It is easy to forget that the act of forgiveness is inseparable from how it is delivered and what it signifies. Forgiveness is simply not possible without any real, visible changes. Between two people, forgiveness can be expressed through subtle signals such as a smile (or shared crying), a resumption of communication displayed by a slight gestures and more confident conversation. But even at this personal level most forgiveness demanded and received is transmitted through codes and small rituals - a gift offered and accepted, a shared meal or a hug. These rituals are created spontaneously, by a couple or a group friends. The signs exchanged are of great importance: once the ritual is performed, everything can restart again; however...

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It is the sound of firecrackers bursting through a quiet night and the sight of vivid orange and red dragon or lion costumes coming to life at a street parade. It’s also the taste of fresh oranges and pomelos that help to fill the senses of those ready to take in the Lunar New Year celebration known as Chinese New Year. [/dropcap]For centuries, the Chinese have viewed their New Year as a time of good luck and fortune in anticipation of a new beginning. While the actual day changes based on the Lunar calendar, the New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first moon in the calendar. This year it falls on February 14, and families celebrate for a total of fifteen days. 2010 also ushers in the year of the Tiger, a sign of...

Read more: Chicago celebrates the Year of the Tiger

Li-chun highlights some absurdities generated by the conflict between tradition and modernity, between one's duty and one's desires.

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Self, the other and fantasy. Ida contrasts Taipei New Year, an Aboriginal tribe's New Year and her vision of an ideal Chinese New Year.

Read more: Butterflies and amusement parks

Chinese New Year in the 21st Century. Joyce brings together tradition and modernity, having spent much of her youth in South Africa, she reveals how her scattered family overcomes long distance to celebrate Chinese New Year as a family.

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Si-wei compares her Chinese New Years, past and present.

Read more: A warmer New Year's Eve

"Bah, humbug!"

I may have been labelled the "CNY Scrooge" around the eRenlai office; however, despite my obvious lack of objectivity, I try to describe with the most sincerity my first New Year spent with the family in Taipei.

Read more: Renewing New Year

Pinti loves eating and she is apparently a good cook! However traditions are very important and give the opportunity to make and break habits. Here, she explains to us why she recently became a vegetarian...

Read more: Be happy & make a wish

The south of Taiwan vibrant Chinese New Year tends to be celebrated in a much more traditional way than in Taipei. Wen-yi tells us how.

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Chiara 'sings' her praises for Chinese New Year in Taiwan. From a standpoint of an Italian upbringing...

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Nick shares his first experience of Chinese New Year and also recalls the origins of one of its main rituals: the throwing of firecrackers.

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Celebration in Crisis? As we approach the first Chinese New Year of the twentytenty's. The Chinese Diaspora is in a prolific period of evolution. Its festivals also appear to be in a process of evolution. Chinese New Year is becoming internationalised on a scale close to that of Christmas. [/dropcap]With these evolutions come new challenges, new identity issues and new soul searching. Indeed the true value of Christmas has long been questioned annually, the commercialisation of the ceremony, its newer function as a stimulant to heat up the economy in the midst of winter, lifting economies out of recession and lifting the mood of the people. Indeed, Christmas and CNY have a lot of similarities:



T"]he east is red, the west is red. Is...

Read more: What is still sacred?

By late July, stepping out into the pre-monsoonal weather in Bodh Gaya was akin to wrapping oneself in a blanket that had been soaked in warm water. The thick humidity was inescapable, conspiring to prevent you from being cool at all times of the day. Nights were the worst, especially when the power cut out—a not infrequent occurrence in under-developed Bihar—with the sound of thirsty mosquitos buzzing outside the tattered mosquito net only just masking the discomfort being completely covered in sweat.[/dropcap]As a visitor to Bihar, I was fortunate. The sticky heat was something I only had to tolerate for a short while, and would not have to do anymore once I had moved on. However for Biharis, and those all over northern India, this...

Read more: Celebrating the Monsoon