Five-Fold Happiness
by A Latter-day Bluestocking
恭喜发财! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing You Prosperity in the New Year!
It is the Chinese Lunar New Year and I would like to share with you two books that have proved very helpful to me in understanding the Chinese part of my culture and will help celebrate this most auspicious of holidays.
Five-Fold Happiness: Chinese Concepts of Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness, and Wealth by Vivien Sung and Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz, & The Children’s Museum, Boston
The celebration of the Chinese New year is marked by parades, firecrackers, and dragon and lion dances but the underlying traditions and rituals have a far more profound meaning. The holiday takes place in the first lunar month, generally falling between January 19 and February 23. It begins on the new moon and ends 15 days later with the full moon. Traditionally known as the Spring Festival, it is celebrated annually by billions of Chinese.
It is a time of throwing out the old and welcoming the new and the days leading up to the holiday are busy.
Wishing you Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness, and Wealth!
Related articles
- Chinese New Year Traditions and the Year of the Dragon (leggotunglei808.wordpress.com)
- And So Begins The Year Of The Dragon (thebotanicalbaker.wordpress.com)
A Latter-day Bluestocking 
Dearest honorable daughter,
This is the Caucasian side of your heritage speaking. I’m no great Chinese scholar but I spotted right away that the (I believe) symbol for “Lucky” between the two kids at the top of your posting was displayed upside down. Is this some bit of arcane Chinese tradition done on purpose, or a way of cursing one with bad luck, or just the work of some clueless gringo graphics guy?…or perhaps a clueless gringo graphics guy who has been led up the garden path by a giggling Chinese advisor? Happy year of the Dragon! Lots of love, Dad
Most honorable Father, you have a very good eye!
Yes, the character 福, fu, is upside down but it’s not a mistake. In Chinese the phrase “fu dao le” means “luck has arrived” but the pronunciation of the word “dao” can also mean “to fall down” or “turn upside down” so by hanging the character 福 upside down the Chinese are having a bit of fun with word play. All those upside down 福on Chinese doors signifies that luck has arrived.
As always, with much filial piety, your number one daughter.
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