2014 is the year of the Wooden Horse! m/ The last day of January 2014 marked the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. So the Year of the Wooden Horse commenced January 31, 2014 and will end on February 18, 2015. According to the Chinese calendar experts, the upcoming year is going to be high-spirited and full of adventure.
It is said that the Wood Horse year is a time of fast victories, unexpected adventure, and surprising romance. It is an excellent year for travel, and the farther away and off the beaten path, the better. Energy is high and production is rewarded. Decisive action, not procrastination, brings victory. But one has to act fast in a Horse year. If not 100% secure about a decision, then don’t do it. Events move so quickly in a Horse year that you don’t want to gallop off in the wrong direction.
Though it’s funny coz we are non-traditional chinese peeps who keep getting asked about chinese stuff we simply have no clue about, we still celebrated with the gang who wanted to watch a dragon dance in the heart of ongpin & eat chinese food. Hala sige, kayo na ang maging chinoy, lels!
I put our chow part in the next post as there will be too much photos in one post if I don’t divide this into 2 parts. Click HERE to read how we celebrated the year of the Water Dragon in Binondo 2 years ago.
First, what we saw..
It’s more fun in the philippines. 😛
Chinese character for Double Happiness. She truly is my happiness x2! <3
Red Jelly Shoes from Cotton On, a pasalubong from her ate.
The night was alive & the streets were filled with every wares imaginable..
Lucky charms & lucky bracelets.
Horses, horses, and more horses for the year of the Wooden Horse!
We were fortunate enough to witness a dragon dance. It wasn’t as elaborate as the one we saw 2 years ago. We made inquiries beforehand but nobody knew when the dragons would perform. I think it depended on the business establishment who hired them for luck & prosperity. We were glad to see at least one -albeit very very short, or all our troubles going through that sea of people & peddlers were for naught! 😛
In Chinese culture, the colors blue and green are associated with nature, serenity, growth and health. Blue and green dragons symbolize the approaching spring, evoking the clear skies and new plants that the season brings. These colors also are representative of the East and indicate Eastern dragons. Other Chinese associations with blue and green include healing, rest, prosperity and harmony.
Even though each Chinese New Year refers to one of 12 animals based on the Chinese zodiac, the dragon represents a special position in the Chinese culture as a symbol of power, prosperity, good weather and good luck. In fact, the longer the dragon, the more luck it will bring. Not only does the dragon represent what most anyone would want from a new year, but it also frightens away evil.
At first glance, the dragon that emerges on Chinese New Year looks nothing like other dragons. These dragons are multicolored, not green, and they include several features from other animals. For example, the dragon has the scales of a fish and the footpads of a tiger.
The dragon’s head is made of papier mache, and its body is made of bamboo covered in paper or fabric. With the use of poles, several people move as a perfectly timed unit to make the dragon appear to dance.
Sometimes, a dragon can be so large that 100 people are needed to move it, and the moves may be so complex that they require acrobatic training. At the very least, the dancers must be able to keep time with each other so they don’t run into each other and throw off the timing. This dance requires preparation, from the costume to learning the moves, but, if done right, a dragon dance can bring you good luck.
Before the dragon dances, it must be “awakened.” Usually, an important local figure paints in the eye of the dragon, and then the festivities begin. A dancer hoisting a white pearl in the air guides the dragon through the streets, and musicians carrying cymbals and banging drums announce its arrival.
What the Colors of the Chinese Dragons Mean
The Chinese lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is normally operated by two dancers, while a dragon needs many people. Also, in a lion dance, the performers’ faces are usually not seen, since they are inside the lion. In a dragon dance, the performers can be seen since the dragon is held on poles. Both are used during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural and religious festivals. They may also be performed at many other important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honour special guests by the Chinese communities.
Our long walk took us to Lucky Chinatown Mall which had the most festivities (and people) that night..
And who should we see performing? None other than the hottest male chinese heartthrob in town.. Sir Chief! 😛
He sang the chinese version of “Oh, Babe” which is my ringtone for Kap. Kaloka! ;))
But of course I didn’t swoon because I had my own chinese heartthrob right beside me! <3
Si Sir Kap! Eh di ba mas mataas ang rank ng Kap sa Chief??? ;))
May blessings upon blessings of good health, wealth and love pour upon your family & ours!
Can you see the crowd? I can’t believe we didn’t lose each other in that sea of people!
Ayoko na talaga next time ha! Last na talaga ito!
Not even for this spectacular display of fireworks.
Chinese Horoscope for the Year of the Wooden Horse
So my dearest readers, allow me to greet all of you Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái (congratulations and wishes for prosperity), and Xīn Nián Kuài Lè (Happy New Year)!
13 Comments
Mama Bear, you’re so cute whenever you’re beside Kap, your eyes really twinkle. 🙂 Anyway, mas matangkad pala si Jonah kay Kap noh? Happy Chinese New Year to your family. 🙂
February 11, 2014 at 8:33 amOh yes iba ang glow ko pag kasama ko si love of my life hahaha! #malandilangangpeg and yes grabe mataas na si babyson kay papa bear basta hindi naka-kuba. Sayang lagi siyang naka-stoop lagi ko na nga sinasabihan hay.
February 11, 2014 at 8:35 amNaku, the last time we celebrated Chinese New Year in Binondo was two years ago! Witnessed 3 Dragon Dances! Kaso, super busy especially since Mike Enriquez was there interviewing foreigners. Super dami ng tao, Mommy Jane! Di na kami umulit. Instead, we celebrated a quiet CNY last year in Mabuhay Palace na lang and this year at home. Phew! At least, aircon pa! 😛
A very prosperous year to your family!
February 11, 2014 at 8:45 amHow I wish nag-mabuhay palace nalang kami Step huhu. Kaso makukunat our alabang group haha ayaw sa mahal kaya ongpin kami Dusa talaga sobra sa siksikan ayoko na talaga maulit promise!!! :'((
February 11, 2014 at 9:53 amMommy Jane! Mabuhay Palace is not so mahal naman. I mean, if you order the usual Chinese fare like Yang Chow, Beef with Broccoli, Birthday Noodles, Cold Cuts (The Suckling PIg combination is to die for)…the same price lang din as other Chinese places. Big servings pa and masarap so I think sulit din. I was scared before to go kasi I only read about in in jinlovestoeat (and we all know how sosyal she is) and it’s in Manila Hotel pa. But we braved it last year and found that the prices are not too bad. Of course, if you order the specials, butas and bulsa. :))
February 11, 2014 at 6:53 pmI really really wanna try huhuhu tignan ko kung ma-uto ko si Kap one of these days. Once he hears the word “hotel” kasi na-a-allergy siya hahaha! ;P
February 12, 2014 at 7:29 amYou’re so brave to go there! Ang daming peeps! May parking ba ang Lucky Chinatown Mall? I haven’t been there yet. I wonder where kayo kumain? WaiYing?!? I tried it and it’s so goooooooood! Sarap ng wanton noodles!
February 11, 2014 at 9:01 amhay naku walang parking everywhere that day meding! Cadi-llac-ad ang drama namin nakakatakot pa masagi ng jeep, tricycle at kung ano-ano pa! Meron sa lucky chinatown mall pero that day super puno sa kalsada na nakaparada ang madlang people. I would not recommend for you ever! Alam mo naman itong si Kap masyadong adventurous lahat gustong pasukan. Happy siya sa ganyan kaya ibinigay ko na ang hilig once a year lang naman. Feel na feel niya ang pagka-chinese namin wahaha! :))
February 11, 2014 at 9:56 amYou are so BRAVE to go!! 🙂 Hahaha… Masaya ba talaga??
February 11, 2014 at 3:30 pmSi Kap mukha namang masaya haha. No, not as happy & grand as before na bawat kanto may dragon dance. Mej tahimik nung eve nabuhay lang nung malapit na mag-12. Ang aga nga nagsara all the stores.
February 11, 2014 at 5:34 pmYan ang gusto ko sa iyo, Miss Jane. Well rounded ang beauty mo ,pang sosi,pang harabas at pang sportie rin… Simply balance ang peg
February 12, 2014 at 4:00 pmAll around talaga? hahaha! thank you marilyn! :-*
February 12, 2014 at 5:33 pmall-around churva kung baga haha! Thanks Marilyn! :-*
February 12, 2014 at 8:38 pm