Tomorrow I am 23 :)

Ok so my actual birthday isn't tomorrow but it is Chinese New Year! So first let me tell you Happy Chinese New Year! Tomorrow is the first day of the New Year in China, and official begins 2014, the year of the horse. Which means me and 1.35 billion of my closest friends all get a year older tomorrow! That's right as of tomorrow "I am 23 this year" so I will be closing out my 22nd year at least according to  all of China.

Well Chinese New Year is pretty great and all of Nanjing it seems like has decorated and began setting off fireworks! They are SO LOUD and everywhere at all times of the day, no need to wait until night time here :) Most of the shops and such have closed for the holiday and I never realized that a city of 8 million could feel so empty with everyone celebrating with their families and many people traveling home.

the entrance of my building

The traditional color to decorate for New Years is red, because of a legend of a monster named Nian who is afraid of the color red. The Chinese put red around the door post and the top of the door so that the evil monster will pass over them and their house hold and let them prosper in the new year.

The Chinese also light fireworks to celebrate New Years. The fireworks are LOUD and are believed to help scare away Nian as well as he is frightened by the loud noise. The Fireworks have happened all week and at all times, no need to wait until nightfall! Seriously fireworks here make the Fourth of July look minimal.

 

 

some of the fireworks from my window

I am enjoying celebrating Chinese New Year for the first time, learning some culture and language, and having the chance to explore Nanjing while people are traveling and in the holiday spirit. As I walk around and see the red marking the door post I am reminded of another passing over and how the Father protects and knows his children and look forward to the day when the sky is filled with sounds of a trumpet, not trying to keep something away but announcing the One who has defeated every evil spirit and is calling to himself a people.