While most of you have already celebrated the holidays and passed into the new year, China is still looking forward to that wonderful event. Actually January 1st is observed, with many people having days off from work; but the BIG celebration falls on and around February 18th this year. The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and so varies from year to year (though always falling some time in January or February). It represents the coming of spring, thus the name "Spring Festival." Students get at least a month off from school and there is much shopping, traveling, returning home, special meals, and giving and receiving of "hong baos" (red envelopes containing money which are given to children). Did I mention there'll be lots of rapid popping firecrackers and, certain nights, beautiful fireworks? Right before the new year is also a good time for weddings. The coming year will be the year of the pig. So it is easy to find cartoon renderings of cute pigs dressed in Chinese outfits and holding out the character "Fu" for blessing throughout the city. Pig stuffed animals are everywhere and also golden pig statues and figurines. My understanding is that to have a baby born in this year of the pig is very fortunate, because it is also the year of the element gold. This only happens every 60 years. So this baby will be the "golden pig" of wealth and prosperity to your family. China may be in for a baby boom:) After all, babies are precious treasures and gifts from heaven.
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