This year Chinese or Lunar New Year is on January 26, which is the first day of the first month of the new lunar year. With Chinese New Year is just around the corner, our bags are already packed and we’re ready to escape the crazy days that lead up to and follow China’s most significant holiday. We leave Saturday morning for the Malay peninsula (I know … again!) The pyrotechnics, screaming car alarms and weather forecasts that literally promise "smoke" (due to the aforementioned pyrotechnics) is enough reason to vacate for at least most of the holiday!
On Sunday night we ventured out to Taidong for Caterpillar’s annual New Year’s Dinner. Sunday was also Xiao Nian, the kick off of the fireworks in Qingdao. Xiao Nian (Little New Year) happens the week before the actual New Year’s Day. My language teacher explained the purpose of Xiao Nian is to remind that the New Year is eminent. “As if the nation that works 50 straight weeks out of the year would forget this,” I thought wryly, but only to myself.
Unless you experience it, it’s hard to explain what fireworks on every corner, in the middle of the street, or blasting over the elevated highway (launched from below) feels like. The fireworks are, admittedly, amazing (think of the fireworks we sprawl out on patchwork quilts to watch on warm summer nights around Independence day at home.) They are beautiful, really! But also, very terrifying to watch blasted between rows of tall concrete apartment buildings, with sparks landing on tile roofs, and duds sending the pyromaniac who lit them scrambling for cover!
So… while the rest of China, including those brave expats who opted to stay, will endure the fireworks, we’re opting for a week a little closer to the equator. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of fireworks waiting for us when we return… the New Year Holiday runs for 15 days!!
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