This year is the year of the Tiger. My oldest daughter is a tiger so I am keeping my finger crossed for No Rain on the Parade! We went last year for the second time and we had a great time. It is a fabulous event. Even though we are not Asian, the cultural mix of the Bay Area make it a fabulous opportunity to share other people’s customs and celebrations.
The Chinese New Year is dependent on the Lunar Calendar and therefore changes every year. This year, Chinese New Year falls on February 14th and we will enter the lunar year 4708. People will tell each other Gung Hey Fat Choy" which means "Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth".
It is fun to check yours and family members Chinese Zodiac sign if you do not know it already; maybe one of you is a Tiger. If you are not sure what your sign is, look at this website.You will also discover the main characteristics associated with your sign. If you are born in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 you are a Tiger.
To celebrate the New Year, Chinese families eat lots of lucky foods in order to get lucky for the coming year: long noodles will bring a long life, dates, peanuts, sticky rice, lettuce (the word for lettuce and money is the same in Chinese language), and tangerines (The word tangerine in Chinese is the same as good luck).
It is customary to give younger generations a red envelope with a money inside.
Learn how to make your own Red Envelope.
Before Chinese New Year, homes will be cleaned thoroughly to sweep away the bad luck. Houses will be decorated with lots of red as it is the symbol of good luck. A traditional dinner with lots of food will be held on New Year’s eve,
On Chinese New Year, people will wear new clothes, will not take a bath or shower as it is believed to wash the luck away, same with the dusting and the cleaning. They are very careful not to break anything, visit relatives and friends.
Famous Tigers
Emily Bronte, Sheryl Crow, Tom Cruise, Emily Dickinson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jay Leno, Karl Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Marco Polo, Beatrix Potter, Queen Elizabeth II, Jon Stewart, Stevie Wonder,Ludwig Van Beethoven,Mel Brooks, Oscar Wilde.
Next year will be the year of the Rabbit!
Reminder: Saturday and Sunday February 27 and 28
San Francisco Chinese New Year Celebrations
Saturday February 27 - 5:15pm-8:00pm - Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade
Market and Second Street to Kearny and Jackson
Location of bleachers: Kearny Street (between Sacramento & California and between Pine & Bush). Call 415 986-1370 or 415 982-3071
Free
$30 for bleacher tickets
Parade highlights include elaborate floats, lion dancers, folk dancers, costumed elementary school groups, marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, and a 250 foot long Golden dragon, (“Gum Lung.”)
Saturday and Sunday February 27 - 28 Chinese Culture Center Spring Festival
11:00am-4:00pm
750 Kearny Street, 3rd Floor (Hilton SF/Financial District)
Information: 415 986-1822 415 986-1822
Related Posts:
Make your own red envelope
10 tips to enjoy the Chinese Parade with your kids 
