It's about to become the Chinese New Year and celebrations are going on around the world. Known as the Spring Festival - 春節, the Chinese traditionally spend 15 days seeing in their New Year - what a way to celebrate! There are also many many traditional customs that go on and this is wonderful that such a culture exists.
You can read about the variety of tasks undertaken, beliefs as well as cultural and traditional celebrations on Wikipedia. It seems to give far more meaning than western celebration and much more deep seated in their family, community and social life.
This year, starting 23 January 2012 is the Chinese year of the Dragon. I was born in the year of the Rooster. Some contrast to a Dragon eh?
The Dragon is seen as a force for power and good luck; a divine beast - the very opposite of the nasty animal devouring village maidens and often subject of slaying in spectacular and heroic myth. There is a sense of freedom with the Dragon and a reluctance to live by strict rules.
The BBC has some great and colourful pictures of the preparations for the celebrations here.
Well despite my moaning yesterday about the lack of sight of spring bulbs, one of my perennials in one of the tubs has decided to have a showing of gorgeous purple flower (pictured above) - perhaps as a consolation.
Chat soon
