Even though I usually skip a Christmas CG, I always like to do a Lunar New Year CG. I think it's probably because it's one way where I acknowledge my Vietnamese heritage, and also because I really like drawing animals.

I also enjoy putting little educational comments about the holiday itself. For example, Kris is holding li xi (pronounced "lee-see"), which are small red envelopes containing "lucky" money. These are typically new bills of varying denominations, depending on how generous the giver is feeling. (If you're a kid, you typically rake it in, because all your older, married relatives are supposed to give you li xi.)

Hana Neko is commenting on the Year of the Cat. As of this writing, the next Year of the Cat will be in 2011. This year is also known as the Year of the Rabbit, if you have Chinese heritage. (Us Vietnamese use the cat.) Sadly, as Mr. Bear knows, there is no Year of the Bear; he didn't make it on to the Lunar calendar.

Finally, as Kei points out, the Lunar New Year is a time for buying new things. Much like the Western tradition, many people look at the New Year as a time to start off fresh, to put your best face forward, and that can include buying yourself a lucky New Year's outfit. Kei is wearing red, which is lucky color to Asian culture in general.

Hope you all enjoyed my tidbits of culture!

In other randomness, the dogs are from my days as an Illustrator/Designer at Happy Puppy Games (how I miss those days! Truly my dream job...). I worked with kickass graphic designer IllChemist to finalize the main boy puppy (who I guess is just named "Happy Puppy"). The girl pup was dubbed "Jessica," as she was sort of the mascot of a column called "Biting the Hand" which was written by a lady named Jessica.