Lunar New Year
After the Gregorian New Year, it is the time for Han-chinese speaking countries to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
The Lunar New Year is a calendar system used by Ancient China and surrounding countries, usually "slower" than the Gregorian calendar for around a month. For example, the Mid-autumn festival which is supposed to be 15th August in Lunar calendar, usually locates at around mid to late September. As we have entered February, it means we are going to celebrate another new year.
The Lunar calendar year is composed of 12 zodiacs with 12 animals. And this year is the year of Horse. For every dozen years, the spiritual animal will be the same. I was born in the year of Horse too. I have undergone three rounds of year of Horse, so it makes me 36 years old this year!
Usually for those places which celebrate Lunar New Year, it is quite important or even more important than the Gregorian new year. Traditionally LNY lasts half of the month, i.e. from the first day to the 15th day. Nowadays even the elderly who valued traditions a lot would only see the first week the most important in LNY (together with -2nd day for cleansing and -1 day for family dinner). And we actually have the first three days for public holidays only. This year it's from Tuesday to Thurday, making Monday and Friday the only two working days this week.
Some nice view near where I live in LNY's eve
My partner spends the holiday with her family in this LNY. They flight back to their family's hometown and spends a week there. That means I will have a quiet holiday with a lot free time and me time. I was luck enough to leave early in LNY eve. Feeling sleepy as I did not sleep a lot last night. I changed my clothes and took a walk downstairs. There is a beautiful sea view. And a LNY night market too. There's just a few stalls with not much to sell. I am not interested in the products. I have already got a Lego bamboo for myself in this LNY, which I think it's really wonderful. I enjoyed the sunset which I was usually not able to enjoy when I have to work. And I start feeling hungry after the walk, which I actually did not plan to have dinner in this LNY's eve. I walked back home, cooked a yummy udon myself.
The Lego Bamboo I bought for this LNY
Everything is good and fine in this LNY's eve. I am sitting in my home's sofa at the very first day of LNY writing this. I hope everyone has a prosperous and lucky year of Horse!