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elusivekJust kidding, I will not write the whole post in Chinese LOL.
The title reads "Preparing for the (Chinese) New Year!"
So today is 年廿八, basically the "28th day of the 12th month". In Cantonese, there is a saying, 年廿八，洗邋遢 that means "spring cleaning" but word-for-word it's "cleaning up on the 28th" and practically, after this day, we shouldn't throw out rubbish anymore. But we don't really follow that religiously. The REAL day that we can't throw ANYTHING out is New Year's Day (this year it's on Sunday). So, you can't clean, can't dust, can't sweep, can't wash your hair, can't many things. I sometimes wonder if that means we shan't shower either, but anyway.
I've set up my desk in the office with candy (Kit Kats!) and two apples. Apparently, as apples are called 蘋果 (peng guo), and the 蘋 (peng) sounds similar to 平 (peng) in 平安 (peng on), so, 2 apples are like 平平安安 (peng peng on on). In simplified Chinese, you can even see the similarity of 平 (peng) and 苹 (peng of "apple").
That was some special Taiwan version Kit Kat that I placed an order back in November and arrived now. I figured I'd just place it on my desk.
My ex-Boss sometimes called me "Kit Kat" (because I'm known as Kat around at work) so I kind of picked up the habit of bringing Kit Kats to work. Also, Kit Kats are easy souvenirs from Japan because there are like a kazillion diffferent flavors. Japan likes Kit Kats because the way you read it キットカット means something like "must (or will) win!" And students "must win" (pass) in their exams.
In fact, I received this for my birthday, LOL! Variety Party Box with 21 flavors of Kit Kats, there are 63 individual packets! The other Kit Kat on top is the Japan Post "Year of the Rabbit" Greeting card postcard (post chocolate?) that my friend got me as a new year gift. In Japan, their "New Year" and their "Chinese zodiac animals" start on 1-January, but in China, it's during the Lunar New Year. But to be very SPECIFIC, it doesn't start on (Chinese) New Year's Day either, it starts on what is called the Lichun 立春 the first day of Spring.
So anyway. Tomorrow is officially the last day of work, at the end of the day we say 收爐! Which means "switching off the oven" (closing up the kitchen) and somehow the saying has been adopted by other industries as well, I have a reference link as well LOL. It's a 3-day public holiday, but since a day falls on a Sunday, we get a compensated day off, so it's back to work on Thursday. In mainland China and for Chinese culture, they usually close until the 7th day of the new year "人日" (everyone's birthday) and start work on the 8th day. And all Chinese New Year related festivities would finish by 元宵節 the 15th day which I think is also known as the Lantern Festival... and well, since I don't know much about that (for me holidays finish on the 3rd day and I'm back to work on the 4th LOL) so.... reference link here too!
Since the borders are opened, the Boss' driver from Hong Kong is coming over for a short break. We decided to meet up since we've only met once or twice over 3 years ago. We're going for a quick 飲茶 Yum Cha, or Dim Sum, and the Boss is paying (ha!) I should plan a trip to Hong Kong as well, just to know how Hong Kong looks now, but, I don't have any pressing matters that I have to attend to in Hong Kong.
This year I might go for the firecracker fair to have a look.... maybe... or maybe not... I don't know. I'm always so undecided about the firecracker fair. They say you burn firecracker to "chase/scare the bad luck away" but to me it's just "burning money." Hm........... To be decided.
The title reads "Preparing for the (Chinese) New Year!"
So today is 年廿八, basically the "28th day of the 12th month". In Cantonese, there is a saying, 年廿八，洗邋遢 that means "spring cleaning" but word-for-word it's "cleaning up on the 28th" and practically, after this day, we shouldn't throw out rubbish anymore. But we don't really follow that religiously. The REAL day that we can't throw ANYTHING out is New Year's Day (this year it's on Sunday). So, you can't clean, can't dust, can't sweep, can't wash your hair, can't many things. I sometimes wonder if that means we shan't shower either, but anyway.
I've set up my desk in the office with candy (Kit Kats!) and two apples. Apparently, as apples are called 蘋果 (peng guo), and the 蘋 (peng) sounds similar to 平 (peng) in 平安 (peng on), so, 2 apples are like 平平安安 (peng peng on on). In simplified Chinese, you can even see the similarity of 平 (peng) and 苹 (peng of "apple").
That was some special Taiwan version Kit Kat that I placed an order back in November and arrived now. I figured I'd just place it on my desk.
My ex-Boss sometimes called me "Kit Kat" (because I'm known as Kat around at work) so I kind of picked up the habit of bringing Kit Kats to work. Also, Kit Kats are easy souvenirs from Japan because there are like a kazillion diffferent flavors. Japan likes Kit Kats because the way you read it キットカット means something like "must (or will) win!" And students "must win" (pass) in their exams.
In fact, I received this for my birthday, LOL! Variety Party Box with 21 flavors of Kit Kats, there are 63 individual packets! The other Kit Kat on top is the Japan Post "Year of the Rabbit" Greeting card postcard (post chocolate?) that my friend got me as a new year gift. In Japan, their "New Year" and their "Chinese zodiac animals" start on 1-January, but in China, it's during the Lunar New Year. But to be very SPECIFIC, it doesn't start on (Chinese) New Year's Day either, it starts on what is called the Lichun 立春 the first day of Spring.
So anyway. Tomorrow is officially the last day of work, at the end of the day we say 收爐! Which means "switching off the oven" (closing up the kitchen) and somehow the saying has been adopted by other industries as well, I have a reference link as well LOL. It's a 3-day public holiday, but since a day falls on a Sunday, we get a compensated day off, so it's back to work on Thursday. In mainland China and for Chinese culture, they usually close until the 7th day of the new year "人日" (everyone's birthday) and start work on the 8th day. And all Chinese New Year related festivities would finish by 元宵節 the 15th day which I think is also known as the Lantern Festival... and well, since I don't know much about that (for me holidays finish on the 3rd day and I'm back to work on the 4th LOL) so.... reference link here too!
Since the borders are opened, the Boss' driver from Hong Kong is coming over for a short break. We decided to meet up since we've only met once or twice over 3 years ago. We're going for a quick 飲茶 Yum Cha, or Dim Sum, and the Boss is paying (ha!) I should plan a trip to Hong Kong as well, just to know how Hong Kong looks now, but, I don't have any pressing matters that I have to attend to in Hong Kong.
This year I might go for the firecracker fair to have a look.... maybe... or maybe not... I don't know. I'm always so undecided about the firecracker fair. They say you burn firecracker to "chase/scare the bad luck away" but to me it's just "burning money." Hm........... To be decided.
