31 January 2013 ~ Welcome the Year of the Horse

Listening to: Staple Singers ~ For What It's Worth (1968-04-19, Fillmore West, SF)

I was invited to celebrate Chinese New Year with two of my co-workers.

We went out to eat after work at a very small and local restaurant, Legend Noodle House.

We ordered a whole steamed fish, to symbolize financial abundance in the coming year. It's best to leave some fish or you will not be granted extra savings.

We also ordered noodles, for long life.

As well as BBQ Duck Fried Rice. Rice will set us on the path of luck and wealth.

 It was a beautiful summer Auckland evening, and the clouds were tinged with pink.

We continued the festivities at my co-workers house.

Here celebrating the finished bowl of money cards, rice, dates and sweets.

The house was nicely decorated with owls.

In Western cultures the owl symbolizes wisdom, but in Chinese culture it is the harbinger of death.

So I hope all the food we ate wards off any bad spirits.

Or perhaps, because my co-worker is from the Philippines, it is viewed as a messenger of secrets, kin to sorcerers, as well as companions to seers, mystics and medicine people.