Chinese New Year

[Mole]

This year, the Chinese New Year is on January 29 - January 31.

Anyone knows if there will be any lion dance and other festivities in Mae Nam or elsewhere on the island?

Exactly what dates?

Edited January 29, 2014 by PoorSucker
Changed dates

[Tropicalevo]

I have heard that Maenam CNY celebrations are on Thursday night (Walkjng Street) - but CNY is Friday!

Any info jimmy?

Nathon usually has something going on and I would say this one is Friday???

Gong Xi Fa Cai to you all

[samuijimmy]

I have heard that Maenam CNY celebrations are on Thursday night (Walkjng Street) - but CNY is Friday!

Any info jimmy?

Nathon usually has something going on and I would say this one is Friday???

Gong Xi Fa Cai to you all

Well I was waiting to hear back from someone who is involved in this every year.... and did not want to say anything here, until I had word from the dragons mouth!

He told me this afternoon, that he was not sure and that there had been no meetings to set this event up... That surprised me as this a a huge money raising thing every year... for the community ...

Seems to me this time last year, no one knew much either until the last minute .... all I can say is hold onto the Dragon's tail ... if I hear some I'll post it!

Just to add, ...

I cannot see them attempting the dragon parade during the walking street... just not enough room.. with all the vendors blocking the store fronts.... my guess it will be Saturday....

Edited January 28, 2014 by samuijimmy

[Mole]

The Chinese New Year consists of 3 days, firs day starts this year on 29 January and is called "shopping day". This is the day one cleans the house and do the shopping to prepare for festivities.

2nd day is the "praying day" which is the last day of the old year. (30 January) This is the day where they prepare food as offerings to deities and dead ancestors and also burning paper money and paper gold etc.
After the food has been blessed by the ancestors, it's eaten by the whole family. Everybody should at least take a bite of every dish on the table. All the dishes contains some kind of symbolism.

3rd day is the "relaxing day" which is the first day of the new year. (31 January) This day, people go out on leisure and other festivities. It's a bad omen to do any cleaning or any work on this day. Even touching a broom (or in these modern times a vacuum cleaner) is considered unlucky. All Chinese businesses will close on this day since it's a bad omen to do any work.

Other taboo activities on this day includes:

Not washing one's hair on both the last day of the year and first day of the year.

Not using any tools with sharp edges such as scissors or knifes.

Not do any quarreling or profanities.

I presume most festivities should be on the 3rd day, in other words, Friday, 31 January.

Edited January 29, 2014 by PoorSucker

[Tropicalevo]

I am not showing my staff that one mole! They will be working as normal.

[samuijimmy]

I am not showing my staff that one mole! They will be working as normal.

Slave driver ! .... I could not imagine you beating your staff like that...

I stopped in to see Gai, at Gai Pharmacy... she usually being a know all about things like this... Says tomorrow the 30th.... on Soi 4 in Maenam.

I just cannot see all the stalls along the street and the Dragons getting in and out of all the stores... no signs of activity other than a few Chinese lanterns on the streets...

Not to mention all the fire crackers going off... as the dragon enters each of the stores...... with so many vendors around...

I will check again tomorrow morning and see, if much happening, but some how I can't see it being the type of event it usually is....

Parking will be worse than usual for the Thursday evening Walking street... be prepared to do some walking!

[Mole]

There's also some festivities going on at the Kuan Yu shrine in Hua Thanon.

The Thai text just says something like "We would like to invite you to worship Lord Kuan Yu and other deities in our shrine."

There's also info about festivities in Nathon:

http://www.nathoncity.com/paper/6397

[samuijimmy]

There's also some festivities going on at the Kuan Yu shrine in Hua Thanon.

The Thai text just says something like "We would like to invite you to worship Lord Kuan Yu and other deities in our shrine."

2557.JPG

There's also info about festivities in Nathon:

http://www.nathoncity.com/paper/6397

I think the Nathon one might be interesting ....

I always wondered what the place was in Hua Thanon.... that guy looks scarey!

Last word I have from the guy I spoke to yesterday, about Maenam, it will be just the normal walking street.... So hold no hopes of something other than the normal vendors....

Thanks for posting that Mole!

[MantisMan]

Actually its: Guan Yu.

Do you know the story of this guy?

He was one of the great generals of the 3 kingdoms and it was/is said that when he went through a village, it was cleansed of all diseases.

Something like a Jesus figure so to speak...........

[Tropicalevo]

Quite a few sets of firecrackers going off since just after 6 am this morning. 5 or 6 sets at least.

I presume that this is part of the festivities?

[samuijimmy]

Quite a few sets of firecrackers going off since just after 6 am this morning. 5 or 6 sets at least.

I presume that this is part of the festivities?

5 am around me!.... and still going!.... They are to frighten away evil spirits...

Welcome to the Year of the Horse !

[samuijimmy]

Maenam Chinese New Year Celebration will be tomorrow .... Friday Jan 31 Soi 4 Maenam.... starting at 5 pm.

I guess they had their meeting.... Got this on good authority.... (I hope)....

Normal walking street market this evening.....

[Mole]

These are pics from the Chinese temple in Nathon.

According to that table:

30 January 2014

11.00 Big C

18.30-19.00 Napasai Maenam

31 January 2014

9.00-9.30 Anantara Lavana

10.00-10.30 Banyan Tree

14.00 Blue Water

18.00-18.30 "Mik Tawan"

19.00- Walking Street Bo Phut

20.00-20.30 Centara Grand

1 February 2014

20.00 "Zaza" Butterfly Garden

2 February 2014

14.30 Nicky Bar

Other pic

Chinese New Year 2014

26 Jan 2014 Sunday (8.00) Shower of "Kong"

29-30 Jan 2014 (midnight 29-30) Thursday Offerings to "Kong"

31 Jan 2014 Friday Chinese New Year

6 Feb 2014 Thursday (8.30) Procession at Lipa Yai

7 Feb 2014 Friday (18.30) Show at parking lot

8 Feb 2014 Saturday (8.00) Procession around the market

14 Feb 2014 Friday this happens

BEWARE OF FIRE WHEN LIGHTING INCENSE AND CANDLES

[samuijimmy]

Great turn out this evening in Maenam... both locals and Farangs.... Really a good show...

I'll post more pics in photo section...

Tomorrow evening in Nathon, for those in that area!

[MantisMan]

I am quite surprised Samui has a Lion Dance.

I live in a village in Hong Kong for 8 years (yes, now in Samui) and we have the Lion Dance that comes door to door.

The deal is, the performers are usually, if not always, Kung <deleted> practitioners, with the lead being the Master of the Kung <deleted> school.

I have not noticed any Kung <deleted> dojo's (nor Japanese for that matter) in Samui except for Muay Thai and Tai Kwan Do.

What gives?

[samuijimmy]

I am quite surprised Samui has a Lion Dance.

I live in a village in Hong Kong for 8 years (yes, now in Samui) and we have the Lion Dance that comes door to door.

The deal is, the performers are usually, if not always, Kung <deleted> practitioners, with the lead being the Master of the Kung <deleted> school.

I have not noticed any Kung <deleted> dojo's (nor Japanese for that matter) in Samui except for Muay Thai and Tai Kwan Do.

What gives?

I was actually more surprised in Sabah State, Borneo Malaysia a couple of years ago, that they were doing these Lion dances several weeks after CNY... It's 60% Catholic faith, there.

Another TV member who's internet is down at the moment, said there was a Loin dance going on in Bophut area last night too.... Perhaps Nathon this evening?

After watching those young guys last night, just doing around the "block" for over and hour.... it's got to be very exhausting .... then many did the show after that .... Phew, .... I was exhausted just walking and watching and clicking the camera button!

I suppose it shows how strong the "Chinese - Thai community is here,....

Well deserved drink of water!