Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 新年快乐 2006

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 新年快乐 2006
Wish everyone who visit my blog (be it you're a chinese or not) a Happy Lunar New Year 新年快乐 to all of you!!!

First day of Chinese Lunar New Year, Wake up around noon after lunch I visited my mother-in-law, greeted her and exchange 2 Mandarins oranges and wish her good health and wealth. (The exchange of oranges arises from the fact that the Contonese pronunciation of Mandarin oranges is 'gam' which sounds like gold. Chinese exchange oranges in pairs because they believe that even numbers signify happy events).

Here are some traditional greeting phrases which everyone can use to greet each other:

bu bu gao sheng 步步高升 - Be promoted to a higher position.
chu ru ping an 出入平安 - Wishing you safty where ever you go.
gong xi fa cai 恭喜发财 - Wishing you prosperity.
he qi sheng cai 和气生财 - Harmony brings wealth.
hua kai fu gui 花开富贵 - Fortune comes with blooming flower.
jin yu man tang 金玉满堂 - Treasures fill the home .
long ma jing shen 龙马精神 - The energy of a dragon and a horse .
qing chun chang zhu 青春常驻 - Full of youthful vigour .
sheng yi xing long 生意兴隆 - Business prospers.
shen zhuang li jian 身壮力健 - Be healthy and vigorous all year.
wan shi ru yi 万事如意 - Everything goes as you hope.
xin chun da ji 新春大吉 - Good fortune in the New Year.
xin xiang shi cheng 心想事成 - May all your wishes come true.
yi ben wan li 一本万利 - May you make great profits.

We had Steamboat dinner at my in-law's house together with the extended family every Chinese Lunar New Year. My mother-in-law loves Yu Sheng, so we lo hei every day of the Chinese New Year starting from the eve with a big plate of home made Abalone Yu Sheng for dinner.

Yu Sheng, a traditional Chinese New Dish that is usually eaten on the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, comprises slices of raw fish or Abalone with other ingredients like shredded carrot, Green Raddish and shredded Daikon (chinese white raddish). Lo hei is the act of tossing Yu Sheng.