Chinese New Year 2021

 

Happy Chinese New Year 2021! Or should I actually say Happy Chinese New Year 4719 (according to the Chinese calendar)! The Year Of The Ox! (This is my year!)

 

"The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival lasts for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's eve to the Lantern Festival. The dates change every year because the festival is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar."

 

 

 

 Well, CNY looks a bit different this year for our family because of the pandemic - no special dinner with friends, no lion dance, no lantern festival. But, Doug, Bri and I ate Chinese takeout, decorated the house and dressed up for the holiday.

 

I decided to buy Briana a new qipao dress a couple of weeks ago even though we planned to celebrate at home this year. I asked her if I could do a little photo shoot of her new dress and she sweetly obliged! Here are some of my favorite photos...

It was quite brisk that afternoon but she still smiled for me! A total trooper.

 

 I decorated our house for the new year...

We enjoyed delicious Chinese food...

 

 

Bri received a few gifts and some red envelopes...

Mei loves CNY too...

 

I got a bit nostalgic and started looking at old photos. Here are Briana's qipao outfits over the years (Ages 1-14)...

 

(Click on the pictures if you need to enlarge)

 

2007-2012...

 

An outfit I missed for the above collage!!

 

2012-2015...

2016-2021...

I also looked through all the CNY presentations I did for Bri's classes in elementary school (except for 1st grade - that year, Bri's teacher taught the class all about CNY and put together a Chinese play and a parade, and B got to lead the parade!)...

Gosh I miss those days. I was always so nervous before I spoke, but the kids invariably ended up appreciating the lessons and having fun making the crafts.

I hope that the Year of the Ox will be the year that life starts to go back to some sort of normalcy. I hope I can see and hug my friends soon. 

I hope you all have a safe, healthy and happy new year...

Xin Nian Kuai Le!!!