The run-up to Chinese New Year is very busy. It's not just about getting the chores done and the house cleaned, it's also about getting the right foods to prepare. How you behave on the first days of the year will set the tone for the rest of the year. It's important to eat well, do good things and be nice.
The Year 2006 (Fire Dog) is the 4703 year. (The first king of China is the Yellow king, who began his reign in 2697 B.C. 2697+2006 = 4703). Dog year is yang ('masculine' and attributed with structure).
People born in dog years are attentive, well meaning, helpful, warm-hearted, altruistic, modest, devoted, philosophical, dutiful, discreet, intelligent and enthusiastic. They can also be nasty, mean-spirited, disagreeable, bad-tempered, self-righteous, judgmental, quarrelsome, accusing, nervous, anxious and impossible to live with. Hmmm, I'm not a dog but some of those traits describe me to a 't'!
Chinatown was prepared for the festivities. The lanterns were all hung with great care, all in red and yellow, in readiness for tomorrow when the festivities begin. Most of the shops will give a red envelop to the dancing dragon that will come through the shop for good luck in the new year.
The delivery trucks were in full force. This is a big shopping time, to buy all the goodies that you need. We started early to get the freshest things and to avoid the crowds.
The streets were still fairly empty at 9:30am and I was even able to take photos.
You need to buy some roast meats too. The french call this roast duck, canard lacqué. It's really apted description since the duck does look lacquered.
We could see the streets filling up with crowds as we left the shops, successful with our purchases.
May your new year be filled with prosperity, happiness and longevity.
Don't forget your 'Gung Hay Fat Choy!' and don't forget to ask for your lai-sees... because all unmarried people get to prosper in the new year.
Posted by atu at January 28, 2006 07:09 PM | TrackBackGung Hay Fat Choy! I hope I'm not too late with the greeting. Wishing you the best of everything for your celebrations.
Posted by: Louise at February 2, 2006 08:19 AMHi Polly,
Happy New Year! I wanted to comment about your wonderful post on your Paw-paw. I lost my Lola Gertrude this past June, and hopefully her 1st anniversary will be celebrated in style with the joining of the families again.
I wish you prosperity and good health,
Kimberly
=:8
I love this post, Polly. Gung hay fat choy backatcha! xoxoxoox
Posted by: Ann at January 31, 2006 05:46 PMHappy New Year Polly.
Really enjoyed reading your post. Great photos. Did you get to see the chinese lanterns in Oxford Circus, really pretty, and much better than the Christmas lights I think...
Jan xx
Posted by: Jan at January 31, 2006 10:47 AMHappy New Year Polly
The photos look great of Chinatown. Lovely to read about grandmother again too.
Sarah x
Posted by: Sarah at January 31, 2006 09:31 AMHi Polly!
Happy new year to you too! I too call my dad's mum por por. I don't know why.. my mum's mum is ah mah and that's because my mum's side of the family are Hokkiens and that's what granny is called in that dialect. Good to know that I am not the only person going around confusing all other Chinese people by calling my dad's mum porpor.
Posted by: celia at January 31, 2006 01:37 AMhappy new year ! and i love your story about your granny ,yes chineese woman was very nice poeple and the life was so dificult for all of her
But they never complain or want change any things of they life ..this is a very goog lesson for all of us .
Asian food ..is so good but i do not enjoy it in England i prefere Asian food in france , i think the taste is more close that the real Asian taste
Happy New Year.
Health and Happiness to you and yours
all the best to you and to the next read sweater!
Posted by: stinkerbell at January 30, 2006 05:58 PMHappy New Year! I love the photos of Chinatown. I didn't make it to London yesterday as mrpao was ill but we're planning a trip in mid-Feb to see the Chinese lanterns in Oxford Street and sweet and biscuit city in Selfridges.
Posted by: mrspao at January 30, 2006 05:16 PMHappy New Year! I love the photos of Chinatown. I didn't make it to London yesterday as mrpao was ill but we're planning a trip in mid-Feb to see the Chinese lanterns in Oxford Street and sweet and biscuit city in Selfridges.
Posted by: mrspao at January 30, 2006 05:16 PMHappy New Year! May the year of the dog be good to you, your family and your yarn (it all wants to be knit up...).
Posted by: Anmiryam at January 30, 2006 02:40 PMhappy new year, dear polly! love the husband's heart shaped face!
btw, us married folks won't prosper at all?
Posted by: kris at January 30, 2006 09:33 AMGung hei fat choy! Thanks for the pictures, esp. the yummy canard laqué (my favourite) :-)
Posted by: Stéphanie at January 30, 2006 09:16 AMHappy New Year, Polly.
Posted by: linda at January 30, 2006 04:05 AMHappy New Year!!
Posted by: eyeleen at January 30, 2006 03:34 AMGung Hay Fat Choy, Polly!! From a dragon year...my daughter is a dog year though, and she SO reflects all the qualities you listed. :-) May your new year be filled with love and prosperity!
Posted by: Judy at January 29, 2006 06:50 PMPolly
Gung Hey fatt Choy. Here's wishing you and the family happiness, prosperity and longevity.
I love it that you put a red heart on hubby's head when I could think of all sorts of things I'd stick on mine! (No not really....but I'd be tempted ;)
Happy New Year.
Gung hei fat choy!! All the best for the coming year. Love the photos of London Chinatown!
Posted by: joy at January 29, 2006 04:30 PMGung Hay Fat Choy! to you and your family then.
Would it be impolite to ask what zodiac animal you are?
I'm supposedly a Fire-year born Sheep. I found the general descriptions of that sign (genuinely nice people -- charming, amiable, and sympathetic to the needs of others... a lively imagination, and can sometimes be seen by others as dreamers and musers... highly accomplished in the arts... always passionate about what they do and what they believe in... the most creative and expressive of all the Signs in the Chinese Zodiac)
to be quite interesting.
Another great post, Polly, happy new year!
Posted by: Jill at January 29, 2006 01:43 PMHappy New Year!!!
Posted by: Colleen at January 29, 2006 01:38 PMGong Hey Fat Choi!!
Wish you all the best!
Happy New Year from a fire dog!
Posted by: Wibbo at January 29, 2006 10:12 AMDear Polly,
Happy Chinese new year ! Wish you and your family all the best in Year of Dog !
Eva
Posted by: Eva Shiu at January 29, 2006 09:00 AMGung hay fat choy!
We're heading down to Canal Street tomorrow--when will we see you? xoxo Kay
Posted by: Kay at January 29, 2006 05:08 AMHappy New Year Polly!!
Posted by: elisabeth at January 29, 2006 03:24 AMGong Hee Fatt Choy to you too! Love the photos of Chinatown.
Posted by: erin at January 29, 2006 02:47 AMYou're becoming one of my favorite "must read" blogs!! Thanks for this beautiful pictorial - all the reds are so striking and love the shy hubby. heh Happy New Year to you and thanks for sharing this with us. The "way to act on New Years" info is so helpful!! heh
Posted by: Laura at January 29, 2006 02:46 AMHappy New Year Polly! Wishing you good health and happiness.
Posted by: gill at January 29, 2006 02:06 AMHappy Healthy New Year to you and yours Polly!
Posted by: Debi at January 29, 2006 01:27 AMHappy New Year Polly. We had planned a trip to Chinatown tomorrow, not realising until today that it was New Year. May give it a miss now!
Posted by: Mary at January 29, 2006 12:00 AMHappy CNY, Polly!
Posted by: Rossana at January 28, 2006 11:59 PMHappy New Year!
Posted by: Chris at January 28, 2006 11:25 PMHappy New Year, Polly! Thanks for the great pics. :-)
Posted by: Stasia at January 28, 2006 11:24 PMHope you have a happy and prosperous New Year, with many finished objects to show for it (and no more confiscated needles! :-)
Posted by: Beth S. at January 28, 2006 11:08 PMGung Hay Fat Choy Polly, to both you and your family.
So tell me more about this unmarried people prospering thing.......
Posted by: jacqueline at January 28, 2006 09:37 PMHappy New Year from one dog to you!
Too many of those traits apply to me, but I'm not admitting which ones!
Posted by: Laura at January 28, 2006 09:16 PMOhhh thanks for the wonderful photos of the decorated streets and descriptions. I never tire of reading about both your knitting and Chinese customs---two of my favorite things as my daughter was boirn in China.
Good luck with your preparations. I fear that we still have a bit to go with ours---still need to get the new couplets on the door. We also have a bit of time as we are in the USA!
I send you two tnagerines with leaves and stems and best wishes for much health and prosperity!
Happy New Year! May it bring many good things (or at least some fun new sock yarn) your way!
Posted by: Theresa at January 28, 2006 08:59 PMGung Hay Fat Choy, Polly! I wish you and your family Happiness and Health in the coming year ... and lots of knitty pleasures for you!
Posted by: Agnes at January 28, 2006 08:21 PMI wish you plenty of happiness and all sorts of good things for the new year. A.x
Posted by: Amelia at January 28, 2006 08:15 PMPolly, thank you for yet another beautiful post about your culture.
may the New year bring you health and happiness
Yvonne
Posted by: Yvonne at January 28, 2006 08:06 PM