How to Ring In an Ox Year
Travel Blog • Julia Ross • 01.26.09 | 9:07 AM ET
Photo by Today, millions of Chinese usher in the Year of the Ox by lighting firecrackers, handing out cash-filled red envelopes, feasting on whole fish and texting friends, “Happy Niu Year,” a play on the Mandarin word for “ox,” pronounced “niu.” Me? I’m feeling nostalgic for my old flat in Taipei’s Muzha district, the sound of motor scooters buzzing until midnight, and the raucous atmosphere of Taiwan’s temples, where thousands will pray this week for an auspicious year ahead.
In mainland China, it’s a different story. The holiday period sees the world’s largest annual human migration, making travel a nightmare for those trying to negotiate packed trains and sold-out flights (in fact, most China-based expats leave the country this week). But there are plenty of parties to be had elsewhere, in Chinatowns across the world. So if you’re jonesing for a Chinese culture fix, check out CNN’s round-up of celebrations here.
A word of caution: Beware Hong Kong. In a bizarre attempt to globalize the holiday, this year’s Chinese New Year parade will feature Danish samba dancers, a Russian brass band and ... the Washington Redskins cheerleaders? What the Hong Kong Tourism Board, who dubbed the event, “World’s Happiest Party,” is thinking, I don’t know.
While I’d much prefer to welcome the New Year amid the chanting of Buddhist nuns, I’ll have to settle for a trip to Rockville, Maryland, this week to stock up on my favorite vegetable dumplings. I’ll need them to offset my bleak Chinese horoscope, which predicts eight unfavorable months ahead and warns, “You will have to work hard to steer yourself out of ruts.” Hmm. At least I’m in good company; turns out the Ox year doesn’t look so good for Obama, either.