Kwaii!!!... meets Chinese New Year!

Happy Year of the dog! Being Eurasian & Nicky a full-blooded Australian born Chinese (ABC) we get to celebrate another new year... the Chinese Year of the dog. According to tradition anyone born in this year is supposed to be loving & loyal... but to us it means feasting with family, Yum cha feasting, lion dancing, did I mention feasting (?) & handing out money!

that's right money! As soon as you get married you have to dispense lucky money in red packets to all the unmarrieds who in return have to wish you luck for the year. Yes, we enjoy a moment of high popularity when even the surly teenage cousins greet you with a big smile! It sure is good not being married around this time of year!

Here are some of the gorgeous red packets and postcards designed to celebrate this time of year, that I discovered in Tokyo. I have found them very hard to part with and have had to keep a few of them stashed away with my other kwaii (super cool cute) Tokyo treasures... hopefully each month I will delve into my box and post some of my other Japanese sweet little treats up....

Wishing you all prosperity & good fortune for 2006! T