Gung Hei Fat
Choy!
Chinese New Year, Lunar
New Year, or Spring Festival is the most important of Chinese
traditional holidays. The festival properly begins on the first day
of the first lunar month in the chinese calendar and ends on the
15th day. This day is called the Lantern Festival.
New Year's Eve and New
Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and
thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a
religious ceremony given in honor of the Heaven and Earth, the gods
of the household and the family ancestors.
The sacrifice to the
ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living
members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are
remember with great respect because they were responsible for
laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the
family.
The presence of the
ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged
for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors,
together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as
one community. The communal feast is called "surrounding the stove"
or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and
present generations.
Probably more food is
consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other time of
the year. Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family
and friends, as well as those close to us who have died.
February 3, 2011 is the
year of the Metal Rabbit.
Legend has it that in
ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese
New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He
announced that the people born in each animal's year would have
some of that animal's personality.
Nikon Guy was born in the
year of the Water Ox
GreyingJay was born in the year of the Earth Horse
What animal and element are you?
Use the following link to find out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Zodiac
Since most Chinese
geocachers are probably spending time with their families on the
3rd, we would like to spend time with our geocaching family to talk
about caching, and catch up on with one another!
Date: Saturday,
February 5th, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM (noon)
Place: Emerald Chinese Buffet (formerly Du Barry's)
Eastview Shopping Centre
33 Selkirk St., Ottawa, ON
Please provide your "will attend" with accurate numbers by February
3rd, so we can have a general number to reserve one of their
private rooms.