Happy Chinese New Year!
For the next three days, the sprawling Warorot Market in Chiang Mai (Thailand) will be the center for much of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Warorot is the old Chinese Market here, with many Thai-Chinese shop owners.
This morning my usual walk through the market was especially fun (and filled with lots of chances for great photos!). Normally Warorot is a busy market, but today there was extra traffic as people were out buying supplies for their altars and family get-togethers.
Many shops were decorated with bright red paper lanterns. Long strings of fireworks did their job of frightening off any evil spirits, and left plenty of red paper confetti littering the streets. And the two Chinese temples located in the market were alive with people making offerings.
I especially enjoyed peeking into each shop to admire the beautiful New Year altars. Some altars took up almost the full interior of the shop. Others were placed on the floor by the front door. And, a few shop owners created a special table on the sidewalk. Each altar was richly loaded with trays of roasted ducks and chickens, tea, rice, fruit, red candles and plenty of incense. A few even offered a bottle of whiskey!
Most of all, there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation for good fortune in the year ahead. I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous Year of the Rat!
Deb Swingholm, Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Tags: , Altars, Ceremony, Chinese New Year, Feng Shui
