LUNAR NEW YEAR DECORATIONS

Westerners celebrate their New Year on 1st of January. The Chinese celebrates theirs on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calender. This year, it will be on 14 February and coincides with Valentine's Day. Red and gold is the colour for luck and good fortune.

FIRE CRACKERS AND LANTERNS HAVE BEEN ON SALE SINCE JANUARY

YEAR OF THE TIGER: 14 February 2010 - 2 February 2011

The Chinese zodiac works on a 12 year cycle with one animal being honoured each year. The 12 animals rotate in a specific sequence and as legend goes... a race was held across a river to determine which animals will represent the zodiac. Whoever arrived first was honoured with the 1st year and so on until 12 animals crossed the finish line. Thus, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig were the winners and chosed ones.

The Year of the Tiger symbolises vibrancy but some Chinese do not feel it will be a good 2010 as the first day of the New Year falls after the start of Spring when seeds are sown. TIGERS ARE THE FEATURE IN MANY OF THE DECORATIONS THE CHINESE WORD "福" (Fu) means good fortune and luck
ALL DECORATIONS ARE IN RED
CHILDREN WITH THE WORD "FU"

PINEAPPLES - DON'T LAUGH, PLEASE... IT IS COMMON TO SEE THESE HUGH PAPER PINEAPPLES HANGING ON THE PORCH OF OUR HOMES

THE CHINESE WORD FOR PINEAPPLES IS "WONG-LAI" WHICH SOUNDS LIKE "GOOD FORTUNE-COME." Thus, pineapple lanterns are hung at the entrance of our homes to invite in luck, prosperity and wealth anytime of the year.