Lunar or Chinese New Year was being celebrated in the Philippines for the longest time. It was just this year that it was declared a non-working holiday by Pnoy. It used to be only the Chinese school students and employees of some Chinese businesses who enjoyed a day without classes or work, respectively. I seem to recollect that New Year’s day usually falls on a day in February. It’s becoming earlier and earlier each year, like the Holy Week.
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These elements are always present in this Chinese holiday celebrated in the country:
- Tikoy (glutinous rice cake)
- Dragon (and lion) dance
- Ang Pao (red envelope containing money)
- Feng Shui stuff and charms
- Color red
- Chinese food
- Fireworks/firecrackers
I had wanted to go to Chinatown in Binondo where the action was (like @mymomfriday did), but the children are still too little to be placed amid super crowded places. So, we just went to visit Rix’s mom at Holy Cross, bought my breast pump at the mall, and had lunch at President Tea House. The diners were given free tikoy upon paying.
I had always thought of Chinese New Year as a second time to start anew, to write those resolutions and goals if you haven’t yet.
This year is the year of the dragon and I’ll bet that many babies, Chinese or not, will be born. In fact, there are two popular bloggers who are already pregnant!
It’s also another excuse for family and friends to get together and that’s what my side of the family did on new year’s eve. We had a simple dinner at my parents’ place. Afterwards, we just talked about anything while the kids played together. Ah, such a nice feeling!
