恭喜發財 Lunar New Year 2009
To all my Flickr Friends: I'm sorry if I've not visited your
photostream lately. I'm too busy working, too much to do, with too
little spare time & Chinese New Year is nearly here.
So let me wish all of you a Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year! May
the Year of The Ox brings you an abundance of Happiness, Wealth &
Good Health!
As the Chinese calendar is different from the western(Gregorian)
calendar, this year Chinese New Year falls on the 26th Jan 2009,
Monday. It's the year of the Earth Ox. Usually, the celebration to
welcome in the Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days. Time had changed.
In this modern times, working people usually only get a few days off.
Days before the arrival of the new year, almost all Chinese families
will do spring cleaning of their house. Those whom are still into
traditional religion, will burn offerings & offerings of
food/drinks to their house deities in the hope that those deities will
give good appraisal of the members in the house to Heaven above. xD
On the eve of Lunar New Year, most Chinese families will held a
reunion dinner at the home of their family's most senior or oldest
member. After which, at midnight, huge numbers of firecrackers will be
let off to welcome in the new year & it will continue into the wee
hours of the morning. But alas, firecrackers were banned here long
ago... quite welcoming for none Chinese who are trying to get some
sleep! LOL! =P
Traditionally, children will be encourage to stay up late on this
particular day, based on an age-old belief that the longer the young
ones are awake on the eve of the new year, their parents or
grandparents will have a longer life. I dunno how true is that, but in
the past, as a hyperactive kid, I'm happy to be allowed to play past
my bedtime! LOL! =P
Nowadays, without firecrackers on the eve of Chinese New Year, people
either went to watch the public fireworks display, float parade or
roaming Chinatown in hope of a good bargain as stalls will try to get
rid of their goods at ridiculous low price on the last day. There will
also be a lantern light-up at the river which I can't decide to go or
not coz it will be very very crowded! xD
Traditionally, fashion colors for the celebration of Chinese New Year
are red and gold/yellow. Erm... that will crash with my fashion &
I forgotten to buy a bright red or gold hotpants! LOL! Anyway, frankly
speaking, not much modern Chinese follow that anymore. =P
Everyday within the celebration of Lunar New Year, Chinese will greet
each other 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' in Mandarin or "Kung Hei Fatt Choi'
in Cantonese or 'Kong Hee Fatt Chai' in Hokkien. It mean 'Wishing you
a prosperous new year!'
And it's Hong Pao time for children! Hong Pao, known as Red Package,
are boon to children! From the first day of Chinese New Year, children
will rush to their elders with cries of 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' in order to
get auspicious Red Packages. Giving Hong Pao are supposedly to give
blessings or luck & it's consider very rude to open instantly any
Hong Pao given to you or announce the amount within. It's not the red
packaging that's interesting. It's what lays within. A small amount of
money is suppose to be inside the little red envelope. Well... 'small'
in this case is subjective. It depend on how rich or generous the
family is. I'd seen within certain Hong Pao, laid thousands of
dollars! xD
Traditionally, Hong Pao are given by any elders of a family to every
of their younger relatives. However, that applies only to the married
ones. If you remain unmarried, no matter how old you are, there's no
obligation to give Hong Pao. But in many cases, when an adult gets too
old, they tend to hand out Red Packages to their nieces & nephews
to avoid embarrassment. =P
The elder of any family are also suppose to give Hong Pao to any
visiting children regardless of relatives or friends & in the
mindset of many Chinese, 'children' are anyone who is unmarried
regardless of age. So, I'm still receiving Hong Pao! LOL! xD
Comments and faves
Digital Desert Photo.com, dlmanrg, DDiamond1 ... Off, mademoiselle lavender ~, and 20 other people added this photo to their favorites.
didibaev [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Wow!
James Lee (41 months ago | reply)
恭喜發財~
GILVANDRO GURGEL "Vera re te" (41 months ago | reply)
Maravilhosa fotografia Nikita. Parabéns amiga, ficou linda!!!
Rea Family (41 months ago | reply)
Happy Lunar NewYears to you...
darinjoedickison [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
aww, thank you, and to you too...
15 days of celebration- wow...
love the pic too...
neil .d123 [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Very nice Niki. Best wishes for your new year. I hope you have a great time.
Digital Desert Photo.com (41 months ago | reply)
Thank you!!!! It's beautiful! Best of New Years to you, too!!!!
Digital Desert Photo.com (41 months ago | reply)
Awesome shot!!
Please add this cool image to :
"Photographers Gone Wild" Post 1 Award 3
GOLD STAR AWARD (invite needed)
You are invited to add this exceptional image to
GOLD STAR AWARD (invite needed)
This is Perfect!
This photo has been selected for The Perfect Photographer Award
Please add this image to The Perfect Photographer, Post 1 Award 2
And tag the photo with "The Perfect Photographer"
You are invited to add this image to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
Please tag this photo with ABigFave when you add it to the pool.
Michael Skelton (41 months ago | reply)
Have a good time and be safe!
Keta Goes Global (41 months ago | reply)
Thank you for the photo and the details. Happy New Year to you too!
the bad girl [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Happy new year 2552 (in Thailand) my Angel!!! ตรุษจีน!!!
Ay Naku! (41 months ago | reply)
☆Brilliant Photography☆
Post 1,Award 3 of your choice
BlueMaury (41 months ago | reply)
Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year to you too, Nikita!!!
Absolutely The Perfect Photographer
You Deserve Another Perfect Photographer Award
The Perfect Photographer(Invited Only) Post 1 Award 2
dartdoctorde (41 months ago | reply)
Happy New Year. I miss the celebrations over there also. I had great times when I was there. Maybe someday I will return....
Theophilos (41 months ago | reply)
this is extremely Good:)
Congratulations! from
*★ Beautiful Shot ★
Philipp Klinger (touring Scotland till 18/06) (41 months ago | reply)
A+++ Grade Photo
ipsmith36still (41 months ago | reply)
Very Very colourful
Well Done
Absolutely The Perfect Photographer
You Deserve Another Perfect Photographer Award
The Perfect Photographer(Invited Only) Post 1 Award 2
John the Neath (41 months ago | reply)
very colourful
AWESOME! seen in :
"Photographers Gone Wild" Post 1 Award 3
Giuseppe Finocchiaro (41 months ago | reply)
Fantastic picture!
AWESOME! seen in :
"Photographers Gone Wild" Post 1 Award 3
ERIC OEBANDA (41 months ago | reply)
This is an invitation to post your outstanding photo to the Group Pool:
Continental Asia
"Sharing to the Whole World!"award 2 please
HI PLEASE INVITE OTHER ASIANS TO JOIN THIS WONDERFUL GROUP!
Please share INSPIRATION & HAPPINESS with us.
Awarded Images have to be tagged with "I+H"
Please join us, Invite 1 or award 2
PLEASE HELP US GROW INVITE YOUR CONTACTS
I saw this wonderful photo in HIDDEN TREASURE GROUP
HIDDEN TREASURE POST 1 AWARD 3
pattoise (41 months ago | reply)
Absolutely The Perfect Photographer
You Deserve Another Perfect Photographer Award
The Perfect Photographer(Invited Only) Post 1 Award 2
PEDRO ALVARADO O. (41 months ago | reply)
True Brutal Shot Award Post 1 / Award 2
JoesSistah (41 months ago | reply)
☆Brilliant Photography☆
Post 1,Award 3 of your choice
naarnia70 (41 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called ***Guardami negli occhi** -Post 1/Comm 3 - LA SFIDA CONTINUA, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
This is definitively a Ooh! La La picture
~Seen in Ooh! La La pictures group~
Martina Morris ( Ireland) Thanks for your visits (41 months ago | reply)
I saw this wonderful photo in HIDDEN TREASURE GROUP
HIDDEN TREASURE POST 1 AWARD 3
Angelina32310 (41 months ago | reply)
Too cute!
Gabriella* (41 months ago | reply)
This is an amazing coloful image - Colors In Our World
Add the Tag "COLORS IN OUR WORLD"
Paul's closeups (41 months ago | reply)
Wow very nice and colorful shot Happy New Year have fun
Dimitri Depaepe (41 months ago | reply)
Nice Shot! Post 1 award 5>
From Nice Shot! Group
Swamibu (41 months ago | reply)
Please click here to vote in this week contest.
guy.mccarthy (41 months ago | reply)
Vista en:
See in:
Colorido Color Coloca 2 y Premia 2
birdw0rks (41 months ago | reply)
Happy Oxen, Niki!
Nikita Hengbok (41 months ago | reply)
Many thanks to everyone who commented! Greatly appreciated!
Ian Brumpton (41 months ago | reply)
That's what I call colour - Happy New Year!
This photo is a Spirit Of Photography
Spirit Of Photography,Post 1 & Awards 5
felix v abarca, abarca group (41 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called 中国国家地理/Chinese National Geography, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
This is definitively a Ooh! La La picture
~Seen in Ooh! La La pictures group~
felix v abarca, abarca group (41 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Tis the Season to be Jolly (Post one,Comment and Fave two), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
dlmanrg (41 months ago | reply)
Feliz año nuevo...
AWESOME! seen in :
"Photographers Gone Wild" Post 1 Award 3
Castanho (41 months ago | reply)
This is an amazing coloful image - Colors In Our World
Add the Tag "COLORS IN OUR WORLD"
walldancers (41 months ago | reply)
Have a lovely weekend.
This is an amazing coloful image - Colors In Our World
Add the Tag "COLORS IN OUR WORLD"
Awesome shot!!
Please add this cool image to :
"Photographers Gone Wild" Post 1 Award 3
Music To My Eyes - (post 1 - give an award to 5)
EXCELLENT IMAGE !!!
Seen in:
**HARMONY**(Post 1-Comment 3)</
Visual_Presents (41 months ago | reply)
This is so colourful! It deserves this:
What a great COLOURSPLOSION!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful explosion of colour!
DDiamond1 ... Off (41 months ago | reply)
Nice Shot! Post 1 award 5>
From Nice Shot! Group
LaBlueEyez (41 months ago | reply)
LOve the colours of this picture
Comment Images
Claudio Gennari ..."Cogli l'attimo ferma il tempo" (41 months ago | reply)
Beautiful color!!!!!!!!!!!
eyecbeauty (41 months ago | reply)
Questa foto stupenda l'ho vista in:
***Guardami negli occhi** -- Post 1 / Comm 3
Crowded Ampitheatre (41 months ago | reply)
Happy happy happy New year!
revol69 (41 months ago | reply)
Seen in The Psychedelic Colour Group!
Boris Mitendorfer Photography (41 months ago | reply)
Enjoy the time and have great moments with your family and friends, Nikita! Thank's for all the details!
THROUGH_HAWAIIAN_EYES (41 months ago | reply)
This is so colourful! It deserves this:
What a great COLOURSPLOSION!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful explosion of colour!
Kei♫335(catch you soon) (41 months ago | reply)
Great artwork , Nikita. Let's enjoy