As millions of families worldwide prepared to celebrate for one of the year’s biggest festivals wander | wander | women had our bags packed to head back to the Philippines after being away for some years.
Chinese New Year 2023 falls on Sunday, 22nd of January 2023. Although celebrations last up to 16 days, only the first seven are considered a public holiday (January 22 to January 29). Culminating with the Lantern Festival on the 5th of February.
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| travelling in style |
This lunar new year marks the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac, which assigns different animals to years over a 12-year cycle.
According to ChineseNewYear.net the rabbit is associated with the moon in Chinese culture, perhaps because the shadows of the moon were once thought to represent a rabbit. |
| our fantastic four & fourth generation |
China's Yutu-2 rover, the longest-running lunar rover in history, gets its name from the Chinese characters for "jade rabbit."
While the Western zodiac is based on constellations, the 12 animals that make up the Chinese zodiac do not correspond to groupings of stars. They instead originate from the animals found in the "Heavenly Gate Race" from ancient Chinese folklore and are assigned to 12 divisions of the roughly 12-year orbit of Jupiter.
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| 12 zodiac signs |
The origins of Lunar New Year aren't well known, as it is believed to date back to prehistory, according to TimeAndDate.com.
The date of Lunar New Year is set according to the Chinese calendar, which is based on the changing position of the sun in the sky and the phases of the moon.
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| maternal first cousin & talented Feng Shui artist, Lizanne Uychaco |
Today, Lunar New Year is celebrated worldwide with a variety of traditions. In China, families typically gather together for a 16-day celebration full of feasting, fireworks and gift-giving.
Traditional gifts include hongbao (red envelopes) typically stuffed with cash.
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| family impromptu group shot |
The holiday also sees the largest annual human migration on Earth, during which billions of people worldwide travel to their ancestral homes to celebrate with family.
The seventh day (January 28) of the Lunar New Year is said to be the day when the Chinese mother goddess, Nuwa, created humanity. Thus, it’s called renri/jan jat (the people’s birthday).
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| conjoined Fuxi & Nuwa holding compass & ruler |
This year we are overjoyed to join family back home - as four generations gather together to celebrate this auspicious new year.
Kung Hei Fat Choy to all! We wish you wealth and prosperity.
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| hongbao - red envelopes |
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