THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

CHINESE NEW YEAR

WHAT IS CHINESE NEW YEAR ?

January 23rd was the first day of the Chinese New Year 4709.

This year's holiday, the Year of the Dragon, is a 15-day celebration that starts on the first day of the Chinese lunar month ( January 23).

Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival.

Each New Year also brings about a new animal from the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Preparations for the holiday begin about a month before the date of the Chinese New Year.

A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom.

This ritual is supposed to sweep away all traces of bad luck. Doors and windowpanes are often given a new coat of paint, usually red, then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS CONT. On the eve of the New Year, traditions and

rituals are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing.

Dinner is usually a feast of seafood and dumplings, signifying different good wishes.

It is customary to wear something red as this color is meant to ward off evil spirits.

Black and white are discouraged, as these are associated with mourning.

At midnight, fireworks light up the sky.

HONORING ANCESTORS

On the day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet, takes place, involving married couples giving children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes.

Then the family begins to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then to their neighbors.

Tributes are made to ancestors by burning incense and the symbolic offering of foods. As firecrackers burst in the air, evil spirits are scared away by the sound of the explosions.

Symbolic Chinese Foods

What gives a certain food symbolic significance? Sometimes it is based on appearance. For example, serving a whole chicken during the Chinese New Year season symbolizes family togetherness.

Noodles represent a long life; an old superstition says that it's bad luck to cut them. Both clams and Spring Rolls symbolize wealth; clams because of their resemblance to gold bouillon, and Spring Rolls because their shape is similar to gold bars.

Chinese Foods -continued A food may have special significance

during Chinese New Year because of the way the Chinese word for it sounds. For example, the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like rising fortune, so it is very common to serve a lettuce wraps filled with other lucky food.

Tangerines and oranges are passed out freely during Chinese New Year as the words for tangerine and orange sound like luck and wealth, respectively.

FISH AND CHINESE NEW YEAR

Fish also play a large role in festive celebrations. The word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both for wish and abundance. As a result, on New Year's Eve it is customary to serve a fish at the end of the evening meal, symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming year.

For added symbolism, the fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year.

 

CHINESE ZODIAC

 

 

WHAT EACH ZODIAC SIGN

MEANS

THE RAT Year of the Rat –1912, 1924, 1936, 1948,

1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032, 2044

It was recognized as an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality.

People under the rat sign are usually smart and willing to accumulate wealth and to make efforts to be successful. Throughout their lives, there will be many other people who can bring great fortune to them. Thus despite being shy, most of them are happy and harmonious with others.

THE OX

Year of the Ox - 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033, 2045

Ranked as the second zodiac, the ox is very big. In the life, people often used the ox to indicate something big or large in number. The ox is simple, honest, and straightforward. People who argue with others are said to have an 'oxen temper'.

People born in this year are probably honest, hard working patient, stubborn, and poor at communication.

THE TIGER

Year of the Tiger - 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034, 2046

Tigers, considered to be brave, cruel, forceful and terrifying, are the symbol of power and lordliness. In ancient times, people usually compared emperors or important people with the tiger. Court officials often said that 'accompanying the emperor is just like being at the side of a tiger‘..

People born in the year of the tiger are easy going, loyal, brave, and respected..

THE RABBIT

Year of the Rabbit - 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2036, 2047

The rabbit has represented hope of the Chinese people for a long time. It is tender and lovely. The moon goddess Chang'e in Chinese legend had a rabbit as her pet.

People born under the sign of the rabbit are gentle, sensitive, modest, and merciful and have strong memory. They like to communicate with others in a humorous manner.

THE DRAGON

Year of the Dragon - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036, 2048

The dragon enjoys a very high reputation in Chinese culture. It is the token of authority, dignity, honor, success and luck. In ancient China, a dragon was thought to speed across the sky with divine power.

Emperors entitled themselves exclusively as 'dragon'; their thrones were called 'dragon thrones', their clothes 'dragon gowns'.

People under the sign of the dragon are lively, energetic and lucky. They often can be leaders and try to go for perfection. When they meet with difficulties, they are not discouraged.

THE SNAKE

Year of the Snake - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037, 2049

In the Chinese zodiac, snake is listed after the dragon, but its place and the significance as the symbol of worship is far behind the dragon's. The snake carries the meanings of evil and pettiness.. In some places, people believe that a snake found in their court can bring delight.

In Spring Festival, people like to paste onto their doors and windows the paper-cut 'Fu' character (happiness), combined with the snake twisting around a rabbit as a popular pattern indicating wealth.

People born in the year of the snake often have a good temper, a skill of communicating, and a gracious honesty, but they are likely to be jealous and suspicious.

THE HORSE

Year of Horse - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038, 2050

The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people's desire to improve themselves.

It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able.

People born in the year of the horse want to be a leader. They are active, clever, kind to others.

THE SHEEP

Year of the Sheep - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039, 2051

The sheep is among the animals that people like most. It is gentle and calm. Since ancient times, people have learned to use its fleece to make writing brushes and skin to keep warm. As it is white, people describe delicate and precious white jade to be 'suet jade'. Thus it is close to the meaning of good things.

People under the sign of the sheep are tender, polite, family oriented, clever, and kind-hearted. They have special sensitivity to art and beauty, faith in a certain religion and a special fondness for quiet living..

THE MONKEY

Year of the Monkey - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040, 2052

The monkey is a clever animal. People used to compare it to a smart person.

The monkey figured prominently in ancient Chinese culture

Most people born in the Year of the Monkey are lively, flexible, and versatile. They love moving and sports. In their work, they will show amazing creativity. If they are not impatient and mouthy, they can gain more achievement.

THE ROOSTER

Year of the Rooster - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041, 2053

The rooster is almost the SYMBOL of fidelity and punctuality. For ancestors who had no alarm clocks, the rooster's crowing was significant, as it could awaken people to get up and start to work.

Roosters are considered to be honest, bright, good communicators, ambitious and warm-hearted. They have strong self-respect and seldom rely on others.

THE DOG

Year of the Dog - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042, 2054

The dog is the human's friend who can understand the human's spirit and obey its master, whether he is wealthy or not. The Chinese regard the dog as a lucky animal. If a dog happens to come to a house, usually the host will be very glad to adopt it, for it symbolizes the coming of fortune. Poodles, especially black poodles, bring more luck. The masters of dogs are not only humans, but the immortal in legends as well.

One born in the Year of Dog has an honest character. They are faithful, courageous, dexterous, smart and

warm-hearted..

THE PIG

Year of the Pig - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043

A pig is not as smart as a dog in understanding human thought. It likes sleeping and eating and becomes fat. Thus it usually features laziness and clumsiness. On the positive side, it behaves itself, has no desire to harm others, and can bring affluence to people. Consequently, pigs were once regarded as wealth.

People born in the Year of the Pig are honest and frank. They have a calm appearance and strong heart, but they lack patience and independence.