Again this year, I am so happy I brought home some Chinese Lanterns when we returned from living in China. You just can’t find this stuff in our city. We were at an Asian Market in Halifax the day before Chinese New Year started and it made me sad. Well, it made me smile and then it made me sad. Many Chinese families were picking up supplies to celebrate the holiday. Food items, specific things, red couplets and decor, and gift boxed food items (Chinese people tend to give gifts of food) The selection and choices were pretty slim. It made me sad. How do they celebrate their MOST special holiday of the year? How do they get the items, that are so much of ancient tradition to do this? It made me happy that I thought ahead enough to bring a few special things with me. No, I don’t get new couplets year to year, and my simple yet beautiful decorations will have to carry me through the years as I remember the special time of my life I spent there, and as I continue to celebrate the country with special people and friendships made that will always and forever be in my heart.
Today is Lantern Day in China, a full moon, and the official end of the two weeks celebrating Lunar Chinese New Year/Spring Festival. Just wish I could see the lanterns at Qi pan shan find some tangyaun to eat…
Happy Lantern Day!
Check this out… Chinese Year of The Monkey…in Ottawa!!!
Just An East Coast Girl 