The Chinese New Year,2009, Ji Chaou, the Year of the Earth Ox

The most enchanting aspect of the Chinese New Year is the traditional and the cultural flavor and the link that it has with the ancient China.Though the Chinese official calendar is Gregorian and its new year actually begins on January, 1, the most popular and   celebrated Chinese New Year is based on the lunar months and the centuries old zodiac cycle. The forthcoming Chinese New Year is Ji Chaou, the year of the Earth Ox that falls on 26/01/2009.

The roots of the traditional Chinese New year can be traced back to 2637 B.C, when the Chinese Emperor, Huang Ti  introduced the Chinese New year based on the Zodiac cycle. However, the traditional Chinese New Year is calculated in three ways, by naming the year in the name of animals like rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar, in a twelve year cycle, in a stem branch by a 60 years cycle and in the zodiac cycle.

The Chinese New Year, 2009 that falls on 26/01/2009, is the year of the earth cow or ox, 10 th in the 60 year cycle in the stem branch, 4706 th year in the zodiac cycle. The Chinese New Year does not fall on the same day every year, since it is based on lunar cycle and on the phases of the moon. It usually falls between January, 21 st and February, 20 th.While the Chinese New Year, 2009 falls on 26/01/2009, 2010 on 14/02/2010, 2011 on 03/02/2011 and 2012 on 23/01/2012.

Those who are born in the Ox year are natural leaders, besides being calm, responsible, hardworking and modest. Famous personalities, who were born in the Ox year, were Napoleon, Princess Diana, Johann Sebastian Bach, Charlie Chaplin and George Clooney.2009

Chinese New Year is the year of Female Brown Cow. Brown is equivalent to Earth and the major element in cow is Earth too which means Earth comes in 2009 very strong.If your lucky element is Earth you will have a very good 2009 year. If Earth represents your money then your money luck will bring you a big fortune.If Earth is related to your job, you will have good career luck in 2009.On the contrary, if Earth is your unlucky element, then 2009 will be a tough year for you.If Earth is money to you, then you will have a financial trouble. If Earth represents career to you then you will feel lots pf troubles from your job in the year 2009.Earth is the mother (supporting) element of metal.If your lucky element is metal you will have a great year of 2009.If metal is unlucky element then 2009 will not be a peaceful year to you.But generally the Ox year is a conservative year one of traditions and values, a slow but steady year. It will bring stability and growth. It is also a year of harvest.

The Chinese New Year is also known as ‘spring festival’. In the ancient China, the New Year was celebrated over a period of one month by the people of China, who were predominantly engaged in agriculture. In the modern days, the Chinese New Year is celebrated only for a period of 15 days, beginning on the New Year Day and ending on the 15 th day. The Chinese New Year celebration is marked with gaiety, religious fervor and some sort of sanity is attached to it.

On the eve of New Year, the Chinese people clean their houses and beautify it with red paintings and red sand. It is believed that the Chinese New year drive away the old evil spirit called Nian, a monster, a legendary man eating beast. People also light a red lantern in their door way to welcome the new good spirit called Xin Nian. People also used to sing and dance to welcome the new spirit, good luck and to celebrate the coming spring.

People wear new clothes preferably red in color to drive away the bad spirit and avoid wearing black clothes, which is symbolic of death. It is usual and customary for the youngsters to meet their elders and seek their blessings. Presenting a red colored pocket filled with money among the kith and kin is also practiced.

Having a sumptuous feast along with family members also marks an important event during the Chinese New Year celebration. They prefer to eat eight or nine dishes during the feast because they are believed to improve their prosperity and longevity. People serve the dishes which are symbolic of something positive and hopeful. Chicken and fish symbolize happiness and prosperity, when served whole. Dishes with orange represent wealth and good fortune because they are round in shape and considered plentiful fruits. Noodles represent longevity and they should never be cut. While duck denotes fidelity and egg signifies fertility. Bean curd and tofu are avoided because its’ white color suggest death and misfortune. Besides, dishes are chosen based on their homonyms. Eg fish (Yu) is equivalent to plenty and whole fish (Yu) represents abundance. Turnips cooked means ‘good luck’ (cai tou).Another popular New Year dish is jiaozi, dumplings boiled in water. Whoever bites these dumplings will have an exceptionally lucky year.Eg: Spicy Orange Beef, Asian Orange Chicken, Egg  Foo Ying II, Chicken Lo Ruein, Grilled Asian Chicken, Turnip Cake, Pork Dumplings and Chinese Tea Leaf Eggs etc.

Thus the Chinese New Year is celebrated so meaningfully that is interspersed with their centuries old culture and tradition.

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            3)www.Crafs.Kaboose.com

            4)Article by :Tom Shea  in www.Allreceips.com

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