Happy Chinese New Year from MNHQ

[RachelCMumsnet]

Hello - or should we say, ??

Those with a keen eye for detail might've noticed something different about our logo today

The characters say Mumsnet, in honour of Chinese New Year, which is being celebrated today. To get the Year of the Horse off to a cracking start, we've published a Mumsnet guide to Mandarin, because if there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that mothers the world over share a propensity to wonder if they're being unreasonable.

You can also find out what your zodiac animal is and get inspired with Mumsnetters' Chinese recipes.

If you're celebrating, let us know what you'll be getting up to below.

A very happy Chinese New Year and gan bei (cheers) from MNHQ

[RudolphtheRedknowsraindear]

I xposted, sorry!

[LadyGreenTea]

Love the Mumsnet vocab guide
????

[ThePearShapedToad]

Amazing!! Happy new year to all

Could we not have a for today? Pleeeeeeeeeease tech????

[ErrolTheDragon]

Ah - I was just wondering what was with the logo! Thanks for the reminder - my boss is Chinese.

[NeverKnowinglyUnderstood]

pearshaped.. surely it should be a horse.. sorry!

[nicename]

I can't see it! I caaaant seeeee it! Whassit?

[Mignonette]

We won't be following the Tebbit tradition of kicking a teenager dancing in a Dragon costume at local Chinese new Year celebrations.

That nasty thug should have been prosecuted regardless of whether his 'apology' was accepted or not.

Here is the story.

[ouryve]

Mignonette but not surprised. The guy's a grotesque cross between Victor Meldrew and Death.

I think we need some Chinese dragon smileys for next year :o

And Gin is a bit bloody long winded, isn't it?

[PlainBrownEnvelope]

Kung Hei Fat Choy from Hong Kong. This is the traditional New Year greeting, and literally means ' hope you make a fortune'. It's accompanied by the giving of a red packet containing 'lucky money' to people who are junior to you, in some sort of service role, or, if you're married, to single friends. Just make sure you don't give $40 because 4 is unlucky in Chinese. It's also very important that the notes are new, or at least ironed

[BIWI]

Hah! I could actually read those characters as well!

I'll practise some of those on my Chinese teacher.

[Gladvent]

Gan bei!

[Mignonette]

There was an interesting article in the Guardian this week about how Fashion houses are responding to the increase in Chinese trade. Smythson are giving away Chinese New Year stationery if you spend so much. Apparently the increase in red clothing in high fashion is because of cultural taboos or preferences- white being mourning I believe and black unlucky.

Our He is a vile racist thug. That attack was even worse than reported in the newspapers. The local Businessman who funds the New Year celebration should not have capitulated.

[TheElementsSong]

?????????!

[RachelCMumsnet]

2015 will be Year of the Sheep - so think we'll have to ask tech about [sheep]

[nicename]

That's cos our mate Dave has been trying to get money from all the rich chinese gazillionaires for years now. I worked in finance and that's where a lot of massive investors were. Mrs C is onviously rising to the challenge.

[SomewhatSilly]

Kung hei fat choi!

Er, how are people doing their characters?

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Kung hei fat choi to you all too

It's my birthday today - I don't think it's ever been on Chinese New Year before (it moves around a bit I think?) and also I love horses - so all looking very auspicious as I canter into a New Year towards my 50th birthday next year

[tryingtokeepintune]

????.

Sadly we did not manage to have a family reunion dinner last night as there were too many different activities going on but managed to get some of the dcs and dh to sit down for a very early chinese new year dinner (remembered to cook a fish too - for good luck!)

SomewhatSilly - I cut and paste the characters.

[ThePearShapedToad]

Ah, but see??? If we had it could be appropriate each year, and poor tech wouldn't have to design rat / snake / etc each year

< beams >

[Hassled]

Oh I'm a horse - it's my year! Every fortune cookie I have this year will only say Good Things.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

DD2 and I are both dogs.

DD1 and DH are both goats!

[BIWI]

I'm a pig.

[Zhx3]

Kung hey fat choi everyone . I did 85 red packets with chocolate coins inside for the children to give to their classmates! Had traditional family meal with 3 generations last night. Hope it's a good one!

[NeverKnowinglyUnderstood]

That sounds great Zhx3
Kung Hey fat choi!

[Mumzy]

The first 2 chinese characters are Ma ma (mum) and the 3rd character is mon (internet). Kun Hei Fat Choi (wishing you happiness and prosperity).