How the Chinese celebrate the New Year

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Chinese New Year parades are taking place in many North American cities this month, but like the fortune cookie and the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, the parades are US inventions that reveal little about their ostensible home countries. So if there are no outlandish parades in China to celebrate the New Year, what really goes on?

“For most urban families, celebrating is limited to eating dumplings, setting off fireworks, and watching the national TV program (this year’s theme, “Thriving China, Harmonious Society“),” says a new Slate article.

Throughout the 20th Century, according to the article, the Chinese government has been attempting to eradicate the traditions associated with celebrating the New Year, like burning the Kitchen God and kowtowing (prostrating oneself) to one’s elders. In the past, they’ve even gone so far as to ban fireworks, re-name the holiday the “Spring Festival,” and to try to change its date. Some of the government’s efforts have been successful– few burn the Kitchen God anymore– but others, like the fireworks ban, have been ignored or overturned.

Read Slate’s article for an interesting history of the Chinese New Year (which I assume is, in China, called just “the New Year,” in the same way they call “Chinese food” simply “food.”)

Here’s more from Gadling about Chinese travelers trying to make it home for the New Year amidst the country’s largest snow storm in 50 years.

Be part of Improv Everywhere

by Jamie Rhein on

If you thought, “How cool is that?” when reading Jerry’s post on stopping time in Grand Central Station and wish you had been involved, it is possible to get in on some improv action yourself. Improv Everywhere, the New York City-based group that pulls off these clever pranks has spin-off groups in other cities.

Global Improv Everywhere is found across the United States, as well as, Vancouver, Toronto, London and the Netherlands with membership in each chapter ranging from 50+ to over 100. Anyone can join in the creating public “joy” and “chaos” efforts–the aim of Improv Everywhere missions. Currently there is a plan to do a nationwide freeze on February 23. Check out the Web site for details and also to find out how to join up with a chapter in your city if there is one or start one yourself. You can also hook up with the New York City version by registering online. You can also get an Improv Everwhere T-shirt with this logo on it..

Being in an Improve Everywhere stunt seems a bit less intimidating than being in a Spencer Tunick nude photo shoot.

Photo of the Day (2/06/08)

by Jamie Rhein on

The wooden bench, the folding table, the saffron colored robe, the slats on the open shutters–so much of this photo captures the look of parts of Southeast Asia where I have wandered. The composition of the rectangular shapes of the doorways and windows is visually interesting, as are the bits of green from the foliage. Un rosarino en Vietnam has quite the knack for being able to capture people in a moment. This monk, according to the description, is “resting” in the backyard of a temple in Luang Prabang, Laos – 2007.

What moments have you captured in your travels. For photo of the day, upload them at Gadling’s photo pool on Flickr.

Living and working in Beijing

by Jerry Guo on

I spent a chunk last year living and working in Beijing, something that I’ve always wanted to do. I grew up in Tianjin, which is an hour’s train-ride outside the capital, and so I have fond memories of the place.

There’s been so much press–and no doubt it’ll consume us completely by this summer–on Beijjing’s rampant growth and construction, leading up to the Summer Olympics this August.

But what tourists this summer will be drastically different than what goes on the other 50 weeks of the year. Here’s a gallery of life for ordinary Beijing-ers, as well as shots from Beijing’s famous snack street (there are actually two near the Wangfujing subway stop) and general nightlife.

Hope I’ll see you in Beijing come August.

%Gallery-15216%
%Gallery-15215%

WHS New “Tentative List”: Places to Love — Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio

by Catherine Bodry on

For the Gadling series “World Heritage Site new “Tentative List”: Places to Love” we are covering the 14 sites that have been submitted for possible inclusion as an official World Heritage Site in the United States. The sites will not be posted in order of importance or in the order they appear on the list.

Number: 3

Name of site: Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Location: Ohio

Reason for importance (in an nutshell): Rather than one specific location, Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks covers a vast portion of southern Ohio. They encompass nine separate archaeological sites with more than 40 monumental ceremonial earthworks (by the way, I just learned that a “ceremonial earthwork” is, basically, a large-scale alteration of an area of land, presumably for religious purposes) spread across southern Ohio in three archaeological preserves. They’re some of the largest earthworks in the world that weren’t built for defense or fortification (four of Rome’s Coliseums would’ve fit inside what’s called the Octagon [see aerial photo], while Stonehenge would’ve fit inside one of the smaller earthwork circles adjacent to the Octagon), and “contain extensive deposits of finely crafted artifacts.”

Catherine’s take: What’s not to love? Massive scale and cultural significance make the Hopewell earthworks a multi-site not only worth recognizing and preserving as a World Heritage Site, but worth trekking to as well. The mounds that have been worn down into small round humps would also make a great golf course (kidding, of course. Just making sure you’re still with me).