Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and each year is on a different date. This year’s Lunar/Chinese New Year fell on February 19. As you may know, Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the year among Chinese. Families and friends would gather on this day to eat, talk, and celebrate. This is the 6th year I spent my Chinese New Year in the U.S. without my family. However, I still enjoyed the New Year with friends, and by reading some interesting news and event online.
Is This Year’s Zodiac Symbol Sheep, Goat, Lamb, or Ram? Chinese zodiac sign is a cycle of 12 symbolic animals. Each year will be represented by one of the 12 zodiac animal signs, these 12 animals signs rotate every year. Last year was the Year of Horse. This year is the Year of 羊(Yang), but the meaning of “Yang” includes sheep, goat, lamb, and ram in Chinese. Foreigners and media press were confused by what to call this year’s zodiac animal sign. NBC News suggests English Speakers should go with Year of Yang if debating what to call that ruminant horned animal.
(Photo: Darren Hayward/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
Know How to Say “Happy New Year” In Chinese Is a Trend Not only in China, Chinese New Year celebration is getting big in the Western countries due to the big population of Chinese oversea. This Chinese New Year, Mark Zuckerberg and Prince Williams both sent their wishes to the Chinese by saying “Happy New Year” in Chinese. Maybe you should learn the “Happy New Year” phase and tell your Chinese friends next time.
Translation: Hi everyone. The Facebook offices is celebrating Chinese New Year with lion dance and traditional Chinese food. I wishes everyone a happy Chinese New Year, and a year full of happiness.
Translation of Chinese: I wish you a happy Chinese New Year and good luck in the Year of the Sheep.
A Chinese New Year Traditional Went Digital? Elders hand out red envelopes (hong bao) is the traditional of Chinese New Year. People would put money in the red envelopes on New Year’s Eve and hand them out to children and un-married friends on the New Year day. This year, an electronic version of the red envelope became popular among young Chinese. Two giant Chinese teach firms, Alibaba and Tencent create service to gift people with red envelopes on WeChat, the messaging app and Alipay, a payment affiliate. This service is functioned by linking your bank account to the red envelope feature on those two apps. Then you can gift your friends with “red envelope” on your smart phone by using WeChat and Alipay, money would be transferred from the bank account.
(Photo: Sofia Ordonez/CNN Money)
I received red envelopes from friends on WeChat and found it fun to use and play. Because I can use the money I received to gift other people. There is a feature with the WeChat digital hong bao that I can send red envelope in a group chat, my friends in the group chat can split the money in the red envelope, but only the luckiest get the biggest portion of the money. Also according to CNN Money, some people think this new hong bao feature is quite convenient.
There are many celebration and parades happening this weekend around the states. For instance, the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland is having a two weeks New Year celebration, including lion dance and lantern viewing from now to March 5. Don’t miss out if you are interested in Chinese culture and want to know how Chinese celebrate the New Year.
I wish you a happy Chinese New Year! 春节快乐(Chun Jie Kuai Le)!
Trilingual and Stylish 