Happy Lunar New Year! Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)
It was a beautiful day in Equestria, the land of harmony. Celestia's sun was shining down on the town of Fillydelphia, when a train pulled rolled into station, letting its passengers to disembark and onto the platform.
Among the colorful ponies and creatures, there stood the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends the Elements of Harmony Bearers at her sides, including her number one assistant, Spike, and apprentice, Starlight Glimmer.
"We're here!" Pinkie shouted happily, hopping up and down excitedly. "We're here! We're here! We're here! WE'RE HEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRREEEEEEE!!!!"
"We hear you Pinkie!" Twilight winced, as she and everyone rubbed their sore ears. "We hear you."
"Come on girls!" Spike called out, as he lead the ponies the way. "Dragon Town is just around the corner! Come on!"
With that, the ponies all followed their dragon friend, who was more excited than they are for the occasion that brought them all to Fillydelphia.
Not long ago, he had received an invitation from his dragon friend, Mina, to come and join her family in their celebration of their annual holiday, the Lunar New Year, and Spike is free to bring along any friends he wishes. Though Mina was practically begging and pleading in her letter to invite Princess Luna to join in the festivity. Mina is a big fan of Princess Luna.
After navigating their way through the busy streets of Fillydelphia, passing the busy ponies going about their day, the friends finally arrived at the Dragon Town district of Fillydelphia.
"Welcome to Dragon Town everyone!" Spike smiled happily, presenting the town of dragons before them.
Twilight and her friends all could hardly believe their eyes as they marveled the town before them. At the entrance, is a large gate called a paifang (牌坊 trans: memorial archway edifice), decorated in bright colors with a golden dragon painted on the top.
To further match the beautiful and vibrant display of colors, the once rugged and rocky surface of the town was coated with colorful lanterns of different shapes and sizes. Some were constructed to resemble creatures, such as a lion, a tiger, and a bear.
"Oh my!" Fluttershy whimpered, quivering in fright at the sight of so many dragons that roam the streets.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy," Spike reassured. "Every dragons here are friendly! They won't hurt you."
"SPIKE!!!" A cheerful voice called out.
"Speaking of who," Spike smiled as he and everyone all turned their attention to see a familiar red dragon, with hot pink hair, waving for them. "Mina!"
The two dragons both ran up to each other and shared a quick hug, "Spike! It's red rubies to see you again!" Mina smiled.
"Red rubies to see you too, Mina!" Spike smiled, before he turned to his pony friends. "Twilight! Girls! This is my friend, Mina!"
"Hi Mina! Nice to finally meet you!" Twilight smiled. "Spike's told us a lot about you!"
"I'll bet he does," Mina giggled. "And it's so awesome to finally meet you, the Mane 6, in dragon! Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)!" The dragon smiled.
Traditional Chinese: gōng xǐ fā cái. Cantonese: Kung Hei Fat Choi
"Kung Hei Fat Choi?" Pinkie asked. "That sounds delicious! I sure hope it comes with cookies!"
Mina couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Spike's right, you are very funny, Pinkie Pie!" The girl dragon smiled, before she explains, "Gōng xǐ fā cái means Happy New Year in Chinese!"
"Oh! Well then, Kung Hei Fat Choi to you too!" Pinkie smiled.
"Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh!" An enthusiastic voice exclaimed, and the next thing everyone knew, a blur of moderate tangelo and light gold gray came running and tackled both Applejack and Fluttershy in a tight hug that is tighter than Pinkie Pie's hugs. "You're here, you're here! YOU'RE ALL HERE!!!"
The blur was none other but the kirin Applejack and Fluttershy had befriended on their last friendship mission together, Autumn Blaze.
"Autumn Blaze?" Applejack groaned from the hug.
"It's nice to see you too," Fluttershy moaned from the hug, before she managed to ask, "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" Autumn asked. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here to celebrate the Lunar New Year," Applejack answered. "We got invited by Spike's pen pal, Mina over there."
"Well what luck!" Autumn smiled happily. "I got invited to celebrate the Lunar New Year too!"
"Really?" The friends all asked in unison.
“Well, not just me. The whole kirin herd!" Autumn Blaze pointed to show a few kirins walking around the street and socializing with the local dragons. "You may not know it, but Lunar New Year is practically a kirin's bread and butter! It's our favorite holiday!" Autumn smiled. "We used to celebrate it every year with dragons! We’re practically cousins!!!” Autumn Blaze giggled, much to Mina's embarrassment.
"I don't think it's like that," Mina chuckled. "But it's great to finally have the kirins back to celebrate the Lunar New Year with us again. And we owed it all to Spike's friends, Applejack and Fluttershy."
"Spike? Who's Spike? Is he your pet dog?" Autumn Blaze asked excitedly. "I love puppies!"
"Ahem, I'm Spike," Spike cleared his throat, making himself known to the kirin.
Autumn Blaze squealed excitedly, "OMG! He's just the CUTEST!!! Makes me want to pinch his little cheeks!" The kirin said, scooping Spike up in her hooves and hugged him excitedly.
"Choking! Not breathing!" Spike groaned, before he was released from the kirin's grip.
"Excuse me, Mina?" Twilight began, as she walked up to the red dragoness. "If I may, but what is it about the Lunar New Year that makes it such an important holiday?"
Mina scratched her chin, as she tries her best to answer, "The Lunar New Year is the start of a new year for us dragons."
"New year?! A goody!" Pinkie squealed happily. "Happy new year! Happy new year! Happy–"
Spike, Mina, and Autumn Blaze all laughed as they stopped the pink pony, "Oh no, no, no Pinkie," Mina laughed. "For goodness sake, not that kind of new year."
"And besides, isn't New Year's Day just a month ago?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, that's true," Mina replied. "But the Lunar New Year is different. It follows the start and the end of the Lunar Calendar."
"Lunar Calendar?" The ponies asked.
"That's right. You see, unlike your average everyday calendar that's fixated on your Princess Celestia's sun, the lunar calendar follows the monthly cycle of the moon. And the Lunar New Year always starts between January 21st to February 20th, depending on when the new moon appears. Which you can guess by all the festivities going, it's tonight."
"Fascinating!" Twilight said, as she wasted no time to write what she had just learned.
"So what else would we dragons do for the Lunar New Year?" Spike asked. "And how is it that no one, say Smolder or Ember ever told me about it?"
"Eh, dragons like Ember aren't too big on celebrating holidays like Lunar New Year," Mina shrugged. "Any, the first thing you'd want to do is make sure your home is neat and tidy," Mina lectured. "That means all of our gems go in the chests, locked away for safe keeping. That way, no evil spirits would try to steal our treasures. And furthermore, we have to make sure our home is clear of dusts, dirts, and cobwebs, before we can begin the new year."
"Really? Why's that?"
"Well, because we want to start our new year with a clean fresh start. So obviously, everything that's old and just taking up space from the last year has got to go, to make room for the new year." Mina smiled proudly.
"How inspiring!" Rarity smiled, with eyes dazzling in amazement. "I never knew dragons can be so neat and tidy! Of course, there's no one as neat and tidy as you, Spikey-Poo~" The marshmallow unicorn cooed, much to Spike's embarrassment.
"Spikey-Poo?" Autumn Blaze laughed, with Mina joining in.
"Hey, I just remembered!" Mina exclaimed. "A friend of yours arrived a few days ago, before you did, all the way from the Crystal Empire!"
"Princess Cadence?!" Twilight asked excitedly.
"Nope," The dragon shook her head. "Another unicorn sorceress. Kinda old, and wrinkly, but very sweet too! Goes by the name–"
"Mistmane?!" Rarity gasped. "She's the Pillar of Beauty! She's here?!"
"Uh-huh," Mina nodded. "She was happy to lend a helping hoof to clean our town and prepare the festival! C'mon! I'll take you to her!"
With that, everyone all followed their dragon friend. Though, Fluttershy was still unease at all the surrounding dragons. Especially the ones that are long and serpentine, with antlers instead of horns, claws as sharp as eagles, eyes of a demon, with teeth that are long and curved to sharp points.
"Mistmane!" Twilight exclaimed, when the friends found the unicorn sorceress tending to a yellow Mai flower tree in a front yard.
The yellow Mai flower is another symbol of Vietnam's Lunar New Year. It hails from a Vietnamese folklore about a little girl who came back from the heavens every year to be with her family.
"Ah, Princess Twilight and friends," Mistmane greeted with a smile. "Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)."
"Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)!" The friends all returned the greeting.
Rarity's eyes widened with wonders and dazzlement, when she noticed that Mistmane was no longer wearing her usual sky blue outfit, but was now wearing a sparkling red outfit with gold trimmings.
"Why, Mistmane! You look splendid!" Rarity smiled.
"Oh, why thank you, dear Rarity," Mistmane smiled. "It's Lunar New Year, after all. And it's traditional to wear new bright colored clothes on this special day. Red is the color of good luck after all."
"You don't say." Rarity looked around to see that Dragon Town was covered in red ribbons, lanterns, and firecrackers. "I guess that explains just about everything with the decor."
"So how come you're celebrating Lunar New Year with the dragons?" Rainbow asked. "Shouldn't you be, say up in the Crystal Empire, doing beauty stuff?"
"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity scolded.
"What? I'm just curious."
"Oh, it's alright," Mistmane chuckled. "Believe it or not, but from where I had come from, we ponies have been friends with dragons for many moons."
"Really?!" The friends exclaimed in surprise.
"It's true!" Autumn Blaze smiled. "Though, unlike the greedy, fire breathing, and rampaging dragons you know today, we're talking about their benevolent, kind-hearted, slightly hothead cousins."
"Cousins?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, cousins! Long, serpentine dragons with scales of a carp, antlers of a stag, eyes, paws of a tiger, and claws of an eagle! That kind of cousin! Don't you know about them?" The kirin asked, to which Spike shook his head. "Well then my little dragon friend, prepare to be blown away! And I don't mean literally, so you can drop the firecrackers, Pinkie Pie," She said, looking at the pink pony who was close to lighting up a string of firecrackers.
Long ago, in the land of Mistmane, the ponies and their kirin brethren have lived together in perfect harmony. They studied the arts of magic together, and worked long and hard to tend the land that brought them all together.
But for so long, the ponies have lived in fear of a demon called the Nian. It is a monster that has the mane of a lion, the pointed horn of a unicorn, and a hideous face of a demon. Its tail is so powerful, that a single whip would kill dozens of stallions.
Many brave warriors had stood up to this foul creature. But all have failed, for the Nian is immortal. It can never be destroyed. And it is always hungry for meat. This creature continued to ravage the land for many moons, until at last, it was captured by the dragons, who locked the creature away in the mountains, deep within the underworld of Diyu.
Diyu (地狱) is Chinese's version of hell, the underworld, or Tartarus.
From that day on, the ponies and kirins became friends with the dragons. Unlike their malicious and greedy brethren from a distant land, the dragons from Mistmane's homeland are kind, noble, and benevolent creatures who are in tune to the elements of nature and the land, just as well as the ponies. Though they lack wings, the dragons rely on their great magic prowess to fly, control the weather, and cast powerful spells to tend the land.
Everything was good, until one day when everyone learned the terrible news, the Nian has escaped, and is returning to the land to exact its horrible vengeance upon the creatures who had imprisoned it many years ago.
But this time, the dragons had passed on their knowledge to the ponies, on how they had previously defeated the Nian. It was revealed that the Nian was scared of bright colors, including red. Furthermore, the Nian doesn't like loud noises and is always terrified of fire.
Armed with these knowledge, the ponies and kirins went to work to decorate their homes with red colors and hang firecrackers on their wall. And on the night of the new moon, when the Nian appeared again, the ponies were ready.
The Nian was helpless and confused at all the bright colors before its very eyes; the firecrackers burst loud like raging thunders in the monster's ears; every pony and kirins all bang their pots and pans together, emitting even more earsplitting sounds that was too much for the Nian to bear. At last, the Nian couldn't take it anymore that it flees into the mountains, never to return again.
And so, to this day, ever Lunar New Year, every family all decorated their homes in red colors and hang firecrackers along the wall. And the ponies and kirin's friendships with the dragons grew stronger still, and to celebrate, every Lunar New Year, the ponies would perform the dragon dance in honor of their dragon friendships and to ward off evil spirits.
Present
"Years have passed, and the story has faded into legend." Mistmane concluded.
"Whoa~" Spike gasped breathlessly, with Twilight who had been writing nonstop to record every notes of the legend she had been told.
"My goodness!" Rarity said, bedazzled. "I know red is a beautiful color, but I up until now, I never knew it had such value, like this!" With that, Rarity's inspiration struck, "IDEAAAAAAA~I know just what I need to do one my next latest line of designs! Oh so many fabrics, so many sketches, so little time!" The marshmallow unicorn talked to herself, as she was on her way.
"Wow, that's so great!" Starlight Glimmer commented. "I never knew we've been friends with dragons long before today!"
"I know right?" Mina smiled. "I don't even know I had a grandmother, until I celebrated my first Lunar New Year, when I was just about your age! And that's another best thing about Lunar New Year! It's the time when families get together again!"
"Family reunion?" Applejack smiled. "Now you're talking my language!"
"Speaking of which," Mina turned her head excitedly, searching for someone. "Is Princess Luna coming? I just know she's going to love this!"
The friends couldn't help but laugh at the red dragon's enthusiasm, "Calm down, Mina," Spike chuckled. "I'm sure Luna is on the way. There's no way she wouldn't want to miss the chance to be with her favorite fan."
"Did she really say I'm her favorite fan?!!!" Mina asked excitedly.
"What is it about Luna that you like her so much?" Rainbow asked.
"What's there not to love about her? She's cool, she's ready for action, and she looks totally wicked in her Nightmare Moon Armor! Maybe when Season 9 rolls around, the designers might consider redesigning her so she would wear the armor for the entire season up until the start of Generation 5?" Before her ranting could continue, Spike stopped her.
"Uh, Mina. You're losing it again," He said, calming the excited dragon.
"Oh, right, sorry," Mina blushed. "But I can't help it. I just wanted Princess Luna to have a special night with us. Y'know, with new year and everything. A new beginning? I know she's still totally down with the whole Nightmare Night fiasco and stuff, so I just thought maybe if she learns that there was a holiday dedicated to her moon, then she'd feel a whole lot better."
"Then you'd be please to know, the happiness has been doubled," A voice spoke up.
Everyone all looked around, and none were more surprised than Mina, to see Princess Luna standing before them, "P-P-P-P-Princess Luna!!!" Mina stammered. "Y-Y-Y-You're here!"
"Of course I am here, Mina," Luna said. "How can I refuse an invitation, or two, or a thousand, from my biggest fan?"
Mina's eyes lit up as she squealed excitedly, "Senpai noticed me!" She said, to which Spike couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Baked these for you!" The dragon bowed, as she presented the princess of the night a tray of vegetable dumplings, rice balls, and spring bars.
- Dumplings are symbol of fortune for its shape like an ancient Chinese gold ingot.
- Rice balls round shape standing for completeness and family reunion.
- Spring rolls appearance like a gold bar and stuff with fresh veg meaning a fresh start.
Unsure at first, Princess Luna turned to the friends, who all beckoned for her to try it out. Levitating a dumpling, she took a bite and her eyes instantly lit up, "Amazing! Simply amazing! What has my taste buds just tasted?"
"It's called a dumpling!" Mistmane smiled. "It's a symbol of good fortune!"
"Oh! Well then, l love this dumpling!" Luna smiled, as she downs the whole thing, before moving onto another.
"Hey! Save some for us, princess!" Applejack insisted.
Later when night falls, Princess Luna raised the moon, signaling the start of the new year. With that, the entire festivity can begin, with a parade.
The friends, plus Princess Luna, Mistmane, Autumn Blaze, and Mina all watched from the sidelines. Fireworks were sounded off, starting the parade with firecrackers filling the air, with a parade of ponies and kirins, putting on a show, wearing colorful costumes, with some more on a float playing flutes, violins, and drums.
"Hey Rarity, check those ponies out!" Spike pointed. "Are they giving you some more inspirations?"
"Oh yes indeed darling!" Rarity smiled.
"Aw, they're all so adorable!" Fluttershy cooed.
"And fun too!" Pinkie Pie giggled, watching as many performing ponies were all doing acrobatic tricks.
"Hey look! Those are my friends!" Autumn Blaze pointed, to a group of kirins who were following the leader, who was carrying a long scroll.
The kirins were all carrying flags with their telekinesis, waving them in the air, spinning them in circles, with some more dressed in costumes of colorful creatures, performing some sort of dance.
"What are those things?" Fluttershy asked. "Are those Nians?"
"No. They're dancing lions," Mina replied.
"It's another traditional dance we learned from the dragons," Mistmane explained. "They bring good luck and fortunes as well."
"Speaking of which, here comes the dragon dance!" Mina pointed excitedly, to some kirins beating on some drums, and gongs, to create an upbeat tune.
With that, the serpentine dragons from before all appeared in a flash of fire, "Oh my!" Fluttershy quivered, hiding behind Rainbow Dash.
"It's okay, Fluttershy," Mina reassured. "These dragons aren't going to hurt you. They're here to bring us good luck! Watch! They're doing the dance now!"
The friends watched as the dragons focused their magic and began to levitate themselves in the air. Then the dragons all weaved their whole body in a fluid, graceful, and rhythmic movement to the beats of the drums and gongs.
"Whoa, those dragons can really dance!" Applejack complimented.
"My, such coordinations!" Rarity commented. "Such choreography!"
"Check it out! That's my cousin, Gracey!" Mina pointed. "Hi Gracey!"
"Yeah, they're great!" Spike added. "But check out my moves!"
"Nice moves, Spike," Mina nodded, as she and the girls giggled. "You're sure to bring lots of good lucks your way this year."
Suddenly, a burst of popping explosions filled the air, "Whoa, what's happening?!" Rainbow asked.
"Are we under attack?!" Fluttershy whimpered.
"Don't worry," Mina waved it off. "It's just the firecrackers. It must be time to light them up."
"Wow, they're very loud!" Twilight winced.
"They have to be," Autumn explained. "The louder, the better to scare away any evil spirits that would want to wreck our fun."
"Yes, of course," Mistmane winced. "Though, I only wished we could've made them a little more....quieter."
"Here comes the big bang!" Mina smiled excitedly, as she counted, "5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" With that, the firecrackers that were bundled together in a clump at the top all exploded at once. "Whoo-hoo!"
"Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)!"
"Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái), Princess Luna!" Mina cheered.
"Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái), my friends!" Luna returned.
正月里是新年 zhēng yuè lǐ shì xīn nián
家家户户迎新年 jiā jiā hù hù yíng xīn nián
恭祝大家今年好 gōng zhù dà jiā jīn nián hǎo
今年更比往年好 jīn nián gèng bǐ wǎng nián hǎo
恭喜你恭喜你恭喜你 gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ
今年更比往年好 jīn nián gèng bǐ wǎng nián hǎo
正月里是新年 zhēng yuè lǐ shì xīn nián
小孩个个笑哈哈 xiǎo hái gè gè xiào hā hā
穿上新衣穿新鞋 chuān shàng xīn yī chuān xīn xié
道声恭喜零食来 dào shēng gōng xǐ líng shí lái
恭喜你恭喜你恭喜你 gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ
道声恭喜零食来 dào shēng gōng xǐ líng shí lái
正月里是新年 zhēng yuè lǐ shì xīn nián
老人个个笑脸开 lǎo rén gè gè xiào liǎn kāi
儿女子孙挤满堂 ér nǚ zǐ sūn jǐ mǎn táng
一家大小团圆好 yī jiā dàx iǎo tuán yuán hǎo
恭喜你恭喜你恭喜你 gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ
添福添寿儿孙好 tiān fú tiān shòu ér sūn hǎo
正月里是新年 zhēng yuè lǐ shì xīn nián
男女老少齐欢唱 nán nǚ lǎo shào qí huān chàng
新地一年又来到 xīn dì yī nián yòu lái dào
国泰民安生活好 guó tài mín'ān shēng huó hǎo
恭喜你恭喜你恭喜你 gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ
社会繁荣生活好 shè huì fán róng shēn ghuó hǎo
恭喜你恭喜你恭喜你 gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ
国泰民安生活好 guó tài mín'ān shēng huó hǎo
恭喜你恭喜你恭喜你 gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ gōng xǐ nǐ
社会繁荣生活好shè huì fán róng shēng huó hǎo
Author's Note
