09 February 2011

Year of the Rabbit

My friend in Xian, Min, says that this is the popular gesture this year to show regard and give new year greetings. The gesture looks like a rabbit, and when you move your thumbs it looks like the rabbit is wiggling its ears.

The Chinese character in the middle is 'rabbit' (tu), which is pronounced 'to'. So, "Happy to you" shows the influence of internet and English on Chinese culture - and it shows how Chinese people absorb cultural influences from elsewhere.

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