為什麼我不是中國人也喜歡慶祝農曆新年！

Growing up, I celebrated all Western holidays, with the thought of the Chinese New Year never crossing my mind. In all honesty, I can’t even remember at what point I learned of its existence. However, I will never forget my first year celebrating it.

大學畢業兩週後，我跳上一架飛機，從美國玉米田包圍的公寓搬到了美國玉米田包圍的公寓。 香港的高層建築.

雖然您可以每天在這裡期待感覺超負荷 香港，農曆新年真正將您的感官帶到公園之外。新年裝飾品的鮮紅和金色遍及整個城市，到熱鬧的農曆新年交易會和新年遊行，鞭炮聲和爆裂聲震撼人心的現場，演奏中國傳統音樂的音樂家以及熙熙streets的大街小巷，以及在街上出售的時令美食的誘人香氣。香港是體驗這個亞洲假期的美麗地方。

This year the Chinese New Year begins on the 12th of February. An official public holiday in those countries who celebrate the Lunar New Year. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which begins from the 1st of January, Chinese people mark their calendars by the lunar cycle. Every year begins with the start of a new moon.  Although dated differently every year, one can expect the festivities to occur between the 21st of January and the 20th of February.

自從移居香港以來，我暫時放棄了習慣性的西方節日慶祝活動，轉而選擇了一些富有文化和精神的新假期。雖然我仍然愛著 聖誕節或感恩節 並期待再次適當地慶祝他們，我愛上了慶祝中國農曆新年，它很快成為我新的最喜歡的假期。

我喜歡慶祝農曆新年的五個原因如下：

In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, colourful markets pop up for selling holiday goods and flowers. Many of the large parks are transformed into these “Lunar New Year Fairs,” These are great places to visit and experience how locals get ready for the festivities ahead.

My favourite activity? Trying to find an auspicious flower to keep in our home for the new year. Last year, our plant promptly died weeks after bringing it home. Wouldn’t you know, last year was one of the worst years for me ever! Let’s hope the plant I pick this year does a little better.

As with most holidays around the world, “family” is an important aspect. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, families gather together for a reunion dinner of sorts.

在當前的大流行中，慶祝活動將更加安靜，並與目前居住在同一家庭中的直系親戚在家裡慶祝。

大多數香港居民在晚上8點至10點之間相對較晚才吃晚飯，因此新年常常是在與家人交談和吃吉祥食品的過程中。

New Year traditions are many when visiting with relatives. Decorated red envelopes called “lai see” filled with money are gifted to those younger than you with great joy. These red packets of money are always presented in pairs of 2 envelopes.

這使我想到了我下一個最喜歡的東西。

在幾乎所有的中國節日中，美食都扮演著重要的角色，因此，農曆新年當然也是如此。在一年中的這個時間裡，明確地食用了被認為特別幸運的中國傳統食品。

One would say “gung hei fat choi” as new year greetings to wish someone a happy New Year in Hong Kong. So of course, eating “fat choi” or black moss is a popular New Year dish. Another item consumed during New Year’s is “tang yuan” which phonetically sounds close to the word “reunion”. Each member of a family often eats this sweet dumpling at the end of the annual reunion dinner.

農曆新年的第一天，許多人參觀寺廟以祈求新年的吉祥。您會發現人們在燒香併購買五顏六色的風車，這些風車被認為會在香港的大廟宇中將障礙變成機會。

如果您打算進行一次探訪，請務必研究應該去什麼時間。設置了“吉祥時間”和應避免與您的十二生肖相關的時間。

在香港，如果沒有一些額外的活動，假期是永遠不會完成的。屆時將有大型的煙火表演，電動夜遊行，驚險的賽馬以及舞獅和舞龍表演。在農曆新年的15天裡，總會有一些有趣的事情發生在某個地方。甚至旅遊景點和主題公園也設置了特殊的農曆新年活動，雖然可以體驗很多活動，但幾乎看不到並能完成所有活動。每年，我都希望能體驗到去年無法滿足的一切！

最初來自芝加哥， 貝絲·威廉姆斯 的 翻譯遊記, got her first true taste of travel when she studied abroad in Japan during her final year of university. She ended up loving Asia so much, she found herself moving right back upon graduation and is currently living in Hong Kong. Armed with her camera and a passion for travel, she is on a mission to photograph the world– proving that you can work the normal “9-5” and still find time to travel.