For millions of youngsters, the highlight of celebrating Lunar New Year comes when their parents give them a red envelope, or hong bao. The color red symbolizes good fortune, and the Chinese characters adorning the envelope wish the children such things as prosperity,good luck and health.
Good wishes aside, the kids really get excited about the money that’s stuffed inside. Young people remain eligible to receive red envelopes until they begin working or get married, at which point they become red envelope givers.(studio clasroom)
New Year’s Eve
At that day, Dad, my brother and I helped clean the house. We started from the bathrooms, and then the windows, the floors….I had a feeling of achievement and pride after the house became spotlessly clean XD! While we were cleaning the house, Mom was preparing big meals for worshipping the ancestors.
At night, we went to grandma’s home to have family reunions. The families sat down together at tables laden with foods. We talked about news and enjoyed foods, but what my brother and I think was all about the red envelopes =P
Finally, I saw my grandpa stand up and hem. I jerked my head up and my eyes are kindled with expectation. He then produced several red envelopes from his pocket. “Thank you!” my voice was filled with excitement. Oh Yeah~ money!! That’s the reason I love new year’s eve!! Haha~what a snobbish and realistic person I was, wasn’t it XD? I put envelopes inside my bag carefully and finished eating dinner.
There is a traditional that if you stayed up past midnight, your parents will live long. And the longer time you stayed up, the longer live your parents will stay with you! I was so dutiful that I stayed up until four watching TV by myself XD !! Though the deafening firecrackers and fireworks breaking out as the new years comes have died down due to safety concerns, we can still see a little beautiful fireworks being shot off welcoming the New Year!
I put the red envelopes under my pillow and have a nice sleep.
New year is coming, new wish, new dream I make is waiting to fulfill!
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2008!!
New year is coming, new wish, new dream I make is waiting to fulfill!
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2008!!
[...] Classroom and told about things she and her family did on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Read Alice’s recent post to know the details of her fun activities that day and give her some feedback. Tell me what you did [...]