HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Lunar what now?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar

 

Happy Slytherin!

From the perspective of the Gregorian Calendar we follow, that is understandable. Our calendar's dates start at what we consider to be the New Year, along with its twelve months divided into a set number of days, etc. etc.

However, many different cultures have completely different calendars, with their own months, own days, own festivites, etc. The Gregorian Calendar corresponds to the passage of time in a different way than the Chinese, Hindu, Mayan, or any other sort of calendar. All of these calendars are generally unique in how they divide up time. Sometimes they correspond to lunar phases, or crop growth cycles, or et cetera. But in the end they are all just different ways of observing the passage of time.

So no, they are not late unless they fall behind on days by reference of the Chinese calendar. Our Western calendar is irrelevant (generally).

 

That's why if you were born before February 10th of this year, you are considered born in the Year of the Dragon, not the snake.

 

Aren't time zones so interesting?

 

celebrating by eating chinese take-out for dinner
i would have had it for lunch too but we tried calling for like an hour and no one would answer ):

 

Can't blame people celebrating for festivities!

 

Least you guys aren't actually out here. It has literally been non-stop firecrackers since Friday. Day and night. I even saw one kid tossing small firecrackers off of the e-bike he was riding into the street.

But it has still been fun. I actually did more traditional things this year: cleaned the whole apartment, put red paper on the door for good luck (with D*sney characters on it, no less), got a red envelope from my boss, joined all of my coworkers for a traditional Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. Then New Year's Eve my boss and I were heading home an got treated to fireworks over West Lake. It was pretty, even with the snow on the ground.

Finally around midnight it sounded like war broke out because every family who could get their hands on fireworks (lit. everyone) set them all off at the same time. A cacophony of epic proportions, and I saw 10 shows going on at the same time where I live.

It's been great fun. The only downside is the entire country is completely closed down for the next four days for holiday. The Mouse gave all of us two full weeks off. My boss and I have been exploring the city's Bar Street the last couple of nights.

Anyway, Gongxi Facai (the actual way to say it I've been told), may you make lots of money, wishing you health and prosperity in the New Year. Many believe that this year will be good because it follows the Dragon year.

 

Nashida, where do you live? Sounds fun, glad you had a good one!