Chinese New Year (sinyee,9)

Hah,now this is what I call new year's color!

I chose the color golden, not only because of the prospect of getting ang bow money( although I don't dislike it) , but also because golden was the first color that came to mind. CNY to the Chinese means a new year according to the Chinese calendar, a time for new clothes, new goals, new everything. It is a fun fun fun time. Golden is a fun color, and to me it never looks old, it always has a peculiar shine to it, just as Chinese New Year does.

Source:google

Nian would be an eternal symbol of Chinese New Year to many, its legend passed down from one generation to another. From granny to daughter, mother to child. Nian's story is of a fearsome creature with sharpened horns that glint in the night and scales that were impenetrable. He was notorious for devouring people and hence people used all things red and noisy to ward him off.(that was his one achillies heel) . His true size varies with different story tellers but in my family's version, Nian rose to as tall as the ceiling. I chose him as a Chinese New Year symbol as he struck fear in me as a kid. Now I realise my mother also used Nian to keep us away from the ang bow money which according to her, would ward Nian if we placed it under our pillows. Now I can't wait for the spooked expressions on my little cousin's faces when I tell them the story this year. Haha .Nian, to the Chinese would always be part of New Years, his legend lives forever in the spirit of Chinese New Year.

 I love CNY, it's almost always my favourite time of the year with the exception of my toddler years, when the firecrackers my relatives set off in Malaysia would send me looking for mama. But now, it's the highlight of Chinese new year. In the picture above, my neighbors are lighting up what the Chinese call,' 孔明灯'. It is a lantern that carries the well wishes of the family away into the sky. The moment the lantern takes to the sky is an incredibly special moment for the well-wishers as they pray that their wishes are answered. As bright fire lifts up into the night , the effect is overwhelming and breath-catching. However, there is always the risk of it landing into some bush , hence my neighborhood always makes sure the fire burns out before reaching the ground and water is always readily accessible should it be needed to douse.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEARS:D

-sinyee