This weekend my family will be celebrating two occasions…Our Vietnamese New Year (a.k.a. Lunar New Year) and, of course, Valentine’s Day! This year is the Year of the Tiger which is one of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese calendar. Here’s a little description of those who are born in the Year of the Tiger:

Tiger people are sensitive, given to deep thinking, capable of great sympathy. They can be extremely short-tempered, however. Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes tiger people come into conflict with older people or those in authority. sometimes Tiger people cannot make up their minds, which can result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound decision arrived at too late. They are suspicious of others, but they are courageous and powerful. Tigers are most compatible with Horses, Dragons, and Dogs.

We will be visiting family and presenting them with traditional gifts and will also be attending a festival at church that is bound to have lots of games, music and food! This will be my son’s first time to really enjoy this holiday! He’ll be showered with lucky money too (bills put into red envelopes that is a symbol of luck and prosperity)!

For Valentine’s Day, we’re planning on taking our son out to lunch and just spending good ‘ole, quality time with him! We started a tradition last year of getting him a stuffed animal for Valentine’s Day (He got Raffey his giraffe last year that he just adores). So we continue the tradition this year with a red dog named Aldo.

Happy New Year – may the Year of the Tiger bring you joy, peace and prosperity!

Happy V-Day too…give your loved ones a call and an extra kiss (I got a faceful this morning!).