A Happy Lunar New Year!! January 31, 2014, the first day of the year of horse.
In Asia, many countries still keep the traditional custom to cerebrate the Lunar New Years.
Though, Japan has lost the custom long time ago but people in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines still keep the tradition.
"Gong Xi Fa Cai" ("Kung Hei Fat Choy" in Cantonese) is a way to say "Happy New Year" in Chinese. It literally means, "Gong Xi" = congratulations or a way to wish someone joy, "Fa Cai" = become rich / make money.
During the New Year's, "Red Envelop" with money are distributed. From the parents to their children, from the married couples to their parents, from the bosses to their workers... actually, this custom still remains in Japan as "Otoshi-dama" to be distributed during the Christian era New Year's period.
In Guangzhou or any other cities in China become very quite during Lunar New Year's because most of the people in the cities go back to their home town in the country side and spend the New Year's with their families. Most of the offices, shops and restaurants are closed, only few cars and people are on the street, constructions are stopped, less pollution which is very nice!
Let's cerebrate the new year of horse!!
