight, when my parents encourage us to eat specially made Chinese junk food, and of course, all the money in the form of red envelopes definitely helps.
I think it's cruel to have people work on the Lunar New Year.
I spent New Year's Eve dinner with my family. We arrived late because of all the San Francisco traffic. I wish they would just build the damn bridge already. It took us nearly two hours to get to Oakland, and my dad got pissed off at me, which isn't a good way to start off the new year. Anyway, it was quickly forgotten, and we sat down to a very yummy meal, full of symbols of long life and good fortune. We had nine plates exactly, the number nine being symbolic of a long life. Mark and I bought my parents some chocolates, and I picked up a pummelo on the way home. The cashier wished me a happy new year.
The next morning, I arrived at our house, too late to watch my dad set off firecrackers. The rest of my family gathered to have a vegetarian breakfast. (I think you're not supposed to have meat on the first day.) This time there were six plates. I forget what the number six means. When we were much younger, we would wake up extra early, five in the morning, before my sisters had to leave for school and work, to eat together.
New Year's is my favorite holiday. It's about the only time of the year when my family doesn't fight, when my parents encourage us to eat specially made Chinese junk food, and of course, all the money in the form of red envelopes definitely helps.