Sunday, February 14, 2010

春节快乐! Chunjie kuai le! Happy Spring Festival!

Today is Chinese New Year, also the beginning of the weeklong Spring Festival (Chunjie/春节). Fireworks abound and many of Beijing's masses have left the cities to visit family and friends in their home villages. Those of us who are here are celebrating by spending time with friends, visiting temple fairs and avoiding the omnipresent explosives. Last night, as midnight loomed, there was over an hour of nonstep blasts as neighbors set off their fireworks to mark the new year. Some were colorful and bright, all were loud.

This is the year of the Tiger. Roar!