Traditionally, flowers like orchids and peach blossoms are prepared for the New Year. Even though nowadays the fair is reserved for more 'fun' things, there are still around 1/3 area reserved for the plants.










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The more traditional New Year decors are also the staple of the Fair. Mostly red things, of course!


Spinning pinwheels is one of the many symbols of fortune.


Can you guess that most of these products are made from used red packets? They are not very hard to make and is a great way to recycle these papers.

Most importantly, the CNY Fair is THE biggest fair everywhere, and nowadays it has also become a place for young people to sell their coolbut quite copyright-unfriendly products. Usually, university clubs or small creative businesses will rent a stall of their own for this occasion. You can always find plush toys, cushions or tote bags of this year's Zodiac(in this case, the Ram) or mascots of various media.














They are really socks.


Of course helium balloons are sold every year, kids love th-

Dinner at grandma's place. Since we all have 2 groups of relatives my family usually have one early dinner a day before and another dinner on the 30th.




Annnnnnnnnnd the 30th Reunion Dinner at Grandpa's place. Ah, I forgot to mention, some people would have their dinners at Chinese restaurants since not everyone have the ability to cook the 'appropriate' dishes, but both my sides of the family do it our own because they are that great. :D It helps that one of my aunts(mom's sister) and her husband work at a chinese restaurant and my grandpa was a chef.


(fyi here we drink the soup first and then get our rice with the same bowl)


Mom also made Tong Sui(糖水, think a really think and sweet soup) with Tong Yuan (湯圓, a dessert made with rice flour and fillings like black sesame and peanuts) for dessert. Tong yuan is a symbol of reunion because yuan(圓) means both round and union.

Each year we'll put up a special candy box for the occasion.






What my grandpa's house looks like. It's been like this since I remember.


I'm kinda sure his bike is older than my dad. O_o


One of my aunts learnt Chinese calligraphy recently and she brought supplies for us to have some fun, since it's a tradition to hang red banners with blessing words around the house during the celebration. Not for me of course. my words look absolutely terrible. <