A Gift to Celebrate the Lunar New Year
A Gift to Celebrate the Lunar New Year
A New Year is always a wonderful time for a new resolution, a new beginning or a new insight.
Lunar New Year is the beginning of a calendar year whose months are cycles of the moon. The relevant calendar may be purely a lunar calendar or a lunisolar calendar.
Chinese New Year is the largest celebration of the lunar new year.
You might already know this but one out of every 5 people in the world is Chinese and the Lunar New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, North and South Korea, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and Mauritius, but also Europe, Australia, New Zeeland, America, and Canada.
What is the animal for Chinese New Year 2020?
Western horoscopes include 12 zodiacs, one for each month. However, there are 12 Chinese zodiacs as well, but the animal is for the entire year.
For the year 2020, the main zodiac element is metal, and the animal sign is Rat, and hence, 2020 will be the Year of the Metal Rat according to the Chinese zodiac.
People born in the year of the Rat include the years 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020. The years above are a rough guide; bear in mind that if you were born in January or February it may be slightly different as the new year moves between January 21 and February 20.
The Rat is the first of all Chinese zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived at his party. The rat tricked the ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived at the finish line, the rat jumped down and landed ahead of the ox, becoming first.
Rats symbolize wealth, intelligence, success and wisdom to the Chinese. In terms of the Yin and Yang theory, they are the yang and signify the beginning of a new day. They also represent the midnight hours and the Earthly Branch Zi.
In fact, Chinese astrology specialists suggest that 2020, the Year of the Metal Rat, is a good time to give birth as metal symbolizes stability and longevity. Those born in the Year of the Metal Rat tend to live a stable life and have the ability to turn unlucky events into fortune.
The Personality of the Rat
People born in the Year of the Rat are characterized as smart, resourceful and quick-witted. They have great imaginations and make sharp observations, with the ability to take advantage of several opportunities.
Strengths: Rats are clever, quick thinkers with a deep curiosity; intelligent, optimistic, successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life. The rat is adaptable and resourceful, has good intuition, and a strong imagination. They are kind and sensitive to other people’s emotions.
Weaknesses: Stubborn, timid, greedy, and don’t have much courage. They’re generally kind, but their weak communication skills can sometimes come across as rude or impolite, so they don’t make great leaders. On the financial side, they like saving their money and can be stingy. However, their love for hoarding will sometimes cause them to waste money on unnecessary things.
In Chinese culture, rats are a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children.
Lucky Signs for the Rat
Lucky numbers for people born in the Year of the Rat are two, three, six, eight (avoid: 4, 5, 9) and their lucky colors are blue, green and gold (avoid: yellow, brown.) Their lucky flowers are lilies and African violets and their lucky directions are west, northwest, and southwest. Their closest western zodiac is Sagittarius.
How Long is the Chinese New Year?
The Little Year 2020
Preparations for the New Year (called the Little Year) last 8 days, beginning on January 17th, 2020 and go until Chinese New Year’s Eve.
Spring Festival 2020
As part of the celebrations, Chinese New Year officially begins on Saturday, January 25, 2020, this year with the Spring Festival which lasts 11 days through February 4th. People welcome spring and what it brings along: planting and harvests, new beginnings and fresh starts.
Lunar New Year
It is also called Lunar New Year because the Chinese New Year is based on a lunar year instead of a fixed number of days. Each month the moon comes back as a new moon on a different date. On average about 29.53 days. So, some months will be 29 days and others will be 30 days long. 12 lunar months will take 354.36 days, short of the 365 days in a solar year.
To fix this the Chinese calendar adds an extra month every third year. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the month is marked by the dark moon. The new year starts on a new moon. And because the Spring Festival goes according to the lunar calendar there is no set date every year for Chinese New Year.
The Lantern Festival 2020
After Chinese New Year at the first full moon of the (lunar) year is the famous Lantern Festival which preparations begin on the 5th and is held on February 8th this year. In ancient times, girls weren’t allowed to venture outside by themselves. But on this night, they were able to walk around, moon-gaze and look at the beautiful lanterns. Because of this, it’s also known as Valentine’s Day in China.
Overall the Chinese year will last from January 25, 2020, to February 11, 2021.
The lunar calendar is still important in China, even though it has officially moved to the Gregorian calendar like the rest of the world. All traditional holidays and days such as the Winter Solstice are celebrated.
What to Wear During Chinese New Year?
There is a Chinese tradition of wearing new clothes that goes all the way back to the Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589 AD). In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), everyone would show off their new clothing as they visited friends on New Year’s Day. In the Republican period (1912-1949), beautiful new clothes were needed as the youth paid their respects to the elders. It’s a part of Spring Festival celebrations, just like the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner.
The Spring Festival is a time of change and new beginnings. Practically every activity during the Spring Festival has the purpose of removing the old and welcoming the new. Forget about the misfortunes and be ready for good luck. In addition, new clothes are auspicious and can protect you from evil spirits.
When buying clothes for Chinese New Year, go for red. This is the best color for the occasion. Stay away from black and white, as they are unlucky and negative during this time.
A Day for Praying to Gods
The Spring Festival was originally a ceremonial day to pray to gods for a good planting and harvest season. As an agrarian society, the harvest was everything. People also prayed to their ancestors, as they were treated as gods.
The Most Fireworks Are Set Off in the World on Chinese New Year’s Eve
According to the Chinese myth about Nian, firecrackers are supposed to scare off monsters and bad luck. So, people stay up on Chinese New Year’s Eve and set off firecrackers at midnight. In the morning, firecrackers are used again to welcome the new year and good luck.
Firecrackers aren’t the only thing that scared the monster away. Red is also an invaluable weapon and used in nearly all Chinese New Year decorations.
Things Not to Do During Chinese New Year Celebrations
The 11 days of the Spring Festival (January 25th through February 4, 2020) is a time of celebration. It’s to welcome the new year with a smile and let the fortune and happiness continue. At the same time, the Spring Festival involves somber ceremonies to wish for a good harvest.
Here are the top 10 taboos during the Chinese New Year to be aware of according to chinesenewyear.net. According to Chinese superstition, doing any of these on January 25th – the day Chinese New Year falls in 2020 – will lead to bad luck for the entire coming year. Follow these and fortune will smile on you.
- Do not say negative words
All words with negative connotations are forbidden! These include death, sick, empty, pain, ghost, poor, break, kill and more. You wouldn’t want to jinx yourself or bring those misfortunes onto you and your loved ones. - Do not break ceramics or glass
Breaking things will break your connection to prosperity and fortune. If a plate or bowl is dropped, immediately wrap it with red paper while murmuring auspicious phrases. After the New Year, throw the wrapped up shards into a lake or river. - Do not clean or sweep
Before the Spring Festival (January 25th), there is a day of cleaning. That is to sweep away the bad luck. But during the actual celebration, it becomes a taboo. Cleaning or throwing out garbage may sweep away good luck instead.
If you must, make sure to start at the outer edge of a room and sweep inwards. Bag up any garbage and throw it away after the 5th day. Similarly, you shouldn’t take a shower on Chinese New Year’s Day. - Do not use scissors, knives or other sharp objects
Sharp objects, in general, will cut your stream of wealth and success. This is why 99% of Chinese hair salons are closed during the holidays. Haircutting is taboo and forbidden until Lunar February 2, when all festivities are over. - Do not visit the wife’s family
Traditionally, multiple generations live together. The bride moves into the groom’s home after marriage. And, of course, she will celebrate Chinese New Year with her in-laws. Returning to her parents on New Year’s Day means that there are marriage problems and may also bring bad luck to the entire family. The couple should visit the wife’s family on the 2nd day. They’d bring their children, as well as a modest gift (because it’s the thought that counts). - Do not demand debt repayment
This custom is a show of understanding. It allows everyone a chance to celebrate without worry. If you knock on someone’s door, demanding repayment, you’ll bring bad luck to both parties. However, it’s fair game after the 5th day. Borrowing money during the Spring Festival is also taboo. You could end up having to borrow the entire year. It is better to pay off all of your debts before the new lunar year. - Avoid fighting and crying
Unless there is a special circumstance, try not to cry. But if a child cries, do not reprimand them. All issues should be solved peacefully. In the past, neighbors would come over to play peacemaker for any arguments that occurred. This is all to ensure a smooth path in the new year. - Avoid taking medicine
Try not to take medicine during the Spring Festival to avoid being sick the entire year. Of course, if you are chronically ill or contract a sudden serious disease, immediate health should still come first.Some related taboos: Don’t visit the doctor; Don’t perform/undergo surgery; Don’t get shots.
- Do not give New Year blessings to someone still in bed
You are supposed to give New Year blessings. But let the recipient get up from bed first. Otherwise, they’ll be bed-ridden for the entire year. You also shouldn’t tell someone to wake up. You don’t want them to be rushed around and bossed around for the year. Take advantage of this and sleep in! - Chinese gift-giving taboos
It was mentioned above that you should bring gifts when paying visits. It’s the thought that counts, but some gifts are forbidden. Clocks are the worst gifts. Gifting clocks is a homophone of paying one’s last respects. Splitting pears is also a homophone of separation.
For the Spring Festival, these rules may seem excessive. Especially when you add in the cultural norms, customs, and manners. But like a parent would say, they are all for your own good. Formed over thousands of years, these taboos embody the beliefs, wishes, and worries of the Chinese people.
Who should be on their guard this year?
According to Chinese astrology, the year of your birth sign is believed to be one of the most unlucky years of your life. It is thought that people in their zodiac year offend Tai Sui, the God of Age, and incur his curse.
Famous names who should be wary this year include Jeremy Clarkson (1960) and Idris Elba (1972), Al Gore and Richard Simmons (1948), as well as the Duke of Sussex, Katy Perry, and Scarlett Johansson (all born in 1984).
Lewis Capaldi (1996) was also born in the Year of the Rat, plus Gary Lineker and Jonathan Ross (both born in 1960).
Also born in the year of the rat were William Shakespeare, T. S. Elliot, and George Washington.
My Gift To You For the New Year
To support you and empower all of you this Lunar New Year I have gathered some inspiring and life-guiding quotes (below) that have been made into memes that you can download (on a PC, right click and Save Image As,) share, print and place in your life to keep these positive thoughts in your mind. I hope you enjoy them and find them helpful to you along your journey.
May this New Year be transformative as you learn to love and grow in greater awareness. May love and joy fill the events of your time. May kindness and compassion fill your days. May you find the strength to be and become who you truly are as you manifest and fulfill the purpose of your life and Soul.
Thank you for sharing my posts with your friends and for your many comments. It is my joy to share my writings and teachings with you.
I invite you to become a part of my Consciousness Community by registering here. I will be creating gifts over the next year that I will be exclusively sharing with community members.
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Inspiring and Life Guiding Quotes You Can Download
Write it on your heart that everyday
is the best day in the year.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
whispering, it will be happier.
– Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Cheers to a new year and another chance for
us to get it right
– Oprah Winfrey
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Never forget the three powerful resources you always
have available to you, love, prayer, and forgiveness.
– H Jackson Brown Jr
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Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.
~ Omar Khayyam
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Today you are you!
That is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
~ Dr. Seuss
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Don’t forget to love yourself.
~ Soren Kierkegaard
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My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
~ Dalai Lama
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You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
~ C. S. Lewis
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The mind is everything. What you think you become.
~ Buddha
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Blessed are those who give without remembering and
take without forgetting.
~ Elizabeth Bibesco
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Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows,
but only empties today of its strength.
~ Charles Spurgeon
Related Genevieve Gerard Post:
Relieve and Release Your Anxiety blog post
Namaste,
Genevieve
Happy Lunar New Year!
The Blessings of Love on All That You Do!
Last updated 1-24-2020
About the author:
Genevieve Gerard teaches Transformational Consciousness – from first awakening to enlightened Soul awareness. She helps you experience the joy that results from the spontaneous “touch of your soul.”
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Genevieve has a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Theology and a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling and for over thirty years has worked one-on-one with people who were recovering from devastating disabilities and chronic pain. Teaching the mastery of the mind-body relationship she was one of the early professionals trained in biofeedback, visualization, imagery, and meditation as essential techniques to help people heal their bodies, heal their emotions, heal their minds, and heal their lives.
Genevieve’s work demonstrates what she knows so well, “It is spiritual connectedness that triggers physical healing and emotional and mental well-being.” Helping people, like you, tap into your higher-self is the power she wields to guide you to heal and transform your life.
Now, with this understanding, she combines the effective techniques she developed over decades teaching mind-body mastery along with her extensive experience in meditation and spiritual development to create a synthesis of mind-body-spirit that delivers complete healing and opens the door to unlimited personal growth and an encounter with your Soul.
In addition to her current life guidance coaching sessions, and workshops performed around the world, Genevieve has produced more than 20+ guided meditations in the last eight years that are available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and her website.
It is her vision that through your experience with the techniques of awareness, visualization, and meditation, the love of your Soul will touch and transform your life through her writings and products. It is her sincere desire that the potential of a life of joy and celebration that seems to elude so many people can become a reality for you, now and forever.
Browse her life story and read the Touch of the Soul that changed her world. To contact Genevieve, visit her keep in touch page.
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