Chinese New Year by Cory

"Gong Xi Fa Cai, Xin Nian Kuai Le!" It means "Best wishes for great wealth and prosperity for the New Year!" Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year.  It usually falls between the 20th of January and the 20th of February.  This year's Chines New Year falls on the 23rd of January.  It is the year of the Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac sign.  The Chinese Zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle with each year represented by an animal sign.  It starts with Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. I am a horse.

My family and I celebrate Chinese New Year because of my heritage.  I am half Chinese and half Caucasian.  Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days.  Friends and family visit each other during this time.

Things we do to get ready for Chinese New Year are clean the whole house to sweep out the old and bring in the New Year.  Buy new clothes, decorations, calligraphy, candles, tangerines, red envelopes, and plants. Get a new haircut and finish homework.

We usually take a trip to Chinatown to see the calligrapher to write special wishes for us to usher in the New Year.  In Chinatown, we watch the Dragon and Lion dances.  There were firecrackers going off at night at many stores.  they are clearing the way for good like to come pouring in their store.  There are many stalls set up along the streets where Gau (sticky cake), and freshly made candied fruits.  My favorite is the dried strawberry, pineapple, and mango...yum!

Reunion dinner is a very big part of celebrating Chinese New Year. It is celebrated on the eve of the New Year, and many family members will try to fly back from wherever they may be to eat dinner together.  My family and I go out to a Chinese restaurant to have dinner.  We had noodles for longevity, fish for abundance, and a sizzling platter.  To wrap up, we had fortune cookies.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, the first thing we did was eat something sweet to insure we have a whole year of sweet life.  In many parts of Asia, during the first and second day of Chinese New Year, people don't have to go to work because it is a public holiday for them, but here it is not a holiday. We still have to go to work or school.