 Chinese
New Year
2008 Year of the
Earth Rat
February 7, 2008 - January 25, 2009
Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year!).
The Chinese
calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles and thus the new
year falls on a different day of the Western solar calendar
each year.
Year Ahead:
The beginning of a new cycle. The Year of the Rat is fast-paced and a time of new opportunities and fresh starts.
Characteristics:
People Born in the Year of the Rat are charasmatic, intelligent, quick-witted and are very social and popular.
Compatible business partners
People born in the years of the dragon, rabbit, monkey, oxen and pig.
Good Careers for Rats:
writers, broadcasters, actors, advisors, counsellors, lawyers, politicians, designers, engineers, managers, directors, adminitrators, entrepreneurs, musicians, stand-up comedians, researchers, historians, race car drivers
Compatible Friends:
dragons, monkeys
Love Partners:
Best with: dragons, monkeys
Strong sexual attraction to,: other rats, oxen, snakes, and pigs
Conflict with: Roosters, Sheep, Horses, Rabbits
Click
Here to find out what Animal sign you were born under.
2008 Horoscopes for Year of the Rat.
If you were born in the year of the Rat:
This year will be a busy time for rat people and one where they will have great success. A great time for both financial gain and in widening social networks.
If you were born in the year of the OX:
OX people can expect to do very well in their careers and business prospect in the Year of the Rat. However, when it come to love relationships it could be tricky.
If you were born in the year of the Tiger:
Tigers need to watch their finances this year as the inclination will be to take undue risks, guard against this and control your spending. Your social life will do well and you will do well emotionally.
If you were born in the year of the Rabbit:
The rabbit personality needs calm and so the rat year can be difficult for them. It may be a bit of a struggle, however, good progress can be made financially. Do go ahead with new projects.
If you were born in the year of the Dragon:
Because the Year of the Rat is lively and exciting, the Dragon will do very well this year. This is a time to be bold and gutsy - you will corner the market. Your love life will run smoothly this year.
If you were born in the year of the Snake:
This is a busy year and a time to seize the opportunities coming your way. You will find the year invigorating and will motivate your creativity.
If you were born in the year of the Horse:
This is a year for Horses to keep a low profile as it can be a difficult year. Next year will be a much better year.
If you were born in the year of the Sheep:
This year will bring a steady progression to the lives of the Sheep. You can make good head-way in your business and career, as well as personally. The trends are in your favor.
If you were born in the year of the Monkey:
Go for it this year, Monkey. A great year to promote ambitions and projects. A lucky year for the Monkey to succeed in all areas.
If you were born in the year of the Rooster:
A year to keep a low profile. Progress will be slow in careers and relationships can be difficult. Next year will be a much better year.
If you were born in the year of the Dog:
Advancement is the word of the year for the dog person. This is a time for new things and any new projects and schemes will bring success. This is a prosperous year for you.
If you were born in the year of the Pig:
Think positive this year, the year of the rat can be destabilizing for Pigs. Although pigs do not like the fast-pace of the rat and find this year's pace a little disturbing, they will win through in the end.
Celebrating
Chinese New Years.
The days
before Chinese New Year’s are spent thoroughly cleaning
and decorating the home (often with red banners, as red is
considered especially auspicious), preparing special foods,
getting a haircut and mending old clothes. Everything is meant
to look fresh and new to set the tone of the coming year.
Red
is said to be the luckiest color and most celebrants decorate
their homes with red banners and dress in red for the celebrations.
 Ideas
for celebrating:
Host a Chinese potluck and invite your friends and family
over to celebrate the Chinese New Year with you. Be sure to
decorate your home with red!
If there is a large Chinese community in your town or city,
check to see what will be going on. Often dragon dances, parades
and other festivities are scheduled and open to the public.
Check your local listings or contact the local Chinese cultural
centre or cultural association. The bright and open celebrations
are not to be missed!
Red paper scrolls:
Chun lian are special Chinese couplets, often written on red paper, which are hung outside the front door of houses and businesses. The sayings are meant to bring luck and fortune to the dwelling for the coming year. Check out the following pages to learn more about chun lian and how to write a common Chinese verses in the beautiful Chinese calligraphy.
http://www.chinapage.com/duilian/chunlian0.html
http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/learn/class_newyear.html
http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/new_year_g.html
Red Packets
- Hongbao, or red packets filled with money, are given to children on Chinese New Year’s by parents, grandparents, friends and other relatives to symbolize luck and wealth. Making red packets is a fun family activity that is easy enough for even young kids and a couple of dollars put into each makes them a well-received gift. Check out the following page for directions on how to make them:
http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/class_packet.html
Paper Lanterns
The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year’s) lasts for 15 days and is marked at the end of it by the lantern festival (Yunxiao). Celebrating the first full moon of the year, paper lanterns were traditionally carried into the streets for a community parade and were often accompanied by fabulous folk dances, including the dragon dance. Try making paper lanterns to hang around your home as part of your Chinese New Year’s celebrations. Directions can be found at:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lantern/
|
