Chu Ju's House by Gloria Whelan

Contemporary world fiction, Politics, Gender roles, Young teen making adult decisions. . . and all but 5 stars at amazon.com. I am glad to have stumbled onto this book at the library.

I think it would be especially wonderful for a book club book as there is so much to discuss, and it might not be as easy with just a parent and child.

It is a story about "too many daughters" but not depressing although one might think that from the book flap description. (At the same time, if I had adopted a child from China, I might want to pre-read it!)

This year's festivals

Festivals (mostly those celebrated based on the lunar calendar):

June 16, 2010 - Dragon Boat Festival - look for races near you, there are more teams that you might expect!

August 4 - Birthday of Kwan Tai, god of war (lunar 6/24)
August 16, 2010 - "Valentine's Day" - 7/7 lunar "Seven Sisters Festival
August 24th, 2010 - Hungry Ghost Day - 7/15 lunar

Sept. 22, 2010, Sept. 12, 2011 - Mid-Autumn Festival - 8/15 lunar
Sept. 23, 2010, Sept. 13, 2011 - Monkey God Festival - 8/16 lunar
October 4, 2010, Sept. 24, 2011 - Confucius' Birthday (8/27)

October 16, 2010, October 5, 2011 - "Double Nine" Chong Yang (Chung Yeung) Festival - 9/9 lunar
December 21/22, 2010, Dec. 21/22, 2011 - Winter Solstice "Dong Zhi" - 12/1 lunar

And then a new year:
February 3, 2011 - Chinese New Year - lunar 1/1
Feb. 17 - Lantern Festival

Ching Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) is always April 5th
Buddha's birthday is May 10, 2011 (lunar 4/8)

June 6, 2011 - Dragon Boat (Tuen Ng) Festival - look for races near you, there are more teams in the USA & around the world that you might expect! (lunar 5/5)

August 6, 2011 - "Valentine's Day" - 7/7 lunar "Seven Sisters Festival
August 14, 2011 - Hungry Ghost Day - 7/15 lunar

Sept. 12, 2011 - Mid-Autumn Festival - 8/15 lunar
Sept. 13, 2011 - Monkey God Festival - 8/16 lunar
Sept. 24, 2011 - Confucius' Birthday (8/27)

October 5, 2011 - "Double Nine" Chong Yang (Chung Yeung) Festival - 9/9 lunar

Dec. 21/22, 2011 - Winter Solstice "Dong Zhi" - 12/1 lunar

Chinese Almanac

I know people who have been looking for years to find an English language version of a Chinese almanac -- to check on auspicious days for weddings and travel, and house renovations. The last is especially true for those whose search was motivated by feng shui.

I still do not know of one, but there is now at least one calendar out with the "good" and "bad" days labeled for ceremonies, travel, health & home renovation. Both "good and "bad" in general and for each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.

Happy New Year

The Ox is here.

Year of the Ox - 1/26/2009

It's less than a month away to this year's Chinese New Year on January 26, 2009.

It is a little early to start sweeping or lighting firecrackers, but you may want to:

• review Chinese New Year information,
• take out some library books,
• decide whether you want to go into your child's school to celebrate,
• talk to your child's teacher about what you can do in the classroom (the sooner the better).
• Or, get set to surprise friends with e-cards. You can ask for them to be delivered on January 26!

We have a pdf file of 2009 showing how the phases of the moon on a calendar. If you would like a copy, please post a comment with your email, or email me.

Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) overview

2009 Lunar Calendar

Our 2009 lunar calendar's ready! The next year starts with the Year of the Bull(*) on January 26, 2009, but you may want to know what the moon will be doing all month. (The next zodiac cycle starts in 2020 with the Year of the Rat.)

Email me and request the pdf file for 2009's calendar. Online, I have a list of this year's lunar festivals, and just found "days until" countdown calendars for Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.

(*) - or Ox or Cattle

2009 Lunar Festivals

China developed and used their lunisolar calendar to determine planting and harvesting times, and festival occasions. Although the western (Gregorian) calendar is used in China everyday, the lunar calendar is still important - especially for traditional holidays.

Chinese New Year (including the Lantern Festival on day 15), Mid-Autumn Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival are the most important and widely celebrated Chinese holidays. However there are quite a few other holidays celebrated by their lunar dates.

January 19, 2009 - Kitchen God Festival.
January 26, 2009 - Chinese New Year, lunar 1/1, Year of the Ox, 4707
February 1, 2009 - Common Man's birthday - This is celebrated more by Chinese in other parts of Asia, more than in China.
February 3, 2009 - Jade Emperor's Birthday
February 9, 2009 - Lantern Festival - lunar date 1/15 - This is also celebrated as a sort of Valentine's Day in some Chinese communities.

Tomb Sweeping Day April 4, 2009
(lunar 3/23) Tin Hau Festival - Taoist Goddess of the Sea and patron of fisherman. Celebration now is limited to smaller communities in fishing islands, or areas immediately around a Tin Hau temple. (There are about 60 temples in Hong Kong dedicated, at least partially, to Tin Hau.)

Buddha's Birthday (lunar 4/8) - This is now a public holiday in Hong Kong. In Cheung Chau, HK, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is also held on this day, in honor of Pak Tai, the Taoist God of the Sea.

May 28, 2009 - Dragon Boat (Tuen Ng) Festival - lunar 5/5, Considered the third most important Chinese holiday

August 26, 2009 - "Valentine's Day" - "Night of Sevens" - 7/7 lunar
September 3, 2009 - Ghost Day - 7/15 lunar
October 3, 2009 - Mid-Autumn Festival - 8/15 lunar
October 26, 2007 - "Double Nine" Chong Yang Festival - 9/9 on the lunar calendar

Winter Solstice "Dong Zhi" Falls on December 20-22. It is December 21st in 2009.

The 27th year of this cycle begins:
February 7, 2010 - Kitchen God Festival
February 14, 2010 - Chinese New Year - lunar 1/1, Year of the Tiger, 4708