I hung the Chun lian, took a vacation day, planned to clean the house, and cook a large meal (with fish and dumplings). What could possibly go wrong?

Today marked the dawn of a new year, the year of the Rat. Not being Chinese myself but having a deep appreciation and fondness for Chinese culture I decided to celebrate. Months ago I had been allowed the day off.

Turns out that a last minute seminar meant that the office would be too short handed for me to take the day off. I had to go into work after all, failing to stay home on this very important day. That had to be a bad sign, signs of good luck-0, signs of bad luck-1.

Last night I took out red construction paper and a sharpie pen to create the Chun lian that would decorate my front door. After meticulous work I produced an alarmingly small amount of Chun lian.

Not to be daunted I hung it up anyway. The neighbors will have no idea why there is red paper on my door, and if they do they will probably laugh their poor heads off, but hey I figured the effort counted for something right? Good luck 1, bad luck 1.

While preparing the Chun lian I discovered that a cricket had taken up residence in my garage. I live in Florida, this should be no surprise, but crickets are a sign of good luck- and for one to be in my garage, on the eve of the new year, while preparing the Chun lian,- it must be awful good luck. Good luck 2, bad luck 1.

In the morning, as the New Year dawned, I discovered that some of my pathetic Chun lian had ripped off the door and was destroyed (or at least damaged). Good luck 1, bad luck 2.

I went to work, were my euphoria over the new year remained virtually undaunted. After a grueling and almost completely unproductive day I returned home to find that the kids had created a mess in the house. A messy house on the new year is terribly ominous. Good luck 1, bad luck 3.

Oh, let me not forget that mongrel of a cat. I have a pair of Fu Dogs that "guard" the front door. On a nightly basis the cat has a staring contest with the Fu Dogs (I am not making this up! I swear that cat is really a demon). During the staring contest the cat knocked over the Fu Dog (don't ask me how this happened). A demon with free reign in the housethis can't be anything but bad luck. Good luck 1, bad luck 4.

Having gone to work the prospect of cooking went out the window. So instead I packed up the family and went to a Chinese restaurant. Apparently, this is a great way to be cursed for all eternity according to Chinese new year traditions. Good luck 1, bad luck 5.

Arriving home I find that the demon of a cat has terrorized the house. The kids were, of course unruly, and I'm exhausted from the days mishaps. I should add that crying on the new year is another highly ominous portent. It certainly didn't stop the kidsanother omen of bad luck for the new year.

Upon final reflection I can only hope two things:

The next 14 days of the Chinese new year portend fortuitous events, and that next year proves luckier.

Xin Nian Kuai Le everybody!

Learn more about this author, Daniel Xiao Wang.
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