Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Chinese New Year starts at midnight on January 26 and it is the very biggest celebration of the whole year. Million of Chinese, including migrant workers and those who live overseas, travel to visit families To give you an idea of the magnitude, it is the largest human migration on the planet. This year it is estimated that 2.32 billion people will travel as a part of Chinese New Year, most of them within China and a very large segment in this next week! Huge numbers of people will travel by train, on a rail system that can't absorb those numbers. Tickets can only be purchased in person at the train stations and only one-way tickets are sold, so if you get your ticket, you're not sure when you'll get back! People have all sorts of arrangements for getting their tickets, which are scalped, stolen, and fought over. Once on the train, there are so many people that it's almost impossible to move, to get to the bathroom, to eat...and some will travel across the whole country! It sounds crazy--but at the same time, it gives you an idea of how important this time is for the Chinese people!

There are far more traditions associated with Chinese New Year than I can begin to describe. Legend has it that there was a monter called "Nian" (Chinese for "year") that arrived on New Year's to eat all the livestock, crops, and sometimes children. The villagers began to use the color red and set off fireworks to scare away the monster. It worked, and since then, the color red (especially red lanterns and symbols for good luck and fortune) and fireworks are an essential part of the celebrations.

Chinese wouldn't think of having any sort of get-together or celebration without food--and lots of food. One of the tastiest traditions is jiaozi or dumplings. They are supposed to be good luck because their shape resembles coins from the olden days. They are a bit time-consuming to make so families all get together and make tons of them to eat together. Thankfully, they aren't limited to the holidays because they're some of our favorite snacks here!

What holiday would be complete without gift-giving? People bring gifts when they come to visit, but hongbao is a favorite tradition. Families give each other and children red packets of money. In some parts of China certain denominations are considered good or bad luck--everywhere the number 4 is unlucky and 8 is lucky, so those numbers are taken into account. When you pick out your phone number for your cell phone, you have to pay extra if you want extra 8s in your number--and people do! Another tidbit--the opening of the Olympics this year was set for August 8 for that reason--8/8/08. The Chinese take traditions very seriously!

There are many more traditions about what to wear, how to visit relatives, when to clean your house, and what to eat. We have heard that New Year's Eve (and actually most of the week) will sound, smell and feel like a war zone with the fireworks. Right now we are watching the inauguration crowds--and you can't believe it, but much of the public areas in Beijing look like that most of the time! Going anywhere public this next week will not be for the faint-hearted, but the weather is warming up this week and we are looking forward to getting out to parks and temples to participate in such a big tradition!