Chinese New Year
Foaming Draught
Shipmate
in All Saints
新年好 🐍 🍾 🎇
Snakey New Year Goodness!
Snakey New Year Goodness!
Comments
(I am, of course, an ox. Whatever the astrological scheme, I always come out as useful farm animal).
What are the characteristics of the pig in the Chinese zodiac?
Kind and generous: Pigs are known for being kind, generous, and honest.
Peace-making: Pigs are known for being peace-makers who try to resolve conflicts. (Ed: Don’t ask @Ruth)
Hardworking: Pigs are known for being hardworking and diligent.
Loyal: Pigs are known for being loyal and devoted.
Social: Pigs are known for being social and enjoying the company of others.
What is the significance of the pig in Chinese culture?
In Chinese culture, the pig is a symbol of luck and wealth
Positive characteristics
Wise: People born in the Year of the Snake are said to be wise, intelligent, and perceptive.
Intuitive: They are said to have a strong intuition and are good at understanding others.
Charismatic: They are said to be charming, elegant, and stylish.
Strategic: They are said to be goal-oriented and determined to achieve their goals.
Responsible: They are said to be responsible and make devoted partners.
Good at talking: They are said to be great speakers and deep thinkers.
Negative characteristics
Stubborn: They can be stubborn and overconfident.
Sceptical: They can be cautious and sceptical.
Materialistic: They can be materialistic and love to have nice things.
Other characteristics
They are said to be enigmatic, uncanny, and intimidating.
They are said to be good at creating opportunities for themselves and others.
They are said to be good at forming deep bonds in relationships.
Nothing about whether it’s lucky or not, soz.
I really don't like snakes (partly a legacy from David, who was absolutely terrified of them - he couldn't even watch bits of The Jungle Book, or the opening titles of Blackadder), but I'd like to wish everyone who's celebrating a happy, peaceful and joy-filled year ahead.
A friend sent me a list of their family (Malaysian and Japanese-Italian) feast last night which as well as traditional dishes featured Lebanese (zaatar), Greek (spanakopita) and Indian (curries) dishes. They are a foodie family, but I found that interesting. Multicultural Australia in action I suppose.
I am sure there will be many red packets being exchanged by former colleagues this weekend.
Cheery daughter has gone to the big smoke to experience celebrations in Chinatown, I am sure she will have a great time! We have a Chinatown here too, where she celebrated last year. Perhaps she is working up to experiencing one in China. I must ask her when she gets home.
Being a recent graduate, and the youngest, the Asian-heritage ladies in my first post-uni job used to give me red packets.
I know it's not Double Bay or Vaucluse, and they have their reputation (not entirely deserved... but I get "where there's smoke"*) -- but I miss Fairfield/Cabramatta. I was lucky to have the quite diverse multicultural youth I did -- not sure if it is still the case but Fairfield City once had the highest number of languages spoken in a Sydney council area.
* when I studied German as an adult two classmates from the North Shore asked me to take them to Cabramatta (large Vietnamese and SE Asian population, originally German, Russian (huge church there!) and southern European). Afterwards they both expressed surprise, disappointment even, that they did not witness violence on the streets... They did enjoy lunch and the shops at least!
Double Bay and Vaucluse???!!!! Arse end of the Eastern Suburbs ( gulag just down the road from Vaucluse)
Nowhere like Bossley Park😻😻
Apparently I'm an ox (well working in the NHS I certainly know about long hours..).
I have a Dragon Bride for a wife!
Yum.
I love the ceremony associated with tea. The tapped fingers signalling "Thank you" in informal situations, for example, and the wonderful story behind it (not meaning to teach people to suck eggs but if you don't know it, worth a short read).
I remember the first Chinese NY banquet I went to. My mum having tried to bring me up to be polite I sat back as they went for it like the food would expire any minute. "Ian," my friend said, "don't sit back. We won't!" "Anglos!", with a jesting shake of the head, was another's response ha ha.