Chinese New Year!

So... despite the fact that this post is looooong overdue, and the fact that I wasn't actually in China for the first 2 days of Chinese New Year, and the fact that I am not all that knowledgeable about this holiday, and the fact that my camera most likely was "taken" by airport security and I don't have wonderful pictures for you....  Chinese New Year still deserves a post!

We returned from the Philippines on day 3 of "Chun Jie" (Chinese New Year or Spring Festival), and we were warned that we probably wouldn't sleep for the next 2 weeks due to fireworks!  I was a little bummed that we missed the initial introduction to this holiday, but by the end of the 2 week period, I felt completely included. :)

The Chinese schools took the entire month of February off for this holiday, so it is a very BIG deal!  I was actually in a July wedding a couple of years ago and our bridesmaid dresses came from China...  We had to order them by January due to the company being closed the entire month of February!

So, back to the holiday.  There are fireworks all day, everyday for 2 weeks.  And safety isn't really a precaution.  Okay, actually, safety isn't even in the Chinese New Year handbook.  Emily and I watched people set them off right outisde our window several times!  Luckily we live fairly close to the ground, so they just shot right past our window...  but I'll admit, I would be a little apprehensive if we lived toward the top.

In the midst of it all...  the 8 a.m. firework shows and us trying to get back into the routine of school, trying to get to bed early...  we really enjoyed the holiday.  We somehow slept through it all and it was fun to watch Emily sprint to the window with a glowing face every 5 minutes of every evening.  I have a windowsill in my room that we padded with foam and pillows so that we could sit back, "relax", and enjoy the 2 week fireworks show.

Another tradition are lion and dragon dances during Chun Jie, as well as lantern festivals.  We didn't make it to a festival, but there was a Chinese group who came and performed a lion dance at school for our kids during "China Week".  The kids dressed up in their Chinese attire all week.  It was an unforgettable experience....  even without the pictures.