Kung Hei Fat Choi - which means Happy New Year in Cantonese!!

The kids are on holiday from school this week and Rich's site has been closed Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues for Chinese New Year - it is a really major holiday celebration and has been quite fascinating to be here in Macau for.

The decorations are extensive - even our apartment building has lanterns and banners and messages everywhere - even on the pots of plants placed around the entrances especially for Chinese New Year. There are lots of wire and paper figures that have been around the city for several weeks now - on all the roundabouts and in parks which are lit up at night. Nobody touches them - they are in as pristine condition today as when they were first installed - no damage, no graffiti which is really lovely. For some shop owners this is their only break of the year - they close for 3 days and work the other 362 straight! Some shops have been open, but usually those that have a few staff other than
the owner and especially in the more popular areas for visitors. Chinese New Year is also a very noisy time as it is very common for people to buy large packets of throw downs and light the packet and throw it at the ground in front of the door of their home or business in order to scare away the evil spirits
for the year. This happens almost constantly at temples - yesterday for example we were at a temple and these were strung together and looped along a line - a bit like a garland of flowers, for a distance of 50 metres and the explosions went along the line up and down and continued for 5-6 minutes before the final even bigger bang. It constantly takes us by surprise and we jump
everytime!!

The temples have all been very busy as this is the most important
religious festival of the year and the one where a large amount of incense is burnt and the fortune sticks are used. It is all really interesting. Temples are family affairs, with food being sold outside (and sometimes inside) and if the temple has a pond you can purchase a terrapin (tiny turtle) to release for luck or a bird (just like Richard Gere's Amex ad). One cynical expat said to
his children that they only go and scoop them out of the pond later to resell!! (the terrapins that is) We have seen lots of fireworks at night which have been really spectacular and as we overlook the river we don't have to leave our apartment. There is a special area about 1km further along the river where you
can purchase your own fireworks and set them off in a controlled zone. We will try this tonight. The area has St Johns first aid, ambulance and fire brigades all on standby and is divided off with large hoardings, painted red of course as that is the lucky colour for chinese new year. We have really enjoyed the experience, but are absolute beginners in knowledge about Chinese New Year.
Mind you I did rather like the fact that you are not allowed to clean on New Year's Day as you may sweep your luck for the year away! This was a good one to keep. You also can't wash your hair on new year's day for the same reason.