Joy and I have lived in China since August 1995 and have seen many Chinese New Years Come and go. It has been special these last 8 years as we have enjoyed it with the Chinese orphans we support and care for.
This year, Jan 26 is Chinsese New Year. Millions of people travel during this time by bus and train. The train stations are packed and people try to buy tickets days ahead of time. Some can’t even get tickets. Many have to stand in the isle for hours or days to get home. It is very important for them to go home and be with family.
To Chinese itis there most important holliday. But Christians consider the holliday second after Christmas. It is semilar to Christmas as the family gathers and and has good food. Every year the kids at the orphanage along with my wife Joy make Jiaozi or dumplings. It is a tradition. it usually has pork and vegetable and spices. They are very delicious.
They boil them in water and you dip them in soy sauce with garlic. Other good foods are enjoyed such as tangerines, fruits and different snacks. Then they watch special Chinese shows with singing and comedy. They are glued to the TV.
Fire works:
I have never seen such fireworks as they have on Chinese New Years. The fireworks they use would blow a hand right off. It sounds like a bombing during a war and is constant for hours. All the cars alarms are going off. You can’t even hear a friend talk next to you. If you live on the 6th floor as many do, it sounds like the windows will blow out.
The next morning you can go out and red paper from the fireworks cover the streets and everything. It is very interesting. People spend a lot of money for fireworks.
Rick Haynes
China Harvest Ministries
