Happy Chinese New Year! Year 4711 or 2013 on our calendar, is the Year of the Snake.
‘Gong Xi Fa Ca’ in Mandarin or ‘Kung Hii Fatt Cho’ in Cantonese
means ‘Wishing You Prosperity!’ or ‘Congratulations on Getting Rich!’
Isn’t that a wonderful greeting??
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Nearly a billion and a half people in China and around the world
celebrate the first day of the Chinese New Year today, February 10, 2013.
The New Year celebration is the most important of Chinese holidays
and lasts fifteen days, ending with the Lantern Festival.
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Each of the twelve animal designations rotate
in succession in twelve year cycles.
Each of those animals have a particular significance
for that calendar year and as characteristics for those born under that sign.
The Year of the Snake carries the meanings of malevolence,
cattiness and mystery, as well as acumen, and divination.
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This symbol – 福 – ‘Fu,’
is displayed the in the windows and on the doors, during the New Year celebrations.
The character is a symbol of happiness, bliss and fortune.
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Seattle has a large Asian population,
of the top 10 U.S. cities with large Asian populations, Seattle is #8 in Chinese citizens
and #10 in all Asian ethnicities.
I always enjoy spending time in our International District,
also called Chinatown or Japantown.
Here, I’ve caught the face of a large dragon
displayed during the new year celebration.
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Kung Hii Fatt Cho,
‘Congratulations on Getting Rich!’
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Sharing with ‘Simple as That #118.’ and ‘Mandarin Orange Monday.’
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Nice. We don’t have Chinese New Year celebrations like that here : (
Amazing close up and color!
may we all be rich in some way – and realize it, too.
Gong Xi Fa Ca Madge! This is a fantastic colorful image you should frame — love!
Such a beautiful macro!
A Touch of Orange
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Wonderful greeting! Great photo, so colorful. Wishing you prosperity! xx
Wonderfully colorful photo, and love the information, too!
I read recently that the negativity around snakes is a western interpretation, that the Chinese see the snake as flexible, and good luck. Go figure. This is a great shot!
I worked many (many!) years ago near San Francisco’s Chinatown. This time of year was filled with the sound of firecrackers and there was (and is) always a dragon parade.
Such a precise and clear image – and I like the closeup composition. Thank you for sharing on Mandarin Orange Monday:)
You got really close to this fierce creature to get this beautiful shot. Happy Chinese New Year!
Great capture.Have a fabulous week!
Liz (mlc)
Liz (yacb)
Wow! Your photographs are amazing-such beautiful color! I look forward to learning more about the Pacific Northwest through your blog!
Wow, wild and wonderful!
4711!?!?!? That is a magic # for me. I better make sure to play the lottery this year! Excellent photo!
Wonderful post and photo is gorgeous for ‘Orange”
Carol of (A Creative Harbor) on blogger
Well, he’s a very colorful fellow!
I think I saw this guy in a recent nightmare . . .
Happy New Year to you Madge! I love seeing those Chinese dragons! :)
I love Seattle’s Chinatown, my son and friends enjoyed their activities, “snaking their way through Chinatown” this year. Honolulu has a wonderful Chinatown settled in the early 1800’s, still alive and vibrant today…the art district of downtown Honolulu. There is a very large Chinese-Hawaiian population here (our family included) that resulted from the plantation era. Can’t beat the combination of foods…yum! Kung he fat choy!
ps… meant to say how much I enjoy your beautiful blog..and how much I love Seattle!