CYN is Coming

by Rebecca

We are seeing signs that Chinese New Year (CYN) is coming.

This holiday is way bigger than Christmas here. Jonathan gets a 4 day weekend for it. I'm looking forward to fireworks and festivities at Garden by the Bay and markets to see and food stalls to try in Chinatown.

Decorations are up everywhere. I was expecting the red lanterns. Part of the legend is that Nian the dragon who we chase away at CYN is afraid of red (as well as lights and loud noises). The kids know the legend of Nian well from last year. Back then we celebrated Chinese New Year in Canada by reading the Legend of Nian and learning to count in Mandarin at the cozy kitchen table watching to the cold rain come down.

This year I was surprised by all the pink flowers we're seeing up with all the decorations. Upon some google searching, I think the flowers must represent peach blossoms which are the Chinese symbol for romance, prosperity and growth. But there's also peonies which mean richness and peace in Chinese mythology, so some of them are probably meant to be peonies.  

We're often seeing strands of gold coins among the decorations which didn't surprise me.  

I tried to take out a story about Nian from the library this year, but the books were all out. Instead I found us the tale of how the animals all got their places in the Zodiac Calendar which is interesting, but not quite as much fun as scaring away the terrorizing dragon. We worked on our Mandarin animals names with the Zodiac Calendar.

Our CYN books: The Great Race; Chinese Fables; and Animal Names.

It's about to be year of the Rat, which we learned is the first year of the 12 year cycle of the Lunar Calendar. I love the big pink Rat statues we are seeing everywhere. They're so cute! Not what I think of a rat looking like at all.

I'm pretty excited about how much Mickey and Minnie Mouse I'm seeing around too. I'd LOOOOVE to get myself a CYN Year of the Mouse shirt with Minnie Mouse on it. Let me know if you see one. I've seen cloth shopping bags with this, but no shirts yet.

Year of the Rat decorations.
Peonies and lanterns in Chinatown.

There's pop up markets selling treats all over too.  I want to try some of these roasted melon seeds in flavours I've never considered like plum or five spice. There are tons of sweets, although they are a bit riskier with our food allergies. If I find any well marked with ingredients, I'll buy some.

Melon seeds flavoured as liquorice, five spice and plum.