Taipei, Taiwan
February 12, 2008
Day 6 of the New Year
at flickr

Traditionally, celebrations are actively held for the first 5 days of the Chinese New Year, so most people do not have to go to school or work. While the New Year’s celebrations aren’t officially over until the Lantern Festival held on the 15th, day, the 6th day is when life basically returns to normal. Children go back to school and adults go back to work on this 6th day. As far as I can understand, to signal the new year on their first day back, businesses in Taiwan throw handfuls of ghost money into open flames and burn incense as they pray for a successful year. This is followed by the lighting of a string of firecrackers on the ground. I should note that there’s debate about whether they are burning ghost money or written prayers. This apparently didn’t happen in China, so my grandparents don’t quite understand it and can’t explain it to me.

Posted: February 12, 2008