Happy Chinese New Year from Sydney Australia!

Chinese families around the world are beginning to prepare or are travelling home for the Chinese New Year celebrations.  This year (the Year of the Dragon) the New Year begins on January 23^rd and ends on 9 February 2013.  The New Year celebration is known as the Spring Festival and officially lasts for 14 days ending with the Lantern festival.

If you have colleagues or friends in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore or Taiwan send them emails of good wishes today because chances are they won’t be in the office on Monday!  You can wish them

Gong xi fa cai which is a wish for posterity or simply say

Happy New Year;  Xin nian quai le

Or in Cantonese  you can wish them Kung Hei Fat Choi

I love the Chinese custom of cleaning out the old things whether it’s physically cleaning the house so that the old bad luck is swept away; paying old debts or giving up past grudges from the year so that you are ready to take on the New Year and allow new and better things into your home and life.

Most of all though, Chinese New Year is a family celebration, a time for being together and enjoying good food and memorable times.  For those far away from their family this can be hard.  All expats feel the pull of home at times of special celebration.  Sometimes it helps to celebrate publicly as a community if you don’t have your immediate family with you.  You can also use the occasion to introduce local friends to your customs and the special foods which are a part of the celebrations from your home.

If you are in Sydney and want to celebrate or learn more about Chinese New Year go here. http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/