Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year! It's the year of the Rat.
Saying Happy Lunar New Year encompasses the world. A large part of the world now celebrates Lunar New Year. It is not only specific to China anymore. Happy Chinese New Year is only related to China. The celebration lasts 15 days.
Make sure to pay off your debts and eat apples and oranges for good luck!
The Lunar New Year is celebrated with loved ones, lots of special holiday food, and traditional music including drums and gongs. Family members and friends gather at each other's homes for visits during which they share large meals and gifts symbolizing fortune. According to tradition, Chinese and Vietnamese give children “red-envelopes” with good-luck money for the New Year, and Koreans offer newly minted money as a symbol of auspicious and fortuitous beginnings. Before New Year's, houses get a thorough cleaning to sweep away evil spirits that may be hiding and everyone buys bright new clothing to wear on New Year's Day.
The Lunar New Year is represented by a cycle of 12 years, each denoted by a different animal. Traditionally, the festivities start 22 days prior to the New Year and continue for 15 days afterwards. Chinese New Year parades are annual traditions across North America. This year, the Year of the Rat, is the first animal in the Chinese horoscope.
Below are some fun facts about the Rat.
Rat Years: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Chinese Calendar Year: 4706
Corresponds to Western Sign: Sagittarius
Born in Year of the Rat: Al Gore, Sean Penn, Jimmy Carter, Alyssa Milano, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lauren Bacall, Eminem, Scarlett Johansson
Rat Characteristics: smart, quick-witted, compassionate, charismatic, charming, ambitious, practical, honest, eloquent, versatile, familial, creative, hard-working, organized. At the same time, the Rat may lack a sense of humor, be power-driven, critical, calculating, bossy and defensive.
Best Careers for Those Born in the Year of the Rat: Writers, Actors, Accountants, Detectives, Psychologists, Lawyers, Politicians, Engineers, Managers, Entrepreneurs, Musicians, Stand-up Comedians, Researchers
Lucky Colors:
Red (symbolizes happiness), Gold (symbolizes wealth)
Lunar New Year:
– in Chinese: “Chuen Jie” (Mandarin for 'Spring Festival')
– in Vietnamese: “Tet Nguyen Dan”
– in Korean: “Sol”
Happy New Year:
– in Chinese (Cantonese): Gung Hay Fat Choy (Wishing you get rich)
– in Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Nam Moi (Happy New Year)
– in Korean: Sae Hae Bok Man Ie Ba Due Se Yo (Get lots of luck)
Lucky/Special New Year Foods:
-Chinese: Dumplings, Rice Cake (called Nian Gao)
-Korean: Rice Cake Soup (called duk-kuk)
-Vietnamese: Rice Cake (called Banh Trung)
Next Lunar New Year: Year of the Ox, January 26, 2009 – February 13, 2010