Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái
“wishing you a prosperous new year”
2018 is a Year of the Dog
In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to a 12-year cycle. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year.
Years of the Dog include 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018.
If you're a Dog, the following are deemed lucky for you:
To learn more about this holiday see my previous post.
A truly AMAZING place! Wait until you see the full post!!
An awesome view of the Acropolis from the balcony of our apartment! Tomorrow we move on to the mythical Peloponnese Region.
(traditional tins from chinese new year cookies)
Today is Ren Ri or Yan-Yat (Birthday of Man or Every-man's Birthday) and everyone is said to grow a year older.
According to Chinese legend, the Goddess Nuwa created chickens on the first day, dogs on the second day, sheep on the third day, pigs on the forth day, cows on the fifth day, horses on the sixth and humans on the seventh day.
Today is the seventh day for Chinese New Year.
Traditionally on this day, families celebrate by tossing a big salad called YuSheng. It is very colorful with many different vegetables and strips of raw fish. The really fun part is everyone tosses the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks and calls out wishes to mark the start of a prosperous new year. The higher you toss, the merrier it will be.
Before the toss...
After the toss!
So today is your Birthday! Happy Birthday to you! Treat yourself to a little something special - a little present... a cupcake... a piece of cake... it is YOUR Birthday!
2017 – The Year of the Rooster!
The New Year has begun and will last until Feb 2, 2017.
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls in the months of January or February, and each New Year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year cycle. The Rooster is tenth in the Chinese zodiac.
Legend says that many many years ago Buddha asked all animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and he named a year after each one. He declared that people born in each animal's year would have some traits of that animal's personality.
Years of the Rooster include:
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017.
Which animal you are?
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Rat | Cow | Tiger | Rabbit | Dragon | Snake | Horse | Sheep | Monkey | Chicken | Dog | Pig |
| 1900 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 |
1901 1913 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 |
1902 1914 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 |
1903 1915 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011 |
1904 1916 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 |
1905 1917 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013 |
1906 1918 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014 |
1907 1919 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015 |
1908 1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016 |
1909 1921 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017 |
1910 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018 |
1911 1923 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019 |
Festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the New Year.
For more details on this special holiday, visit my earlier post by {clicking here} And {Here}.
2017 is a Fire Rooster Year. The Rooster is: Hardworking, strong-willed and confident. They are well organized and a good timekeeper. They enjoy being the center of attention and love flattery. Often outspoken, they hate criticism of themselves though they can be inclined to find fault with other people.
Rudyard Kipling, Benjamin Franklin, Prince Philip, Nancy Reagan, Joan Collins, Dolly Parton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Beyonce, Eric Clapton and Yoko Ono.
Are you a Rooster? If so, here are your lucky things for 2017:
Numbers: 5, 7, and 8
Days: the 4th and 26th of any Chinese lunar month
Colors: gold, brown, and yellow
Flowers: gladiola, cockscomb
Directions: south, southeast
Months: the 2nd, 5th, and 11th Chinese lunar months.
Things That Roosters Should Avoid:
Color: red
Numbers: 1, 3, and 9
Direction: east
Months: the 3rd, 9th, and 12th Chinese lunar months
新年好 / 新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo) 'New Year goodness!'
恭喜发财 / 恭喜發財 (Gōngxǐ fācái) 'Happiness and prosperity!'
The hubby had business in Paris, so of course I said OUI - YES when he invited me to go!
Whenever I am in Paris on Sunday I have to hit the Vanves flea market. Many of the vendors really take the time to set up their goods.
The prices were high. I only bought a few postcards (1 euro each) and a small book (2 euro). I have so many ladies and little girls in my collection but very few little boys.
I thought these with airplanes were different.
The little girls holding hands were so sweet and I always buy swings when I see them.
The cover to the book was torn off, but I take them apart anyway so I did not mind.
Tomorrow we take the train to Brussels (more meetings) so I will hit their Daily flea market. It is a messy one where you have to dig through boxes... but you can find treasures at cheap prices, so I actually prefer it.
"I can feel every inch of me craving balance"
Hello blog... it's been a long time... too long. I have missed you. And all the wonderful friends I was in contact with. I introduced this blog in March of 2010... I was living in Brussels, Belgium. It is hard to believe, but we just passed our one-year anniversary of living back in the United States after eight years of living abroad (Belgium & Singapore).
Repatriation is harder that I thought. The simple Definition of repatriate is - to return (someone) to his or her own country. Who would have thought coming home would be so difficult? Even after one year I am still trying to make sense of my "new" old life. Trying to figure out what is next for me. I love the quote I shared above by Dianne Fago and Stampington & Company. I know I need more balance and structure, but it is not easy finding it.
Next month I am participating in an art/craft show where our local food market is held each Sunday. This is the first time the county is doing a craft/art market in the space. I will sell my cards and small creations. This (art/creating) is my "balance."
I also want to get back to consistent blog posting. This is both my "structure and balance." I was shocked when saw that my last post was in April. Where has the time gone?
As my husband reminds me all the time.... that my new life is not so bad. This week I am roaming the streets of Bangkok ... a little slice of the "old".
What do you do to find balance and structure in your life?
Enjoying the city......
Great Friends. Great Food. Great View.
Hoi An, Vietnam
Life is good.
Welcome to my blog! I love creating mixed media cards, art, and jewelry. This blog is a place for me to share my creations, my collections, and what inspires me (travel, art, photography). The hubby and I travel often and I love collecting and sharing unique finds from the countries we visit.
You can see my art and articles in the following magazines:
