Well, Chinese New Year is just around the coner and i am very excited about it ( since i am a chinese....lol )hope no one will kill me by posting this....*help* O.oanyway, i just wanna know how it is celebrated in other places...like us, uk, canada......etc, it is not as big as christmas in those places but i am just curious how the celebration looks like... <!--emo&:huh:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='huh.gif' /><!--endemo--> well, for me...i just visit some people on that day...non-stop eating,new clothes...i guess... <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> it is the year of rooster, so i can see the rooster decoration and 'red' colour all over the mall....even small lanterns in my neighbourhood.i am glad that even i am in malaysia, i still get to celebrate this <!--emo&:)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

I will be going home and see my parents. For the first few days of the new year I am not able to wash clothes or wash my hair.Superstitions are fun.

I think we have Lion dancing over here in Vancouver. no doubt my cousins will be coming over from Vancouver island and we'll all go to parties, eat at expensive chinese resturaunts shopping, etc. <!--emo&:D--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Haha, too bad I am not living anywhere else except in M'sia. Well, I will go back to my hometown during Chinese New Year as well since reunion is very very very important for this celebration.

My high school and other high schools hosts the Chinese New Year celebration every year, before the new year though since during the new year people have places to go.Before the new year, we have to clean the house and make it nice and spiffy. We don't clean our house on the day of the new year.I'll be staying up late the day before new year and before the clock strikes midnight, everyone in the house is to not put their feet on the floor. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, I'm suppose to be the only one in the house with my feet on the floor and I have to walk around the house (upstairs, through the kitchen, etc.) There's a term for it but I don't know how it translates in English. I have to do this every year except on the year where it's incompatible with the year I was born. When morning comes, we have to make sure no one rings our doorbell first. Then I go outside, and up to the front door, ring the doorbell, my mom opens the door, and I say "Happy New Year!" and then she invites me in. So I represent the first person/guest to walk into the house at the beginning of year. I do this every year too except on the year where it's incompatible with my year. Superstitions again.Then, I'll be going to the temple in the morning for the big celebration there and to pray. Dragon dances, lion dances, and dances in general. My parents usually offer money to the temple. Last year the head monk wrote some Chinese calligraphy (don't know what it says in Chinese) and we received some and hung it around the house. Then we eat there, I receive some money from my mom's friends =) and we go home.My mom will be offering fruits and all that stuff to the people in my family who are deceased. And she also put offerings to Buddha, since we have a little altar in our house. Pray some more. Then I get money from my parents! If school is the next day, I get money from friends who are older me at school the next day <!--emo&;)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> Then I gamble with them playing some card games with the new year money I got. I usually win! <!--emo&:D--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Not sure about other parts of the US but its pretty much a family affair around here, any public celebration pales in comparison to anywhere over in asia. its a pretty big deal for my extended family, I usually go over to my uncles house and we gamble and eat the day away^^ I always end up broke since I usually give all my cash to my greedy little cousins -__-

Well, it's just my mom and I over here in Washington (the rainy one). If my dad's home from his business trip this year, we'll probably cook something yummy (probably). The New Year's money is only a plus. =D All our relatives are back in China, but I usually visit them around Christmas. (For some reason they like giving me "Christmas" money. o.o)

Lai si!! Lai si!!!

Might be going hback to Penang on CNY Eve. That is if the partners in the firm that I work in decides to give us the half day off. If not, then it's travelling on the first day of CNY.Not really too fond of going back to Penang. The weather there is very hot this time of the year and the streets are choked up with cars due to people visiting relatives.Plus, I get to stay at home and watch TV. CAn't do that in Penang when you are always on the move, going from one relative's house to another.

<!--QuoteBegin-pink-sakura+Jan 29 2005, 09:04 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pink-sakura @ Jan 29 2005, 09:04 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->My high school and other high schools hosts the Chinese New Year celebration every year, before the new year though since during the new year people have places to go.Before the new year, we have to clean the house and make it nice and spiffy. We don't clean our house on the day of the new year.I'll be staying up late the day before new year and before the clock strikes midnight, everyone in the house is to not put their feet on the floor. As soon as the clock strikes midnight, I'm suppose to be the only one in the house with my feet on the floor and I have to walk around the house (upstairs, through the kitchen, etc.) There's a term for it but I don't know how it translates in English. I have to do this every year except on the year where it's incompatible with the year I was born. When morning comes, we have to make sure no one rings our doorbell first. Then I go outside, and up to the front door, ring the doorbell, my mom opens the door, and I say "Happy New Year!" and then she invites me in. So I represent the first person/guest to walk into the house at the beginning of year. I do this every year too except on the year where it's incompatible with my year. Superstitions again.Then, I'll be going to the temple in the morning for the big celebration there and to pray. Dragon dances, lion dances, and dances in general.  My parents usually offer money to the temple. Last year the head monk wrote some Chinese calligraphy (don't know what it says in Chinese) and we received some and hung it around the house. Then we eat there, I receive some money from my mom's friends =) and we go home.My mom will be offering fruits and all that stuff to the people in my family who are deceased. And she also put offerings to Buddha, since we have a little altar in our house. Pray some more. Then I get money from my parents! If school is the next day, I get money from friends who are older me at school the next day <!--emo&;)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> Then I gamble with them playing some card games with the new year money I got. I usually win!  <!--emo&:D--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[snapback]27887[/snapback]

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->That's pretty darned organized for a celebration in the USA O_oThen again, I can't say much about it. I live in a very sparsely-populated (Chinese-wise) region.In South Carolina, the celebrations are either done by Chinese associations, independent or university. My city (Columbia) only has a university association, so I never get to see anyone my age <!--emo&-_---><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sleep.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sleep.gif' /><!--endemo-->;This year I might be going to my old city (Charleston), where they have an independent association, and have all of my old friends 'n stuff Can't wait!!!Chinese New Year is by far my favorite holiday. Christmas = meh. Others = meh.

<!--QuoteBegin-pink-sakura+Jan 30 2005, 10:04 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pink-sakura @ Jan 30 2005, 10:04 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Then I gamble with them playing some card games with the new year money I got. I usually win!  <!--emo&:D--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I forgot to mention this as well, haha. Since gamble is prohibited except in legalized places, we have to undergo it quietly. <!--emo&:P--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->

<!--QuoteBegin-pink-sakura+Jan 30 2005, 10:04 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pink-sakura @ Jan 30 2005, 10:04 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Then I gamble with them playing some card games with the new year money I got. I usually win!  <!--emo&:D--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Oh god when CNY's comes, my family and relatives have a week of celebrations and that means lots of food, beer, gambling and karaoke. As for the gambling, whenever all their money is used they just return what they've won and they start all over again -______- All in all, it's a very enjoyable period of the year for me. Everyone being in good spirits and all <!--emo&:)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Also since I'm getting older, I seem to get less money as each year passes by whereas the little ones (little=1yr) they get a whopping amount that makes me look pitiful. What are they gonna do with all that money? Buy a year's worth of dypers/baby food?!

Chinesse new year? i'll be calling home to my parents, grandparents and relatives, then i'll be sitting at home quietly, maybe with some friends over and have a gathering dinner.whole lots of us are not able to go home and celebratethe newyear with out parents and relatives, so we will think of something to pass that day.good enough we still got each others to keep us from feeling to low.

Red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes.red envelopes. <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&B)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cool.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> mmm i might have hua guo/hot pot with my family or go out. my family doesn't usually have a big celebration in u.s. cause most of our family is in taiwan. i'm pretty sure they have a big feast and all that fun stuff.i miss taiwan food. <!--emo&:(--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->

I am also looking for red envelopes with money ( hong bao in mandarin ), i am kindda out of cash now.....i also plan to play some firecracker, hope that i will not end up in jail by playing it( can't do that in my country now)......lol