Yesterday was the first day of the Chinese New Year and the Chinese Garden looked particularly festive with red balloons swinging from black branches topped with a bit of snow. Made me think of Snow White, skin white as snow, hair black as ebony and cheeks red as blood… which her birthmother dreamt about while pricking herself accidentally with a needle.

Wrong mythology, wrong continent, wrong calendar. Same appreciation for striking color combinations. And same hopes and dreams for future happiness and wealth, judging by the good luck coins, the fortune couplets, the many small gestures intent on finagling fate’s benevolence.

The garden was in winter bloom and hummingbirds fluttered around ignoring all the action.

The little ones clad in traditional outfits, students of some or another language immersion program, were supposed to sing and dance, alas too close to nap time.

Many an unhappy toddler, a heroic teacher pushing through the program and a phalanx of beaming parents at the end. Just watching the kids run around made my day, though, so happy to see families embracing diverse cultures.

The dragon sat proudly on the water, snow slowly melting off its back.

Someone had fed the lion with some snow, how else would it have gotten into its mouth?

And some clever gift shop manager had guaranteed that there would not be a pig on earth that could not fit under its roof – all Made in China one presumes.

I take that back – here are some that did stay on the mainland.

https://www.npr.org/2019/02/04/691505522/photos-the-year-of-the-pig-is-here

And here are people who seem to think that good luck might rub off https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIxvjfcInbg

In any case – Happy New Year!

What will it bring?

I am taking a leave for the rest of the week – resuming on Monday!