A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers. – Chinese Proverb
Gong Hei Fat Choy! Chinese New Year is upon us and we’re ready to celebrate and start the year with kindness! This year, Chinese New Year falls on February 5. The celebration lasts for 15 days and ends with a Lantern Festival where beautiful paper lanterns are lit and carried throughout the streets. Along with fireworks and paper lanterns, it’s traditional to spend time with family, including enjoying a feast on New Year’s Eve called the reunion dinner. Children are often recipients of red envelopes filled with money for luck or in lucky denominations. Red is the traditional color to celebrate the Chinese New Year and is a sign of prosperity and good fortune. Oranges and pomegranates may also be eaten as a symbol of good luck and a sweet year to come.
2019 is the year of the Pig. People born in the year of the Pig are said to be generous, with a wonderful personality and good fortune throughout life. The Pig, a symbol of luck and wealth, points to prosperity when accompanied with hard work. Kindness is a natural fit for the year of the Pig. When kinds acts are performed for them, people will feel lucky to have such wonderful people in their lives. When you work toward kindness, you’ll also see that riches come in many forms and will be filled with the happiness and joy of knowing you made a difference in someone’s day. This could be giving of your time, attention, advice, or another simple act of kindness.
For Chinese New Year, consider hosting a family dinner, handing out your own red envelopes with kind notes or small amounts of money, or consider sharing some oranges for good luck with co-workers, friends and family. Whatever kind acts you choose, know that you will also feel the positive effects of your actions.
Are you ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year with kindness? What kind acts will you perform to inspire kindness in yourself and others?
