I am a huge fan of libraries and am just tickled pink that we live in a town with a great place to go. You can find me browsing the Clifton Park-Halfmoon library every chance I get. I love checking out the DVD's, audio books and tackling my to-read list. So when I read about the library hosting an event featuring the Chinese New Year, I loaded up my husband and headed over. There's not a lot of CNY celebrations where we're from in the South, so I had to see what it was all about.
Guess what y'all? You don't have to be in Chinatown or even cross a continent to celebrate the Chinese New Year! The CPH Library featured tons of performers, speakers and even a dragon parade in celebration of the Chinese New Year. 2011 marks the year of the rabbit and we got to learn about the background of the festivities.
Historically, the Chinese lived in an agricultural society, working year round. They traditionally only took a breather after the harvest and before the planting of new seeds...all coinciding with the beginning of the lunar New Year.
In 2011, the Chinese New Year will begin on February 3rd. Before the celebrations start, families usually undertake a huge home cleanup to sweep away any ill fortune and prepare for good incoming luck. I tried to convince Brett that he needed to partake in this part of the celebration, but he wasn't buying it. We got to see traditional Chinese dances, watch Chinese musical performers and got to sample Chinese noodles (successfully with chopsticks!) and we also celebrated Hang Bao, the practice of receiving red envelopes with "money" inside. Our "money" turned out to be chocolate coins!
With lots of loud music, banging drums and little kids running around, the library wasn't a very quiet place...but how funny is it to reading a book and look up to see a dragon float by? Here's a look at how the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library is more than just books:
Heather Flanigan
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