Fuddland

Happy Chinese New Chinese New Year! Or, as everybody is saying around here, xīn nián kuài lè [(新年快乐)]. The fireworks started early yesterday afternoon, went on through the night and are still going strong today. I joined a thousand or so people down at the lakeside to watch the public display [and can confirm that Chinese people make exactly the same “Ooo!” and “Aaah!” noises when watching fireworks that will be familiar to all Westerners], then headed down town to watch a few local friends mark the start of the year 4704 with deafening firecrackers and bangers.

[View the ‘Firecrackers’ video on YouTube]

There’s plenty of information about the many traditions associated with New Year over at Wikipedia, including the handy tip that buying pants is considered bad luck at New Year. Unfortunately it’s not clear if these are American pants [trousers] or British pants [pants], so I’ll just have to refrain from buying both.

#1

Wurly Monster | 2007 / 03 / 22 – 17:31

Those fireworks and firecrackers - still perhaps, the most pointless thing yet I’ve noticed about Chinese culture…

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