Chinese New Year Sacraminyan!

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Tibet, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and also in Chinatowns.

Regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

As with all cultures, Chinese New Year traditions incorporate elements that are symbolic of deeper meaning. One common example of Chinese New Year symbolism is the red diamond-shaped fú characters which are displayed on the entrances of Chinese homes. It symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity. Red is the predominant color used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this color also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity.

Happy New Year Sacraminyan! Do not stop celebrating ;) 2012 also rings in the Chinese New Year on January 23^rd so this month our JANUARY 6^th Sacraminyan celebrates the Chinese New Year! Come for Kabbalat Shabbat, for a delicious potluck Chinese food nosh and connect with your Sacramento chevre (Hebrew, for close friends).

This month’s Chinese New Year Sacraminyan will be held at a private residence in Sacramento.

See event details below:

Where: address provided upon RSVP so please RSVP!

What to bring:

Shabbos potluck requesting Chinese food dishes! Popular food items during the holiday include Buddha’s delight, an elaborate vegetarian dish, fish, dumplings, mandarin oranges, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, noodles and sweets.  Side or main dishes preferred.

When: Friday, Jan. 6th, 7pm

7:00 - Appetizers
7:30 - Shabbat Service
8:30 –Nosh, socialize + potluck tapas

Please RSVP and post what your dish.

The most common greetings and sayings in Chinese consist of four characters, such as the following:

• Jinyu mangtang - "May your wealth [gold and jade] come to fill a hall"
• Dazhan hongtu - "May you realize your ambitions"
• Yingchun jiefu - "Greet the New Year and encounter happiness"
• Wanshi ruyi - "May all your wishes be fulfilled"
• Jiqing youyu - "May your happiness be without limit"
• Zhubao pingan - "May you hear [in a letter] that all is well"
• Yiban wanli = "May a small investment bring ten-thousandfold profits"
• Fushou shuangquan - "May your happiness and longevity be complete"
• Zhaocai jinbao - "When wealth is acquired, precious objects follow"

See you on January 6^th!

The Sacraminyan Team