The Lunar New Year is followed by traditional Chinese festivals as well as Muslim and Jewish festivals. this year Chinese New Year started on Feb 1st. Many people took off the rest of the week as a holiday. On Feb 6th all the good luck signs are up. What are the features celebrated? At my online Toastmasters club on Friday I was Topics Master, in charge of the questions for impromptu speeches of two minutes. I asked each person to tell us what they knew about Chinese New Year.
People were celebrating in China, especially in Beijing, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, cities in the USA, and in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Beijing celebrated with the traditional, noisy, lion dance. But in Singapore the lion dances were banned, as is singing. Even talking on the underground trains is discouraged.
1 Chinese New Year is designed to fall on the New Moon, the solstice, the start of spring.
2 This is the year of the tiger, in the traditional Chinese zodiac. You don't have to be traditional, or Chinese, in a Chinese speaking country, or even in a Chinatown, to see Chinese seasonal celebrations.
The old traditions meet modern technology worldwide. In Switzerland they projected the image of a tiger onto a mountain top. The Tiger on the Eiger. A Swiss artist designed it.
Yes, tiger, not lion. Tigers have stripes.
3 Red packets
Containing money for children and the unmarried of any age. Gold lettering.
4 Lanterns
Made of red paper
5 Wall hangings with messages for the front door
6 In Singapore, Lo Hei, the Chinese new year dish, raw pink fish and all colours of vegetables. You toss the food in the air with chopsticks before you start eating.
5 Family Reunions
The biggest travel event in the world. Chinese people go home to their families for a reunion dinner. Like Christmas for Christians, and the Seder Night for Jews and Thanksgiving for Americans. Biggest exodus to China and parental homes.Until Covid.
6 Greetings
Not just health, but wealth!
About the author of this blog post
BIOGRAPHY
Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5
The Author of several books including Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.
Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com
dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President
Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time
Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;
Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;
Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.
More details from Toastmasters International find a club.
Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.
Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.
Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.
Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.
Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.
Language and speech workshops in Singapore.
Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.
Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.
Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.
Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.
Books by Angela Lansbury
How to be the best man. (Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Wedding Speeches and Toasts.(Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Unforgettable British Weekends.
Poetry Workshop Workbook.
The Tailor and the Spy. (Lulu.)
Larry The Talking Labrador. (Lulu.)
Writing Poetry for fun.
Quick Quotations
Who Said What When
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