Chinese New Year

Welcome to 2011, The Year Of The Rabbit:

According to the Chinese Zodiac 2011 is The Year Of The Rabbit, the streets are lined with people and red lanterns to scar away the bad

we are seeing rabbits everywhere in the city so we took some pictures for you. 

There are some cute ones

and some not so cute ones

But they really are everywhere, even in the department store dislplays

It is Lunar New Year's Eve today, the city is shut down as people are preparing to have their reunion dinner tonight.

 New Year's Eve is reserved for just family, the husbands side of the family.  They gather from far and near to have a dinner and celebrate the year past and the year to come. 

There are several tradtions that lead up to the New Year.  The house is given a thourogh cleaning to sweep away all that is bad and make room for all the good and luck and fortune that is coming for the New Year.  Many will get a hair cut to symbolize a fresh start. 

New Years Eve is focused on the reunion dinner, foods will include duck, fish, pig, sweets etc... it is a big feast. 

At Midnight fireworks are let off to scar away all the evil spirits and make room for all the good to come in the morning, the new year.

Children are given red packets with money that they are to save so it grows and they prosper, people will dress head to toe in new clothes to signify that they have pelanty for the year to come and red is the color of luck and fortune so red will be worn and black, the color of death will be avoided.

Chinese New Year is actually a 15 day long celebration with each day having tradition and meaning.

So what does it mean to be "The Year Of the Rabbit"?  Besides all of these cute bunnies all over town

There is a focus on abundance, prosperity and luck.

The Rabbit, or Hare as he is referred to in Chinese mythology, is the emblem of longevity and is said to derive his essence from the Moon.

The Rabbit symbolizes graciousness, good manners, sound counsel kindness and sensitivity to beauty. His soft speech and graceful and nimble ways embody all the desirable traits of a successful diplomat or seasoned politician.

Many couples get married so that they can have a baby in the year of the rabbit as it is believed that a person born under this sign will lead a tranquil life, enjoying peace, quiet and a congenial environment. He is reserved and artistic and possesses good judgment. His thoroughness will also make him a good scholar. He will shine in the fields of law, politics and government.

As we usser in the Year Of The Rabbit I will leave you with the verse that our church in Singapore has memorized together.

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.