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Published: January 23rd 2009
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Today is the 20 January 2009. For the first time whilst living in China, I truly feel that I have really been included in something - even if almost as a side show.
This morning, I heard music coming from the street by our house and followed it to the front gate of the neighbouring pagodas. People were setting up tables in front of the gates and across the streets in the public area. The tables had A4 typed sheets with plates placed alongside. Long red banners were being raised, flags on long canes were planted along the street and a loud set of speakers placed on either side of the pagoda’s front gate which played Chinese music. I went to fetch Chris to see if he could understand some of the writing on the banner. We walked back to the pagoda gate, him with his coffee in a tin mug and me with my bowl of cereal armed, both armed with a camera.
The crowds were gathering. Chris could read some of the characters on the banners, new year, writing and books and the third annual event and so on but that was it. People quietly waved us
towards them and tried to help us to understand but it only got more baffling.
We pieced together that at 10am something big was going to happen with banners. I thought that they were going to make lots of banners for the gates leading to the pagodas for new year wishes - but no - my 2 + 2 made 5. Our neighbour found us and along with a gathering crowd, pulled us around to a table and explained the story (in Mandarin) - by now I gathered that the A4 typed sheets contained lists of new year messages and I was ushered to the front of the tables to one of the calligraphers who was pouring ink into one of the plastic plates.
I immediately got excited because I have hunted for authentic door papers for weeks and here seemed my chance. When we were at the front of all the queues with our kindly neighbour a local man with a large camera started taking endless pictures and I was asked to choose my banner words.
I dun know.
I chose the lines for our door only because I recognised some of the characters -
one family, mountain and old. I couldn’t read the rest but didn’t mind. We seemed to kick the whole thing off by being first, way before the official opening time of 10am. In my excitement and glee, I turned around with my newly painted door papers only to face a crowd wanting to see and take pictures with and of me. I’d forgotten that there were others there. We were leaving but they insisted that we have 2 people in our family meaning that we needed to have 2 papers painted so one was painted for chris too. With all the excitement building, we managed to sneak away in the then gathering crowd and I rushed home to excitedly paste my New Year papers up. Mine are placed above the bed, chris’s are around the door. As I was pasting chris’s to the door, our neighbour came to collect me and wanted me to return. A local kind of dignitary wanted to give us new year papers too and I had to go back to receive them. The whole scene happened again to which I was given 2 more papers and involved in many group photographs which is how we
come to have 4 sets of New Year Good Wish Red Paper banners. We should have all the luck but I’m not so sure about that - I just really like the papers.
Patti is visiting and I pasted a set above her bed too.
Wednesday 21 Jan 2009
I am sitting in China having downloaded the inauguration speech of President Obama and feel deep wheels of guttural pride listening to his words and feel how small the world is. I’m English in China listening to the new American president with pride and hope for everyone. His aims for everyone’s morals, ethics, future consideration, respect and hope are enough for us all to feel a deep sense of togetherness and to aim for a better, kinder, less greedy future. Oh, and I wonder if Aretha Franklin would like to be my American Grandma?
Thanks to Janey for sending my dress and the book and to Jude for the book too. Also my mum for the kitkats and to Gwenny for your enduring ability to try to send Guardian Saturday suppliments. And also Nicola now for the 3 great books. big fat thanks, I get very excited when
the postman comes to the door.
Oh, yes, you may also see that we have rescued a Chinese pup. He's a little bully buster and I've tried to get rid of him - honest but no one wants a cute puppy that is a mut - honest, I tried, am trying, will still try.
I hope that everyone has a happy Chinese New Year.
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Billy
non-member comment
warm wishes about new year
The banners which you mentioned that we called "couplet"(ùT). Ha.