Lunedi Lunacy

I honestly hope that I don't become one of those hoarders, the way my friend Speck's elderly neighbour was, but I have my doubts and fears. As we unpacked boxes - some of which had not been opened when we first arrived last year - I am finding things... such things... strange forgotten things.

On Saturday I asked if anyone could identify what the heck these two things are and what you would do with them. Laurent bought them in Beijing - they sell them everywhere and the tourists - over 60s especially, hmmmm - buy them up like crazy. So what the heck are they anyway???

Why they're PEEPEE BOYS, of course! Yes that's right, PEEPEE BOYS and here's what they do:



Though the whole thing leaves me puzzled Laurent always says 1.3 billion Chinese can't be wrong.

29 settembre - San Michele e angeli

Seeing the Sights - Some Not Often Seen

As Laurent's time in Beijing is drawing to a close friends are making that last minute scramble to visit before he leaves. Anna and Luigi were originally scheduled to visit last year but health concerns delayed their trip. Gratia Deo they were able to spend some time this month doing the Beaulieu tour of Beijing and a little freelancing in Xian. And Anna was able to SHOP! Imagine our surprise!

Though it was cold and snowy during their visit it was uncharacteristically clear - the polution in Beijing is, to put it mildy, a major problem. Laurent says that he can only recall seeing the Fragrant Hills that bound the city at the north three or four times in the past three years. Luigi took this shot from the Forbidden City just after a snow and wind storm. On a normal day the buildings in the background would be shrouded in smog and the mountains invisible. This is a sight not often seen.

Porcine Origami

Origami? Sure its Japanese not Chinese but I'm not sure what the Chinese call it.

Click on the FU (Lucky) symbol above.

Fun Fair in Hell

I asked Laurent to take some pictures of the Lion Dancers for the blog – he informed me, in that snotty tone that Northerners take, that that was a Southern tradition, very Cantonese! He and a colleague did spend some time at the fair at Dong Yue Miao Temple on the first day of the New Year. This Taoist temple is know for its rather lurid depictions of the 72 Departments of Hell. That was our destination during one of those snow days back in December. Here are a few pictures of the Temple in the snow. From Laurent’s pictures it appears that spring has come to Beijing. (Click on a thumbnail to see the bigger picture.)

Laurent wrote:
Here are some photos from the Dong Yue Miao Temple. Crowds of people today, with games and food served in the courtyard. There were exhibits of old toys, fortune tellers, dancers, jugglers, strong men, bands and puppet shows in the fashion of Punch and Judy. Of course there were lots of people praying and leaving red prayer tags at the shrine of the God of Fortune because this year is the Golden Pig which only occurs again in 2067.

So this is the “austere” way they celebrate in Beijing? I can only imagine what it must be like in the “exuberant” south.

Gong Xi Fa Cai - Gung Ha Fat Choy*

*Wishing you prosperity - Mandarin and Cantonese

If the estimated of 155 million people travelling by train alone in China this New Year’s doesn’t impress you then how about the fact that it’s the year 4704 in the Chinese Calendar?

Celebrations started today – well actually yesterday with the time change – all over China for the lunar New Year – the Year of the Boar (Pig) in the Chinese Zodiac. This is the end of the 12 year Zodiac cycle and also the end of a 60 year cycle which means it is also the year DingHai and therefore a Golden year. Given the odds it normally only happens once in anyone’s life time. Having said that I just realized this is my second but I was only 3 months old at the time so I can be forgiven not remembering much about it.

The celebration begins with the first new moon of the New Year and ends with the full moon 15 days later. As with most cultures there are traditions, taboos and superstitions; and its noticeable how many of the same traditions we observe in the west at New Years.

Hui Chun or luck messages are an important part of New Year's. As well as hanging them in your home or office it’s a nice idea to send one to a friend.

And of course everyone wants to know what’s in store for the New Year so Horoscopes are cast based on your Zodiac sign. You may want trying to find out your prospects for the Year of the Pig by going either here or here – or maybe cover all bases by going to both.

Though many of the traditions throughout the country are common there are variations from region to region. According to Chinese Television the celebrations in the South are of an “exuberant nature” while those of the North are “more austere.” Those decadent southerners! Since one of the Northern traditions is to eat Jiao Zi or steamed stuffed dumplings on the first day I’ll go with Beijing for the food and the exuberant South for almost everything else. Our friend Jack’s mother is a master Jiao Zi maker and I’m sure she has her own secret recipe but I did find this one on the Internet.

All good New Year’s celebrations have fireworks – in fact last night Laurent put his webcam up to the window and we watched the fireworks over Beijing together. Damn technology is wonderful! And though another piece of technology you might just want to create your own fireworks show for the Year of the Boar. 'Cause every once and a while we all need fireworks in our lives.

Xin Nein Kuai Li – Sun Nin Fy Lok**

** Happy New Year - Mandarin and Cantonese

Going to the Chapel - Beijing

Our friend Jack sent along this photo he took yesterday afternoon on the streets of Beijing. He says that it is a traditional Chinese wedding procession - these days it is not something you normally see except in movies. Apparently everything came to a standstill as it went past - even the normally chaotic Beijing traffic!