Happy Chinese New Year of the Earth Pig

I love Chinese New Year – its such a vibrant celebration. I love all the traditions that go along with the holiday; the time for visiting family and friends, the time for renewal and wearing new clothes. I love the Chinese New Year decorations, the red envelope tradition and the lanterns everywhere.

Here in Bangkok, the Lunar New Year celebrations are just as spectacular as I’ve seen anywhere.

The Thai Chinese are the largest minority group in Thailand so it is no surprise that Bangkok enjoys the Chinese New Year celebrations to the max.

The shrine of Wisdom – Central Embassy, Bangkok

Many of the Bankok’s shopping centres have fabulous Chinese New Year celebrations.  I mean I only popped in for some milk and just look what happened. Little Wandering Wren gets swept away in the euphoria of the Central Embassy’s Chinese New Year celebrations into Little China girl. Really who does not love to dress up in these wonderful clothes given half a chance?

Let me take you through the Dragon’s gate at the Central Chidlom Department store Bangkok and see what else we can find.

Through the Dragon’s Gate between Central Embassy and Central Chidlom

The Central Chidlom department store has a monumentally massive paper dragon which is worth taking the escalators from the ground all the way up to the sixth floor to admire.

If I was impressed by the Central Embassy and Central Chidlom department stores, I was blown away down at Emporium Emquartier Department Store.

Here they have invited the public and school children to celebrate Chinese New Year with creativity and joy. Invited to find their inner Picasso more than 8,000 paper lanterns were handed out to local schools and their staff and children. The result was a happy explosion of colour.

Are you doing anything special in your area to celebrate Lunar New Year?

Happy Chinese New Year of the Earth Pig from me to you, where ever you are in the world!

Linking with thanks to Beverly at Pink Saturday