Year of the Rooster!

Just a quick little post acknowledging that it's Chinese New Year and Year of the Rooster!

To be honest, it really snuck up on my family and me. We're so used it being in February that we almost missed it, but thanks to our good Chinese friends in Toronto who sent us a reminder, we celebrated yesterday.

All families who are linked to Chinese heritage celebrate differently, just like any other holiday. Some go to community Chinese New Year parties, some go out for Chinese food with friends and family, some stay at home and cook or order Chinese food, and some don't celebrate at all. Chinese adoptees are exactly the same, except sometimes there is a complex emotional mental wall when celebrating Chinese New Year. For many adoptees, they aren't sure how or if they should celebrate it because they feel no connection to their home country. Some have expressed feeling lost and unsure if their families would be willing to celebrate with them. I respect everyone's decision if they choose to or to not celebrate - it really depends on the adoptee's choice and their family.

Specifically for my family, we always celebrate. When I arrived home from being out yesterday, my Mother had put beautiful Chinese New Year decorations on the door and above where we ate. I'm not really sure what they mean, but I can guess that they are wishing good things upon our family. We turned on some beautiful Chinese music to go along with our meal. My Mother made beef and veggie stir fry and I made lemon rice. My Mom started dinner by giving a little toast wishing our family a happy new year and wishing my birth family best wishes.

Throughout the entire cooking process, I had several of my close adopted friends wish me a happy new year as we also shared Chinese food pictures. It made me feel really connected with my fellow adoptees even though they're spread throughout Canada and celebrating in different ways. I truly felt like one big family celebrating our birth country's tradition. Couldn't be more grateful to have so many people inn my life who are just like me.

Happy Chinese New Year, thank you for reading and wishing you and your family prosperity, good luck, personal growth and happiness.