Chinese New Year: The Year of The Dog
Chinese New Year or also referred to as spring festival, begins this Friday on February 16 and ends February 4th 2019. It marks the beginning of the new lunar calendar. It's traditionally celebrated for 16 days, from the eve to Lantern Festival (March 2nd 2018).
In Chinese astrology affiliates with a zodiac animal with each year on a 12-year cycle, and each cycle is attached with one of five elements: water, wood, fire, metal, and earth. The match up of zodiac animal with an element determines the conspicuous amongst the people born in the same year. This year, 2018 will be in the year of the earth dog, and it is the first year of the earth dog since 1958!
The Year Of The Dog
In Chinese astrology dog symbolizes luck and is occupied by the 11th position in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac. You are a “Dog Chinese zodiac animal” if you are born in one of these years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018. Some celebrities that are born under the year of the dog are: Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Cher, Madonna, Elvis Presley, and Mariah Carey.
The Chinese Horoscope prediction says that the year of the earth dog is going to be a good year in all respects, but it will also be a tiresome year. You will be cheerful, yet bored, happy yet frustrated, rested but yet feel tired! Also, According to the Chinese astrology, the year of the earth dog is a very good year in regards to financial aspects, but maybe a little difficult from a health point of view. It is said for all zodiac signs will want to pay close attention to their health. It is an idea time to start getting rid of bad habits, eat a balances and healthy diet, get physically active, join a gym, spend more time outdoors and in nature, drink more water, and even help your environment,
People from all over the world celebrate Chinese New Years to celebrate a year of hard work, relax with their families, and rest. They do many traditions to celebrate and to wish for a lucky and prosperous upcoming year.
Chinese New Year Traditions
Some of the main traditions are giving red envelopes, wearing new clothes; traditional performances like dragon and lion dances, red lanterns, decorations, and have family reunion dinners that include:
Fish (because it represents surplice and good luck
Spring rolls because they look similar to gold bars
Nian Gao, or glutinous rice cakes for a higher income or position
Celery for wisdom
Plums for a clearer mind.
Dumplings because they resemble old chinese money and are for wealth
Tangerines and oranges because they represent success
Lettuce for gratitude of being alive
Sweets for a sweet year
Long noodle for longevity and prosperity
Spring Cleaning
A week before the New Year begins, from the 23rd of the 12th lunar month (February 8, 2018), the tradition is Chinese people DE clutter and clean their houses thoroughly. The cleaning represents a wish to bid farewell to the old year, and welcome in New Year good fortune.
Red is the main color for the spring festival. All the streets, houses and buildings that celebrate the spring festival are decorated in red. It is believed that red is a prosperous and lucky color, and since 2018 is the year of the Dog, decorations related to dogs will be most commonly seen.
Chinese New Year Taboos
There are also some taboos too that are practiced during the Chinese New Year and Chinese New Year day, such as;
Not to sweep or take out garbage on the first day of the Chinese New Year. It is because the act of sweeping on Chinese New Year is affiliated with sweeping wealth away, and taking out garbage symbolizes dumping out the good fortune or good luck from the house.
No Washing your hair, it means washing away good luck.
No eating porridge, it brings poverty.
No unlucky words, such as “death.”
Breaking tools or other equipment during the Chinese New Year period is associated with a loss of wealth for the coming year,
Not to wear white or black during this time of spring festival because they are unlucky colors.
Do not start the new year by begging in any kind of way bad habits will set the tone for the entire year
Buy new shoes until after day 15 of the Chinese New Year so as to avoid rough seas in the year ahead. Also shoe, or "hai", sounds like "rough"
Breaking tools or other equipment during the Chinese New Year period is associated with a loss of wealth for the coming year,
Not to wear white or black during this time of spring festival because they are unlucky colors.
Do not start the new year by begging in any kind of way bad habits will set the tone for the entire year
Buy new shoes until after day 15 of the Chinese New Year so as to avoid rough seas in the year ahead. Also shoe, or "hai", sounds like "rough"
