The annual fireworks extravaganza to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, took place last night (Friday 4 February 2011) over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

About 300,000 people gathered on either side of Victoria Harbour on Tsim Sha Tsui- and Central-side to watch the display.

Many more watched from boats and other water-craft parked a safe distance outside our apartment window as you can see from the first clip in the video below.

The fireworks display lasted for exactly 23 minutes and 23 seconds which must have some auspicious significance.

Below is a shortened clip of the 23 minute display:

One of my favourite features of Chinese New Year (other than the 2-week holidays so soon after the Christmas break) is the sight of the lovely pink plum blossoms all over the territory.

But where does the tradition come from?

Flowers are an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations and decorations.

In old China, much use was made of natural products like flowers in celebrations as well as everyday life.

The two flowers most-associated with Chinese New Year is the water narcissus and the plum blossom.

The plum blossom stands for courage and hope as the beautiful pink blossom springs to life from a seemingly lifeless, gray branch.

The plum tree in my apartment’s lobby at first glance, seems like a fake, what with it’s gray, lifeless-looking branches.  On closer inspection though, one sees the pink flowers and notices that it’s actual flowers.

Part of the tradition is to hang red envelopes or “lucky paper” (sheets of red paper with Chinese couplets printed in gold) from the branches.

Here is the plum tree in the lobby downstairs:

Read more on 123chinesenewyear.com/symbols/

In the old days, there was a monster who lived near a village.

This monster was called ‘Year Monster‘. It didn’t like red and it didn’t like noise.

Villagers would stick red paper on their doors and red fire crackers were lit to make loud noises so as to scare the monster. When the villagers knew that the monster had gone, they would greet and bless each other.

That’s why Chinese people lit fire crackers and stick red blessing notes on their doors.

In the first week and up to the first month, people visit their own families, relatives and friends to greet each other. Everybody dress up in new clothes.

Lai See/Lucky packets

Edible things like biscuits, chocolate or fruits will be given to the host as presents and the host has to return a small red packet with money to return the luck. When people meet, they wish each other good luck and married couples have to give ‘lai see‘ (red packet with money) to children and not married adults (not too old though, maybe under mid 20). ‘Lai see‘ means luck so when one gives out ‘lai see‘, that means he has plenty of luck to share with others. Therefore, when a couple sees a child, they have to give out 2 ‘lai see‘.

Unlucky words and curses are completely forbidden during Chinese New Year.

A new tradition now is to send Chinese New Year greeting cards. In the past this was not done but now that families are so spread out around the world people send cards with the good wishes for the New Year. And now that we live in the internet world you can even send Chinese New Year Greeting Cards.

(From: HKfastfacts.com)

Flowers are a key part of the Lunar New Year celebrations

While we mere mortals at Howzit-HongKong will probably never be able to join this celebrated institution in Hong Kong, we do have a close connection with the hallowed halls, function rooms and pitches of this Club.

We have, after all covered numerous sports events and a handful of Southern African Association of Hong Kong (SAAHK) Sevens Dinners hosted at the esteemed (no cell-phones allowed, ever) venue.

One of Asia’s most famous sporting clubs, the Hong Kong Football Club, today announced that a specially commissioned account of the Club’s remarkable history is the first in a series of events that will form the backbone of celebrations of its 125th year of existence in 2011.

Denis Way’s magnificent book, entitled “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011“, is a historic journey through the Club’s development and the personalities that had such an influence on not only the Club, but on Hong Kong itself.

Mr Fook Aun Chew, Chairman of the Hong Kong Football Club, said: “When you have an established history of 125 years, it goes without saying that there are many milestones to be celebrated.

“However, there is no doubt that 2011 is a very special year for the Hong Kong Football Club and we are extremely proud of the work that Denis has done on along the sports road and have no doubt that this is the perfect way to kick of our Anniversary celebrations,” he said.

The publication of “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011 is just one of a series of activities planned for the first half of 2011 to celebrate the 125-year milestone.

HKFC members who have competed at the international level celebrate the launch of “Along the sports road: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011” today with author Denis Way (centre back row), club president Dermot Agnew (front left) and club chairman Fook Aun-Chew (second right standing). The book was launched as part of the launch of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations in 2011

On 12th February, exactly 125 years to the day from the formation of the Hong Kong Football Club, a Members Cocktail Party will celebrate the special occasion. That event will be followed by a Sports Dinner featuring Geoff Miller and other international sports personalities on 5th March, a Family Garden Party cum fete in April and an Anniversary Ball in June.

However, today it was the Club’s detailed history that took centre stage.

Denis has committed three years of extensive research to “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011, working closely with the Club to create an authentic record of the Club’s part in the history and, in part, the development of Hong Kong.

Denis said: “This project commenced almost three years ago and I am extremely grateful for having been commissioned to take up the challenge of producing such a comprehensive story of the Club spanning 125 years.

“I am extremely proud of the result with along the sports road and hope everyone agrees that it is a fitting tribute to such an important Hong Kong institution,” he added.

In addition to “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011, Way’s other books include Fire Horse, a saga of historical fiction set in Shanghai and Hong Kong between 1937 and 1973, and its sequel Dragon Rock.

In 2002, Counting House – The History of PricewaterhouseCoopers on the China Coast, his book commemorating the firm’s 100th anniversary in Hong Kong, was published.

Copies of “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011 are available from:

The Football Club at 3, Sports Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong at HK$390 (approx. USD$50) per copy.

Anna Lee, acting director of the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association (left), and Sean Browne (second right) accept a cheque for HK$125,000 from Dermot Agnew, president of the Hong Kong Football Club (second left), and Fook Aun-Chew, chairman of the Hong Kong Football Club (right), as part of the launch of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations in 2011 today

My kids love this time of the year. Anything that gives them time off school is good, they reason. 

The schoolyear recently resumed after the two-week Christmas/New Year holidays, then after a four-week stint back at school, it’s off to the Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year break they go! 

The biggest festival on the Chinese calendar falls between 1 February – 12 February 2011. 

Chinese New Year starts on 3 February 2011.

This year it is the turn of the Year of Rabbit.

Howzit-HongKong.com has been around in this Blog-guise for just under 2 years having previously debuted as a regular web-page.

As we prepare to celebrate our second birthday as a Blog, we would like to wish all of our readers a:

Very Happy New Year!

May the best of 2010 be the worst of 2011 and may you and yours have a fantastic 2011!

Tonight we usher in the new year with yet another grand fire-works display over Victoria Harbour (outside my window).

We have posted so many pictures from previous displays so here is a video-clip we found on You-Tube of last year’s celebrations:

From me to you, 新年快乐, Let’s make 2011: The Perfect Year…

During the Chinese New Year period, Hong Kongers traditionally flock to temples to pray for a good year ahead.  However, the superstitious also take part in rituals that they believe foretell the future, or at least the year ahead.

It was no different on the second day into the Year of the Tiger.  Here in Hong Kong is has become customary for a a lawmaker (member of the territory’s legislature) to visit a popular temple to take part in a ritual that will predict the next year for Hong Kong.  The ritual takes place on the second day of Chinese New Year at a suburban temple, and is eagerly awaited by residents and media alike.

The outcome of the ritual, however, does not always bode well for “Asia’s World City” and regional financial hub.  SAPA reports that in 2003, home affairs minister Patrick Ho picked number 83, an unlucky number according to Chinese custom.

His selection was followed by 12 months of crisis in which the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus killed several hundred people and ruined the economy, while unprecedented political protests left the government in turmoil.

This year it was the turn of Hong Kong councillor Lau Wong Fat. 

Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Wong Fat shaking the tin of fortune sticks (Pic: news.yahoo.com/AFP)

And it was good news for all in Hong Kong.  In a closely watched ritual, lawmaker Lau Wong-fat shook a bundle of numbered bamboo fortune sticks until one fell to the ground, number 53, which was later interpreted by a stick-reader to be the harbinger of better times.

The draw was good news for Lau whose unlucky pick of 27 in 2009 – the Year of the Ox – predicted doom and gloom for the city of seven million as it was wracked by the global financial crisis.

All that we can add to that is: Sjoe!  That was close.

When asked about what they like about living in China (we’ve also lived in Taiwan before) my kids sometimes respond: “We get to celebrate TWO New Years!” What they don’t say is that they get TWO New Year’s holidays off from school!

Living in Hong Kong, we foreigners indeed have the benefit of two New Year holidays.  The Western New Year is welcomed with great fanfare including an expensive fireworks display, while the Lunar New Year is celebrated along age-old Chinese traditions that also includes fireworks, New Year’s Parades and displays.  Taiwan does not celebrate the (Western) New Year, while Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, sees the island enjoying a 7-day break.  The Mainland normally also have a holiday of about 7 days over the Lunar New Year.

This year, Lunar New Year falls on the same day as (the Western) Valentine’s Day… February 14, 2010.

Stay close to Howzit-HongKong.com for more features on the Chinese Lunar New Year.  In the meantime, if you’re not familiar with the New Year’s greeting in Cantonese, start learning the follow phrase:

San nin faai lok!

(Generally: Happy New Year! More specifically: Congratulations and be prosperous!)

Though not as BIG as the fireworks display that welcomed the recent East Asian Games, Hong Kong ushered in 2010 in traditional style with a fireworks display over some of Hong Kong Island’s landmark buildings.  The centrepiece building was the iconic IFC (International Financial Centre) in Central that sported an LED display with the numbers 2010.

Thousands of Hong Kongers crowded vantage points on either side of Victoria Harbour, some lining up for up to three hours to have the best view of the 4-minute fireworks display.

Howzit-HongKong.com wishes all it’s readers and supporters a very prosperous 2010!

(thumbnail picture by Wilda Fong, Flickr)