I tried to read up on, as much as I could, the 15-day celebration known as the Chinese New Year. Internet searches seem to only scratch the surface of this centuries-old holiday that’s seemingly a million times better than that dumb champagne-drinking debacle back in January. From what I read, today, the seventh day, is known as “renri.” The common man’s birthday. The birthday of all human beings. I think it’s also, probably, a good day to eat some noodles and a hunk of raw fish.

Last Sunday I went down to the International District, in search of commotion. I have to admit, part of the reason I went is because I’m obsessed with firecrackers and all things that explode. Instead, I learned a little something about lion dancing, the Year of the Pig, and met a sharp lady named Alice who sold me a cheap and GIGANTIC bunch of “good luck” pussy willows, that she claimed I could keep in water, then replant in my yard.

I also got to talk to some folks from this amazing little basement studio called the Mak Fai Washington Kung Fu Club. Nice-guy Kevin Chan tried to explain a bit of the New Year holiday to me, and told me how Mak Fai, THE MAN, can do a hundred pushups on his knuckles. Then he let me take some pictures, including this wall of fun.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.
Happy New Year.