Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

The first day of the Chinese New Year February 10, 2013 is the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by over 1.3 billion people in China and by millions of ethnic Chinese around the world. It’s a celebration that lasts for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival.


Year of Snake 2013
1953,1965,1977,1989,2001,2013
People born in these years are usually wise and gentle. They are often good-looking, but can also be vain.  They have plenty of patience, and like to do things well and will keep working at a job until it’s done.  Because of this they often end up rich.

Every New Year in China  is named after one of twelve animals in turn.  Animal signs are used for festivals and ceremonies, birthdays and working out horoscopes.  There are many stories about how the cycle of the years came about and this is just one of them.

It all started with the animals having an argument. They argued about which of them was the strongest, the fastest, the cleverest and the best. To settle the argument once and for all the emperor decided that there must be a race. The race must take the animals through vast areas of forest, mountain, desert and river.

The monkey gained a lot of advantage over the other animals in the forest swinging at ease through the trees, the ram was at home in the mountains and his sure feet won him the lead, snake excelled in the desert and sped along whilst others got stuck in the soft sand.  It was ox however who took the lead in the river and his strength kept him on a straight course going through the rapids. All of the other animals struggled on behind except for rat  who had crept unnoticed onto ox’s back. Just before Ox reached the finishing line on the opposite bank, rat leapt off and was the first to cross the line and win the race.

The emperor had watched all the animals compete and had observed their different gifts, strengths, talents, wisdom and endurance gaining them advantages in forest, mountain, desert and stream.  He decided that the fairest way to settle their arguments was to make each of them special during one year in the order in which they crossed the finishing line. And because there were twelve of them, so the twelfth animal preceded the first and the cycle continued  all special and all honoured.  Just as all of the animals have strengths and weaknesses so too we ourselves, born during the year of the:-

1. Rat, may have a hot temper but a  lot of charm and always finish what we set out to do;

2. Ox, may be quiet and calm and keep a secret but like doing things on our own;

3. Tiger, may be brave and have a strong will, but also get angry;

4. Rabbit, may be patient and shy and also a bit moody sometimes;

5. Dragon, may be sensitive and a good leader, but also ask a bit too  much of other people:

6. Snake, may be wise and attractive but sometimes boastful and mean;

7. Horse, may be clever and cheerful but also very independent;

8. Ram, may be artistic calm and caring but can’t always make up your mind;

9. Monkey, may be creative and  successful but can also be troublesome;

10. Rooster, may be clever and hardworking, but not always very modest;

11. Dog, may be hardworking and loyal but have a strong will;

12. Pig, may be kind and honest, but  only learn about the things that interest you.