It’s Chinese New Year week – get your red out and pick up some fireworks at the roadside stands! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some quality family time and for the hustle and bustle of China to go quiet for a few days. (Well, minus the fireworks of course!) Why cover CNY in a 'laowai' podcast? Well, I believe that because this holiday is so vitally important to the core of our host nation, it is also incredibly important for us to learn about. They care, so we care. This week, I’m going to embark on a journey with you to try to uncover some of the mystery around China’s biggest holiday. Today's episode covers the basics – the need to stop generalizing the entire population; the ingrained cultural importance of this holiday; why the color red; and finally, the significance of fireworks.