Vincentians, Taiwanese celebrate Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year, which begins on Thursday, February 19, was celebrated in St Vincent and the Grenadines last Saturday, February 14, with an event at the residence of Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Ambassador Baushuan Ger hosted, at his home at Villa, a luncheon for Taiwanese nationals {{more}} residing in St Vincent and the Grenadines,Vincentian graduates of Taiwanese universities and other Vincentians who had visited Taiwan in the past to take part in training courses or other activities. Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador said he was pleased to welcome the guests to his home for the event, which he said was somewhat like Christmas, in that families tend to get together at that time.

Ger, who has been Ambassador to St Vincent and the Grenadines since September 2014, moved into the Villa residence in December.

Philip Shih, first secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of China to SVG, Gordon Shallow, president of the SVG Taiwan Alumni Association and Tasheka Haynes, president of the Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF) Alumni Society also spoke at the event, at which a wide array of Taiwanese dishes were served.

In the Chinese lunar calendar, 2015 is the year of the goat.

During the year of the goat, the lucky numbers are 2 and 7; the lucky colours are brown, red and purple; lucky flowers are carnations and primroses; the lucky direction is north and the lucky months are August and November.

People born in a year of the goat are generally believed to be gentle mild-mannered, shy, stable, sympathetic, amicable and brimming with a strong sense of kindheartedness and justice.