Photo Essay: The First Few Days of Chinese New Year 2015 with the Family

We’re just into the first few days of the year of the sheep (or is that goat or ram?), and let me tell you — I am just completely exhausted. It was already a marathon leading up to Chinese New Year’s Eve, where I rushed to finish a paid project before the holiday. And it hasn’t stopped even during the holiday — except now it’s a marathon of visiting relatives (bainian) during the day!

Still, despite the fact that I’m still catching up on sleep (and, for that matter, my e-mail inbox — apologies to anyone who hasn’t heard from me in a while), I’m actually having a really great time, more than I ever expected. (Of course, it doesn’t hurt that folks here usually speak in local dialect, which means I still don’t always understand when they’re saying, say, “Have kids soon!”)

In lieu of my usual posts on Monday, I’m sending you my warmest wishes for an auspicious year of the sheep through this photo essay! Here’s hoping you have a fabulous year!

The little red VW polo we drove to my husband's hometown (which was also my first time ever driving in China)
The little red VW polo we drove to my husband’s hometown (which was also my first time ever driving in China)
My husband John and his brother pay respects to a camphor tree that watches over the family.
My husband John and his brother pay respects to a camphor tree that watches over the family.
We also visiting the local temple (in the background) to pray to the Jade Emperor for an auspicious new year.
We also visiting the local temple (in the background) to pray to the Jade Emperor for an auspicious new year.
Hanging out with John's grandmother at the front door of the family house.
Hanging out with John’s grandmother at the front door of the family house.
First selfie ever with John's grandmother! (We all bust up laughing at how funny we all looked together in this.)
First selfie ever with John’s grandmother! (We all bust up laughing at how funny we all looked together in this.)
John and I took this fun selfie with the family while dining on the most important (and delicious!) meal of the year.
John and I took this fun selfie with the family while dining on the most important (and delicious!) meal of the year.
We visited relatives in the village, including John's grandma (who enjoyed my foot bath and foot massage).
We visited relatives in the village, including John’s grandma (who enjoyed my foot bath and foot massage).
On new years day, we found this lovely tree with pink plum blossoms.
On new years day, we found this lovely tree with pink plum blossoms.

Have a happy Chinese New Year! 三羊开泰!

19 Replies to “Photo Essay: The First Few Days of Chinese New Year 2015 with the Family”

  1. Happy Chinese New Year, Jocelyn!! It looks like you had a wonderful holiday. The selfie you took with John’s grandmother is absolutely adorable – a wonderful memory indeed.

    I hope you enjoyed your road trip and your first time driving in China. [I remember the first time I drove a scooter and car in Taiwan. Exciting times!]

    1. Thanks Constance! The selfie was fun!

      Oh, I wish I could say I enjoyed all of the driving…but it was exhausting. Too exhausting, actually. Between already being tired for a lot of reasons and the stress of driving, I ended up sick to my stomach and had to visit the ER. (I also was in the unenviable position of having to hold my own barf bag on the way there, which I had to use twice in the car. Ugh!)

  2. 新年快乐! 恭喜发财!

    Joss, do you ever age? 🙂 Jun too!

    These are my favorite posts, where you do photo montages showing your area and your family.

  3. Happy New Year!! I see you are wearing red, I also wore a red dress on our CNY dinner, my boyfriend’s mum and aunt praised it and I asked them: “Aren’t we supposed to wear red during CNY?”. They weren’t sure but it seems the proper thing to do, right? 😛

    Based on your comment about the car I guess you passed your driving license test, haha. Congrats! How was the trip? I got my license almost a year ago and I haven’t used it yet…

    BTW, lately I am not receiving your new posts by email… weird!! I tried to subscribe again in case somehow my subscription was deleted but the system says I am indeed subscribed! Do you know if this is happening to anyone else? 🙁

    1. Yeah, gotta trot out the red during the holidays! That’s funny your bf’s mom/aunt weren’t sure if you should wear red or not!

      OMG, the driving was really tiring. See my comment below to Constance…it was a nightmare. If I hadn’t been so tired and it wasn’t a holiday, I think it would have been OK. (My husband once had these ideas about driving across China…but after driving in Zhejiang, I think we’re both in agreement that it’s a terrible idea!)

      I am SO sorry about that mishap w/ posts by e-mail! I worked with the provider and it should be fixed now. The latest e-mail went out without a problem.

      1. Yes, it works now! And OMG about the driving! I have also thought some times about doing a road trip in China but for sure it should be done when no one is on holidays haha.

        I hope you are fully recovered now! I also got sick the night of the first day of the new year- Maybe too much food? haha!

  4. Happy New Year! (Although I guess it’s over now?)
    Looked a bit chilly, and I hope you could stay out of the smoke-filled rooms by puffin’ family members.
    Love the selfies with various family members, so cute! Shall make a note to try that next time I’m visiting family, hehe. ^^

    1. Thanks Ri! Actually it’s still not technically over. There’s still the lantern festival next week…and my husband even said it’s not really done until the 1st lunar month is finished!

      It was SO cold and there was secondhand smoke, but I stayed out of the way! Hooray!

  5. Happy New Year 🙂

    I think I would neverbe able to drive in China, just too crazy there at least in the cities. On the other hand Chinese seem to have troubles adjusting also to Western countries driving style. My father in law who never had even a scratch on his car ever since he started driving in China back in the day nearly crashed in Finland with only two! cars on the street. For some reason he just suddenly had the urge to change the lanes…

    1. Thanks Timo!

      See my comment below to Constance…yeah, I agree, the driving is pretty nuts here. It stressed me out b/c it was a holiday and so much heavy traffic. I would do short distances in the province but nothing beyond that!

  6. Hope you have a happy & healthy year of the Goat!

    CNY is the same everywhere right? Countryside houses with lots of food and family members. I had to get used to it, but now I enjoy it. Looks like you did too!

  7. Happy New Year to you and John! That’s awesome you get to celebrate outside of the city. It must add a different dynamic to the holiday which most of us don’t get to experience.

    I’m sure you must be tired! I’m lucky my husband has a small family!

    1. Thanks R Zhao! It is kind of fun to be in the countryside during the holidays. I like roaming around the village and going to different relatives’ homes…it’s definitely more relaxing than having to zoom around a big city, though the volume of people does overwhelm at times! Be grateful for that small family!

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