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The city streets were an array of color of lanterns parading in single
line from one end to the other. The shops and streets were also starting
to form crowds of people from all over China who were either visiting,
family, friends or just taking time to enjoy the break after a long year
of hard work. It was noted in my mind again that partying was about to
begin, but in a Chinese way.
With this being my first real Chinese New Year celebration, I was a little
excited to know how everything works with the traditions and culture.
As the days followed and the atmosphere of joy and happiness rising high,
I found that it was a custom to set fireworks off every few days that
signified the countdown.
FIREWORKS! I remember walking the streets one day to see footpaths selling
a carnival of fireworks that were not available a month ago, and boxes
of little red packets that are otherwise known as ‘red envelopes’.
This was one tradition that had been passed down through years of history
and very popular with young children who receive some amounts of money
inside, instead of the usual high tech gadgets of Gameboy and PSII which
many children might receive back home for their birthday or Christmas.
It was great to know and feel that receiving money (large or small)
was more valuable knowing it had been from your family savings rather
than money spent on supporting the big toy companies.
Hearing a quick loud bang over and over, made my eyes and my body move
fast to the window to view the sound of fireworks exploding in the mid
morning sunshine of the building parking lot. It sounded like being in
a war zone, with the blasts not stopping and you could hear in other areas
of the city too. The main problem was not the noise of fireworks exploding,
but visible image of no war happening. I found out later that day, the
sound of and the lighting of fireworks gave everyone awareness of just
five days to go. Over the period of days leading up to the final day of
celebrating the New Year, the sound of fireworks was erupting louder and
louder and way into the night. I thought that someone may have forgotten
to set a noise control rule of ‘No noise after midnight’,
but I tuned my mind to counting the many explosions like counting sheep
to make me sleep.
The day arrived and all the major stores and even supermarkets were
crowded, just as the many thousands crowded Tiananmen Square every year
for the national holiday. I battled my way through the crowds who were
buying everything Chinese, from red paper cut outs to specialty health
products. The economy was booming and I was even contributing the future
of China, in a small way.
* * * * *
New Year’s dinner was in full swing with the view from the street
of all restaurants full from the ahead bookings and the rush hour peak
of customers pushing and trying to buy their way in for a table. I was
lucky to have a reservation made and proceeding to walk in as a film star
not having to wait, I gathered at my table with friends. Giving the usual
greeting, we ordered meals hoping to quickly fill the hunger and immerse
our evening of happy memories.
Eating and drinking took the evening to a great level of understanding
the Chinese culture as a few local’s joined in to ganbei and to
express their happiness of knowing their past full lunar year was now
ending and the new lunar year to begin with the eruption of a massive
fireworks display on the streets and the main square in Qingdao. The countdown
was beginning and many of the customers were settling their account and
moving in great herds, resembling a scene of cows heading to the milk
factory.
Arriving at the square sometime later, viewing the ore of people waiting
in anticipating style for the New Year to immerse, I felt as though I
was celebrating both western and Chinese New Year together, with the biggest
bang of fireworks to scare any bad memories away while creating new ones.
BANG! BANG! BANG…. Happy New Year
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