Chinese New Year 2014

[Igifuno]

The Year of the Horse is upon us.. taking over from the year of the Snake..

Is anyone doing offerings tonight ahead of New Year's Day tomorrow? A few of us on here have HAWs, and mine always does an offering the day before Chinese New Year and it's pretty cool.

Right now, we're preparing the table with food, liquor, desserts and other stuff to offer up to our ancestors and deceased relatives. I really enjoy this. When all is done, each of us will take a turn, hold a burning incense and pray (or talk) to our relatives (or friends) who are no longer with us, invite their spirits into our home to eat and drink and to hang out for a while.

I'm going to talk to a my deceased grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a couple of close friends that I've lost over the years and have a drink with them.

Then.. back to reality but like I said I really enjoy doing this once a year and thought I'd share. I'll put up a pic of the set up..

[Bert]

Sounds interesting and therapeutic. I'm not much for the holidays because it takes me longer to get my stuff stuff from China.

[Igifuno]

Sounds interesting and therapeutic. I'm not much for the holidays because it takes me longer to get my stuff stuff from China.

Lol. I hear you.

Here's a pic of the set up...

Here's a pic of the incense burning after the offering. We have to wait until all the incense burns out before we eat.

I poured a little more alcohol for my uncle. I'm sure he appreciates it.

[AD]

I get 3 days off work. It's the longest break I get in the whole year.

Wow Igi! Looks like you know more about Chinese customs than me

[Igifuno]

I get 3 days off work. It's the longest break I get in the whole year. Wow Igi! Looks like you know more about Chinese customs than me

Nice. Enjoy the holiday AD and Happy New Year!

[Igifuno]

I'm doing shots with my uncle right now. Haha.

[MuscleInk]

The Year of the Horse is upon us.. taking over from the year of the Snake..

Is anyone doing offerings tonight ahead of New Year's Day tomorrow? A few of us on here have HAWs, and mine always does an offering the day before Chinese New Year and it's pretty cool.

Right now, we're preparing the table with food, liquor, desserts and other stuff to offer up to our ancestors and deceased relatives. I really enjoy this. When all is done, each of us will take a turn, hold a burning incense and pray (or talk) to our relatives (or friends) who are no longer with us, invite their spirits into our home to eat and drink and to hang out for a while.

I'm going to talk to a my deceased grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a couple of close friends that I've lost over the years and have a drink with them.

Then.. back to reality but like I said I really enjoy doing this once a year and thought I'd share. I'll put up a pic of the set up..

Yes sir. Big feast with the in-laws tonight. One room full of food for the living the other room full of food to invite the dead back to celebrate the new year.

I'm starting at one table and moving to the other soon so the dead better get here before I eat their food!

[Igifuno]

Yes sir. Big feast with the in-laws tonight. One room full of food for the living the other room full of food to invite the dead back to celebrate the new year. I'm starting at one table and moving to the other soon so the dead better get here before I eat their food!

Awesome. My dead uncle just drank me under the table. I quit. Lol. Just got done eating fish, soup, noodles, friuts/veggies, coconut, and since I'm buzzed and can't drink anymore I'm having a ginger tea for a night cap.

Happy New Year MI!

[Euroholic]

Sorry mate Gregorian calendar for me

[MuscleInk]

Awesome. My dead uncle just drank me under the table. I quit. Lol. Just got done eating fish, soup, noodles, friuts/veggies, coconut, and since I'm buzzed and can't drink anymore I'm having a ginger tea for a night cap.

Happy New Year MI!

I'm on my second chicken and they are cooking me a third. Apparently being the biggest in a VN family leads them to assume I can eat a small farm.....but the curry chicken is gonna be awesome!!!!!

Soup, noodles, veggies, rice, eggs, fish..... still coming. Booze on deck for later if I'm not in a food coma.

Mother-in-law and I were just praying to Buddha in the house. Time for more food!

Happy Year of the Horse to you and your HAW Igi.

[MuscleInk]

Yup....curry chicken worth the wait. I'm gonna need to crawl to the gym tomorrow. Lol

[Igifuno]

Curry chicken sounds great - love that stuff with some toasted baguettes.

[MuscleInk]

Curry chicken sounds great - love that stuff with some toasted baguettes.

Mother-in-law made extra. Doggie bag!!!!!!

[Igifuno]

Mother-in-law made extra. Doggie bag!!!!!!

Nice! Take that curry to the office and heat it up in the microwave so you can be 'that guy' haha

[Bert]

Thats really cool you get to experience the way other cultures do things. I've always wanted to travel and experience other cultures. I think it would be cool to live in Japan. I've been told I'd look like a monster to them.

[Euroholic]

Thats really cool you get to experience the way other cultures do things. I've always wanted to travel and experience other cultures. I think it would be cool to live in Japan. I've been told I'd look like a monster to them.

Do it!!!!! Dont allow others to hold you back.

[wmaousley]

Happy New Year

[AD]

Thats really cool you get to experience the way other cultures do things. I've always wanted to travel and experience other cultures. I think it would be cool to live in Japan. I've been told I'd look like a monster to them.

I hope you're talking about your size, and not your face

[Igifuno]

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

[Igifuno]

Thats really cool you get to experience the way other cultures do things. I've always wanted to travel and experience other cultures. I think it would be cool to live in Japan. I've been told I'd look like a monster to them.

Agreed, I've always wanted to spend some time in Switzerland or somewhere out in the mountains... Or Italy.

[Oki-Des]

Once while living in Japan I saw some beautiful lamps in a pile of garbage. They looked so nice I decided to take them home with me and I put them in my living room. About a week later my landlord came over to visit and totally freaked out when she saw my new lamps. She explained that they use them only for funerals to draw the spirit to the funeral and then turn them off so the spirits can find their way to heaven; and the lamps are never to be turned on again. She told me that I may have drawn the spirits to my home confusing them. My bad.....

[Igifuno]

Once while living in Japan I saw some beautiful lamps in a pile of garbage. They looked so nice I decided to take them home with me and I put them in my living room. About a week later my landlord came over to visit and totally freaked out when she saw my new lamps. She explained that they use them only for funerals to draw the spirit to the funeral and then turn them off so the spirits can find their way to heaven; and the lamps are never to be turned on again. She told me that I may have drawn the spirits to my home confusing them. My bad.....

Lmao nice job Oki. Way to let the spirits go in peace. Lol.

We're not supposed to clean today. No brooms, mops, dust pans, vacuums, because if you do, you 'sweep away the luck and good fortune' the new year gives you.

No cleaning today? No problem

[Bert]

Agreed, I've always wanted to spend some time in Switzerland or somewhere out in the mountains... Or Italy.

I really want to see the alien built pyramids.

[MuscleInk]

Lmao nice job Oki. Way to let the spirits go in peace. Lol.

We're not supposed to clean today. No brooms, mops, dust pans, vacuums, because if you do, you 'sweep away the luck and good fortune' the new year gives you.

No cleaning today? No problem

Right? I tried to take the garbage to the curbside last night (Friday pickup in our hood) but my HAW stopped me and said no! Apparently the garbage has to stay in.

.....and no cleaning for 4 days.

[Igifuno]

Right? I tried to take the garbage to the curbside last night (Friday pickup in our hood) but my HAW stopped me and said no! Apparently the garbage has to stay in. .....and no cleaning for 4 days.

Yup.. No spending money either. I need to go to Costco!!

[MuscleInk]

Yup.. No spending money either. I need to go to Costco!!

Wait, what!?! No spending? What kind of bs holiday IS this????? Lol

[Igifuno]

Wait, what!?! No spending? What kind of bs holiday IS this????? Lol

Seriously. I sent the HAW a text earlier seeing if she wanted to meet me at Costco. She was like no spending money today! I said what about credit cards, it's not really money. She said no. Haha.

[MuscleInk]

Seriously. I sent the HAW a text earlier seeing if she wanted to meet me at Costco. She was like no spending money today! I said what about credit cards, it's not really money. She said no. Haha.

Damn. I'll check with my HAW. She loves spending my money. Lol. At least I can use that as an excuse for her not to spend anything today. Lol

Another big meal tonight and then I have to decide if I go to Temple. Apparently there's a big New Years concert tomorrow at Qualcomm stadium in SD. My HAW wants to go but she's afraid of having me around so many young Asian girls all dressed up. Sounds to me like EXACTLY the reason I should go!!!!! Lmao.

[Igifuno]

Thats really cool you get to experience the way other cultures do things. I've always wanted to travel and experience other cultures. I think it would be cool to live in Japan. I've been told I'd look like a monster to them.

I have a friend who lived there and thought it was pretty cool. But yes it is pretty cool to experience the things my wife's culture does. I told her recently that my life would be boring without her (trying to say something nice), and she said, "no, it would be reckless." I said nothing. Lol.

[Igifuno]

Damn. I'll check with my HAW. She loves spending my money. Lol. At least I can use that as an excuse for her not to spend anything today. Lol Another big meal tonight and then I have to decide if I go to Temple. Apparently there's a big New Years concert tomorrow at Qualcomm stadium in SD. My HAW wants to go but she's afraid of having me around so many young Asian girls all dressed up. Sounds to me like EXACTLY the reason I should go!!!!! Lmao.

Save me a seat!!

[kronik420]

Chinese new year was just starting when I was leaving Thailand. goes for nearly 2 weeks.. I think. . Fire crackers going off all day and night and the food offerings everywhere even on the street.. would have loved to stay for it..