02/23/2008 03:22 PM

The Symbolism of the Egg

As Easter approaches, it’s natural to think a little about eggs! In days gone by the egg, due to its shape, was a symbol of the earth. Thanks to its obvious association with the beginning of life, it has also been the basis of many ancient creation stories. It has been a symbol [...]

02/07/2008 10:59 AM

Valentine’s Day Around the World

GUEST BLOGGER Lisa Smith of Regionz Kidz has graciously shared this interesting post about international Valentine’s Day traditions. February 14th has come to mean red and pink hearts, flowers, chocolates and Hallmark cards here in the US. But, how did Valentine’s Day become a day that we celebrate with our loved ones? Valentine’s Day began [...]

02/05/2008 04:47 PM

The Custom of Eating Dumplings for the Chinese New Year

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about symbolic foods that are eaten around the world for the New Year. There are symbolic foods that are eaten for the Chinese New Year too. This year, the Chinese New Year celebrations start on February 7th. (It will be the year of the Rat!) Dumplings are [...]

12/29/2007 10:48 PM

Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years

In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Years Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings. These symbols seem to fall into several major categories. The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, like lentils, [...]

11/09/2007 10:27 AM

Can Someone Help with a Chinese Song from an Album called “Children’s Folk Rhymes in Beijing”?

Kel wrote: Hi, I just found your web page and am interested in finding a song and lyrics. The song is called is “Looking at the Sights With My Small Eyes” (in Chinese its “Xiao Yan Jing Kan Jing Zhi Er”). It’s from an album called “Children’s Folk Rhymes in Beijing”..... I’m trying to find somewhere I [...]

06/28/2007 05:56 PM

Chinese Musical Notation - Music without a Staff!

I recently received a song from China called Little Swallow. The sheet music was very different from the notes on staffs that we use in the West. It consisted of numbers with dots and lines. Here’s what it looks like: I asked Wang Li, who sent me the song, about it. [...]

05/29/2007 04:34 PM

I Need Help with the Chinese Text for a Kids Song called Count Ducks

I received a wonderful Chinese children’s song recently called Count Ducks. The text I received is a scanned in image – I had a hard time making it look crisp and clear. If anyone can send me the computerized text in Chinese, I’d be grateful. Here’s the graphic, followed by an English [...]

04/16/2007 10:18 PM

Yuan Xiao and the Lantern Festival in China

Yuan Xiao is a traditional food for the Lantern Festival in China. The Lantern Festival is at the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People go outside with lanterns, watch the dragon dance, set off firecrackers, and they eat Yuan Xiao. (Yuan Xiao is also called Tang Yuan.) There’s a sweet version [...]

03/29/2007 11:21 AM

Qingming - Festival of Pure Brightness - 清明節

The Qingming Festival takes place on April 4, 5, or 6th – whichever is the 104th day after the winter solstice. It’s celebrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Qingming has many names and spellings: Qingming, Ching Ming, Ch’ing Ming, Qing Ming Jie. In English it’s been called Clear Brightness Festival, Remembrance of Ancestors [...]

03/26/2007 01:47 PM

Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night - A Poem by the Chinese Poet Du Fu

Du Fu, also known as Tu Fu (712-770), is one of the best-known poets of China. Many of his poems are about nature and the seasons. Here’s Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night in simplified Chinese and with an English translation by Brendan O’Kane. After the translation, I posted the traditional Chinese text. 春夜喜雨 Delighting [...]