Happy New Year!
The Year of the Rabbit starts today, February 3rd, according to the Chinese zodiac cycle.
Instead of looking forward, I am going to take a step back and share some photos from four years ago.
My husband and I were living in a high-rise apartment off Dongsishitao in the incredible city of Beijing.
My first trip to China and it lasted 6 months.
Long enough to experience the most important festival in Chinese culture.
A two-week celebration. It was the Auspicious Year of the Pig.
The hutongs (traditional housing) were decorated with couplets, written on red banners, hung on the doorways.
Intended to bring luck to the household.
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| Beijing 2007 |
It is important to start the New Year with new clothes.
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| Beijing 2007 |
Red is an important color and symbolizes prosperity.
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| Beijing 2007 |
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| Beijing 2007 |
With friendly staff willing to sell any kind of firecracker imaginable.
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| Beijing 2007 |
There was no doubt that it was the Year of the Pig – it was on billboards.
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| Beijing 2007 |
It was the design for hats.
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| Beijing 2007 |
It was even sold as a bank.
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| Beijing 2007 |
Ok, I guess a ‘piggy’ bank is not that unusual.
Wonder what will be sold at the Chinese festivals this year - perhaps a rabbit’s foot?
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