TIGER

While the Tiger is indecisive and stubborn, it is matched by their magnetic and grand passion towards anything they put their mind to. With exciting developments happening for them in 2010, it will be important to leave the past behind and concentrate on the future. Financially, everything improves for Tigers, but they also need to take extra care in planning and thinking all projects through. Romantically, Tigers may see friendships suddenly turn into something with exciting consequences. The year 2010 will prove to be challenging for the Tiger, but will force to them to find encouragement and strength within themselves to triumph through the year.

RAT

Rats are charming, elegant and clever, but can be a bit gossipy and prone to being distracted. While the year 2010 may bring times of melancholy, Rats will most definitely be more self-confident, and be more innovative than before. Travel will be a strong feature and if there is dream destination in mind, it may become a reality. For the lonely rats, year 2010 promises a great love life, and for the ones that are blissfully married, the year will be filled with romantic joy. However, it is essential for all persons born under this sign to be extra thoughtful and caring throughout the year – an inadvertent remark or gesture could lead to discord with loved ones.

OX

Sturdy, earthy, no-nonsense, yet affectionate and easy-going are traits that best describe the Ox. This year, the Ox will be in conflict with dragons and horses, and to avoid these conflicts, remember to keep an open mind and to not judge others without any basis. Contrary to it’s methodical habits, the 2010 Year of the Tiger will force the Ox to adapt to a fast pace, new routines, delays and unexpected obstacles, but may be an opportunity to discover hidden talents and personal power. Career opportunities will present themselves often, but your working attitude will be slightly lackadaisical and without much enthusiasm. Put in effort to change the attitude.

RABBIT

Cuddly, warm and affectionate are the outward traits of the Rabbit, but they still hold a mysterious aura with a desire to be the center of the attention. The Rabbit should look forward to unexpected promotions and recognition this year that should be acted upon quickly, but these new opportunities could be physically exhausting, so it is important to keep work balanced with rest and relaxation. The Year of the Tiger will be filled with various social events and an unexpected romance may develop from a work related gathering. The most important thing to note is for Rabbits to act on opportunities quickly and not hang around to see what happens.

DRAGON

Dragons are assertive, energetic and talented, but can have the tendency to be condescending and tactless without realizing it. This upcoming year is the time to apply yourself in school or courses and will bring you a considerable amount of success. The Dragon will be able to develop their financial situation and a possible increase in income may be coming. Make sure to keep “teamwork” in all your goals as this concept will progress a career of the Dragon faster and further this year. Dragons need to remember that love and relationships require attention and if it taken for granted, problems will arise, especially in the busy time for the Dragon this year.

SNAKE

Those born in the year of the Snake are known to be intelligent, intuitive but can be a sore loser and most notoriously, very stubborn. Keep your stubbornness in check; learn to control it and you will find many successes coming towards you in the upcoming year. On the career front, the Snake will have quite a bit of competition and needs to stay ahead of the game in order to be in line for any promotions or career advancement opportunities. Keep a level-headed mind for the upcoming year and when you find yourself in favorable opportunities in your career, make sure you grab them! Snakes can be shy and loners, but the Year of the Tiger will ensure they have many happy social events to attend.

HORSE

Horses can be described as fun, charming, and attractive, but can also be egotistical, hotheaded and impatient. The Year 2010 spells one of the smoothest years for Horses, as you will find bonds between your friends being built fairly easily. In response to this particularly busy and challenging year, Horses may tend to overfeed themselves, so be sure to keep a healthy diet and exercise regularly. While socially the year will be fruitful and exciting for the Horse, you need to keep a careful eye on finances as overspending could happen very easily in response to your newfound social successes.

GOAT

Grace and optimistic, Goats can also be petulant and discontented as they tend to throw in the towel when things don’t go their way. But this year, it is crucial to see through the rough beginning of 2010 for more opportunities will be coming later in the year. For creative and artistic Goats, the Year of the Tiger will bring long periods of rejection and disappointment, but an interesting opportunity will present itself afterward. It is important for the Goat to maintain strong relationships with their loved ones. Financially, it is not wise for Goats to take any great financial risks and should consult a professional if they are in doubt or worried.

MONKEY

The Monkey is playful, lively and fun, but can also be vain and offhand. It is essential for the monkey to not be overly emotional in 2010, as the beginning of the new year provides much excitement, but also a risk of burning out. You will find that everything may not go your way initially, and while you may lose some close friends, it is important to maintain mental stability to save the broken pieces. It is the year for you to take risks. Take them and you will be rewarded accordingly. All those born under this sign will appreciate the support they receive this year from loved ones and friends, so be sure to listen carefully.

ROOSTER

The Rooster is popular, extravagant and creative, but can be brutally, sometimes overly honest, and can be prone to egocentrism. Forecast for 2010 The Year of the Tiger will have mixed fortunes for the Rooster, but by staying calm, observant and flexible, the Rooster will glide through 2010 coming out much wiser, stronger and with great success behind them. This year you will face plenty of competition to get up onto a higher rung of the ladder in your company. A word of caution: all Roosters must ensure that they don’t overdo things – exhaustion and a depleted immune system will result if proper rest isn’t taken.

DOG

The Dog is a wonderfully hard-worker and pays attention to details, but is bit anti-social, pessimistic and stubborn. With 2009 being challenging for the Dog, they must welcome The Year of the Tiger with optimism, determination, and leaving behind the past. Be careful in your career as a lack of respect towards authority might prove to be your downfall. Financially, the Dog can expect many bonuses and gifts this year, but be sure to check details and fine print when making large financial changes. It is ultimately crucial for you to tone down your brash attitude to find some good in the upcoming year or 2010 will prove to be a year of loneliness for you. Stay friendly!

PIG

The Pig is known to be innocent, sweet and loveable, but also makes them prone to being melancholy and over-sensitive. This year, you have to learn to put off your sentimental ways to find some unexpected successes in your line of work and your love life for 2010. The Pig must ensure that he follows up all correspondence or financial dealings – to delay or overlook details will prove costly. It is important for you to stay away from carbonated drinks in the upcoming year for you will be vulnerable and open to intestinal and digestive problems. It’s possible that gossip may prove too tempting or that Pigs may listen to false advice, causing upset and trouble. Physically and emotionally, be guarded and careful this year!

Lai-See Envelopes

Lucky Character: The single word “FOOK”, or fortune, is often displayed in many homes and stores and are frequently found written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. This is supposed to be a lucky Chinese New Year symbol. Though Fook (Fu in Mandarin) is widely used to refer to wealth and good fortune, it also includes many other things such as career, health, love, children, etc. In Chinese, the word for “upside down” (dou, or dao in Mandarin) is a homonym with the word “arrives”. Therefore the Fook character is often displayed upside down, together meaning, “good fortune arrives”.

Firecrackers: Firecrackers are a common tradition during the Chinese New Years. One popular belief behind the ritual is that the noise will awaken the dragon to fly across the sky and bring the spring rain for crops. Another belief is that the exploding noise of the firecrackers will scare away all evil spirits and misfortunes, preventing them from coming into the New Year. In ancient times they were lit to scare away the beast called Nin (Nian in Mandarin) who supposedly ate people. Thus, “guo nin”, which now means to pass through the new year, originally meant to “survive the beast”.

Flowers: The Plum Blossom symbol stands for courage and hope. The Water Narcissus symbol signifies good luck and fortune. If the white flowers blossom on the day of the New Year, it is believed to indicate good fortune for the ensuing twelve months. The Peony is said to be a symbol of wealth.

Spring Couplets: Spring couplets are traditionally written with black ink on red paper. These ornaments are hung in storefronts in the month before the Chinese New Year’s Day, and often stay up for two months. They express best wishes and fortune for the coming year. The message of the Spring Couplet can vary from household to household. A store would generally use couplets that make references to their line of trade. For example, couplets that say “Happy New Year” and “Continuing Advancement in Education” are appropriate for a school.

Tangerines, Oranges, Pomelos: Tangerines and oranges are frequently displayed in homes and stores during the time of Chinese New Years as a symbol of good luck, and oranges are symbolic of wealth. These symbols are used due to their phonetic similarities in the Chinese language, as the word for tangerine having the same sound as “luck” in Chinese, and the word for orange having the same sound as “wealth”. Pomelos are large pear-shaped grapefruits and displayed for the same reasons.

Tray of Togetherness: Many families keep a tray full of dried fruits, sweets, and candies to welcome guests and relatives. This tray is called a chuen-hop, or “tray of togetherness” and is traditionally made up of eight compartments. Each compartment is filled with a different edible snacks and each food item holds a different meaning to the New Year. They are often displayed as offerings to the mythological Chinese gods, such as the Kitchen god or the Jade Emperor of the Chinese Zodiac legend. Common items include candy melon, coconut, longan, lotus seeds, lychee nut, peanuts, red melon seed, watermelon seed, and many other assortments.

The Bat: According to Chinese folklore, Zhong Kui is the god that drives away evil, captures demons, and brings good luck and happiness. Zhong Kui is often depicted being led by a bat. In such pictures, he wields a sword as a little bat flies above him, thus indicating the full extent of his powers. Another design featuring red bats is called “limitless happiness,” as in the color red in Chinese is homonymous with the character hong, which means great and grand. Bats bring good luck and are often combined with the character for longevity (sau, or shou in Mandarin). The Chinese word for bat is a homonym for good fortune (Fook).

Festival of Lanterns: The last day of the New Year is known as the Festival of Lanterns. All types of lanterns are lit throughout the streets and poems and riddles are often written for entertainment. There are also paper lanterns on wheels created in the form of either a rabbit or the animal of the year (Tiger for 2010). The rabbit lantern stems from a Chinese myth about a female goddess named “Chang E” who jumped onto the moon and brought a rabbit with her to keep her company. It is said that if your heart is pure enough, you can see the goddess Chang E and her rabbit on the moon on this day.

Dragon: In Western culture Dragons are usually portrayed as frightful, malevolent and often the final obstacle for a hero to slay. However, in Chinese culture the dragon is highly respected for its supernatural power, goodness, and vigilance and is viewed more as a mysterious ally rather than a foe. As shown in the astrological chart, Dragons are known for their nobility and good hearts. Some say firecrackers are used to keep the dragon awake during the Chinese New Years celebrations because they are said to bring luck and prosperity to the community.

Lion Dance: This festive dance originated in China nearly a thousand years ago and is regarded as a guardian creature for good luck and blessings. The most common mythological tale associated with the Chinese Lion Dance is the story of the monster Nian, who terrorized villages by eating livestock, crops, and even villagers themselves on the first day of Chinese New Years. After witnessing the horrors, a Buddhist monk instructed the villagers to create a monster of their own to scare away Nian the following year. Combined with firecrackers, the accompanying loud music, and red flags, Nian is said to have been scared away each time the dance is performed.

Koi Fish: This favorite marine creature symbolizes surplus or having additional savings so that you’ll have more than enough to live throughout the remaining year.

“The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac” by Dawn Casey and Anne Wilson.

We are all familiar with the animals of the Chinese zodiac, but few know the origins to order of its symbols. The most popular legend is the one of the Race to the Jade Emperor, where a final river crossing proved to be the determining factor. The Rat, known to be crafty and guile, convinced the Ox to allow him to ride on its head to cross the river. The Ox, being naïve and good-natured, agreed and was beaten when the rat jumped off and scurried to first place. The Tiger, being a powerful and persistent animal, pushed its way through the dangerous currents to claim third place. Next came the rabbit, nimbly darting from one stone to another, yet almost drowned had it not latched onto a floating log that washed it safely to shore. Surprisingly, the Dragon came in 5th, but later explained that its delayed arrival was due to helping the people and creatures of the earth along the way, including a puff of breath to aid a helpless rabbit clinging onto a log in the river. Next came the galloping sound of the Horse, which was unknowingly carrying the Snake under its hoof. When the Snake suddenly revealed itself, the shock allowed the Snake to sneak into 6th place and forced the Horse into 7th. The goat, monkey and rooster arrived at the same time by working together, as the rooster spotted a raft, while the monkey and the goat cleared the weeds. Although the Dog is known for being an excellent swimmer, its love of a good bath and fresh water from the river, resulted in their second-to-last place. Finally, the pig trotted its way across the finish line after waking up from a feast and a nap along the way. The supposed 13th animal is the cat, which is not included because of the rat. The most devious explanation says both the rat and the cat were on the ox’s head, but at the final moment, the rat pushed the cat into the water, explaining why cats have a bitter rivalry towards rats and a hatred of water.

Each correct answer equals 1 point.

1. For how many days is Lunar New Years celebrated?
2. When did Lunar New Years begin?
3. What is the difference between the “Western New Years” and “Lunar New Years”?
4. How many days are in a Lunar New Year?
5. What are the five elements that are associated with the Chinese zodiac and which sign are we celebrating in 2010?
6. How many months are in a Lunar New Year?
7. How many styles of Lion Dance exist and what are the differences?
8. Why is Chinese New Years sometimes referred to as the“Spring Festival”?

Answers

1. 15 days
2. While there actual date has been debated, the general timeframe is estimated at around 2600 BC and created by Emperor Huang Ti of China. Over time, the celebration has been altered and changed as it went through different dynasties and political climates.
3. The Western New Years is based on the Gregorian calendar and measures upon the length of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun (and hence called a solar calendar). The traditional Chinese agricultural calendar measures time in the lunar cycle (a lunation) between new moons and is the principal part of the calendar.
4. Because the Lunar New Year is based off lunar cycles and cycles can end in the middle of a day, a month in the lunar calendar can vary between 29 and 30 days. A typical cycle is 29.53 days. Thus, a normal year can be 353, 354, or 355 days.
5. Accompanying each Chinese zodiac sign is an element of life. The five elements are wood, fire, water, earth and metal. The years also alternate between Yin and Yang, with odd numbers as Yin and even numbers as Yang. For 2010 Lunar New Year, we will be celebrating the Year of the Metal Tiger in a Yang cycle.
6. An ordinary year has 12 months; a leap year has 13 months.
7. There are typically two styles of Lion Dancing: Northern and Southern. Northern Style: Northern lions usually appear in pairs and have shaggy orange and yellow hair. During a performance, northern lions resemble a Pekingese or Fu Dogs and movements are very life-like. Acrobatics are very common, with stunts like lifts or balancing on a giant ball. Northern lions sometimes appear as a family. Northern Style was done as performances for the Imperial Court. Southern Style: The more common southern style has itself many variations, Fut-San (Buddha Mountain) and Hok-San (Crane Mountain) being the popular ones. The Fut-San style, incorporates powerful moves/stances often used in Kung-Fu. Hok-San style on the other hand has a lighter lion head and shorter body, making it ideal for performing stunts and the preferred choice for pole-jumping competitions.
8. The origins of this renaming from “Chinese New Year” to “Spring Festival” began in 1912 when the newly-formed Chinese Republic, governed by the Nationalist party, renamed the traditional holiday to Spring Festival in order to get the Chinese people to transition to celebrating the Western New Year. During this period, many Chinese intellectuals felt that modernization meant doing all the things as the West did.

How’d you do?

6-8 points: You are officially a Lunar New Year expert. Go celebrate the culture with pride!

4-6 points: You have a thirst for history, but still need to continue drinking from that fountain of information.

1-3 points: You need to come to a celebration and get your Lunar New Year IQ up to par!