Well, it's the year of the rat. It's not all bad though, rats are actually a symbol of wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. I was just reading about the chinese zodiac symbols and found out that there is a legend about a race between all the animals that was sponsored by "the Gods". The first twelve animals to the finish would be the 12 animals of the Zodiac calendar. Somehow, during the race, the rat caught a ride on the bull's back across the river and jumped off early enough to cross the finish first, thus becoming the first animal of the 12 in the Chinese Zodiac calendar (this is an internet one-sourcer, so don't bet your life on it!).
Last night Andrew, his parents, Clancy and I went to the Seattle Asian Art Museum in order to celebrate Chinese New Year. Every first Thursday of the month the museums in Seattle (are free, so we try to go every month. I think we will have to live here for 50 years in order to see them all, and then they will have new exhibits!
We dressed Clancy in his special Chinese outfit that his MahMah and YehYeh bought for him in Hong Kong, and toured the museum. In the Japanese wing there was an exhibit of paper cutting that was amazing. The paper was made from Mulberry wood and was cut with very intricate floral, bamboo, or animal designs. Some had a grid-like design with paper strands as thin as hair. After Clancy took a rest on a tatami, he proceeded to point to everything and say "Wow!". In the Chinese section there was a ceremonial jade dagger from 11oo b.c. and tiny glass snuff bottles that are painted from the inside (I have no idea how you fit a brush into the neck since it is less than a centimeter in diameter). After touring the museum, we went to Seattle's Chinatown and had a feast at the "Jade Garden" restaurant. Clancy is so lucky to have such a cool heritage, the Chinese, Cajun, and Scotch-Irish. If anyone has a kilt I will have him wear it on Whoopite Scoorie (March 1st for those of you that don't keep track of Scottish holidays).
That is a really cute outfit! Sounds like you had fun!
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year!! I am so impressed by all the fun things that you do as a family. Seattle is such a fun place. I wish Utah was a more diverse and exciting place.
ReplyDeleteClancy looks adorable in that outfit! And I see that you've found the blogroll function. Yay! Now all you have to do is add us and you're set! :P
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