Chinese New Year/ Guo Nian (过年)
Spring is here, which means that the Chinese New Year celebration is over and the Year of the Ox has arrived. The Chinese New Year is by far the most important and beloved holiday of the year, similar to the popularity of Christmas in western countries. It is held on the first full moon of the Chinese lunar calendar and like Christmas there are family gatherings, gift-giving, cards, lights decorating streets and storefronts, traditional foods, and weeks and weeks of preparations. Chinese New Year preparations in front of the local shops. Can you spot the little girl in the middle who is painting Chinese calligraphy with the help of her parents? This was a familiar sight as we walked around. Firecracker decorations A crowded market with people buying food for the Guo Nian feasts. The Red Door Here in Taiwan, it is referred to as Guo Nian (过年) or literally "passing the year." The story goes that Nian (Year) was a ferocious beast wh
