Sunday 18 February – a new Chinese Year.
Strange, I always feel emotional during this period of the year. The noise of the fireworks and fire crackers make me nervous. Why? Not that I have something against this traditional holiday (I’ll eat lots of dumplings this evening). I could say, the booms remind me of some war I went through. Not the case. Maybe it reminds me too much of my Brazilian time, very often the Festival comes at the same time as Carnival – both days are linked to moon: 50-47 days before the first Sunday after the first full moon after Vernal Equinox, or in layman’s terms, Ash Wednesday is calculated as 46 days before Easter Sunday, and carnaval falls on the 4 days before Ash Wednesday. (see www.brazilcarnival.com). Easter is linked to the moon cycle…
So this year, both dates are once again the same. When the Year of the Pig starts I always want to put some Samba Enredo at full blast – my Brazilian spirit awakens. Listen here to Unidos de Vila Isabel – 2006.
Saudades, saudades… Vou tomar uma boa pinga. Sim gente boa, achei aqui mesmo em Pequim. Saúde.