Giddy Up! It's The Year Of The Horse

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On Friday, January 31st, 2014, more than a billion people of Chinese origin will usher in the first day of the year 4712. Known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, it marks the beginning of the longest and most significant of all Chinese festivals. As the name indicates, the four-thousand-year-old tradition whose date is determined by the lunar calendar, began as a way to mark the end of the dreary winter season and the beginning of spring.

The fifteen-day celebration that ends on February 14th, signifies a fresh start of life and is celebrated in many ways - By patching up with foes, spring cleaning the home and business and even revamping the wardrobe. Red, which symbolizes fire and is believed to ward off bad luck and keep evil spirits at bay, is the color of choice for everything, ranging from clothing to the lanterns used to adorn homes. Also customary is hanging chun lians or spring couplets containing happy messages about the future. But the best tradition of all is elders gifting red envelopes filled with money, to the younger members of the household.

As is the case with all Asian festivals, food plays an important part in the celebrations. Chinese New Year meals are delectable feasts, one in which each item signifies something special. Long uncut noodles represent a long life, while a whole chicken symbolizes family togetherness. Dumplings (which resemble ingots, an ancient Chinese currency) and spring rolls (which look like gold bars), represent wealth and prosperity.

The New Year celebrations end on the day of the full moon with a Lantern Festival. To commemorate the occasion, people visit the temple to hang lanterns and also participate with them in parades. The highlight of the celebrations is the dragon dance where men and women holding up a colorful dragon made from silk and paper, parade through the streets.

Another fun tradition is naming each year after a different animal (a cycle that repeats every 12 years). Legend has it that when Lord Buddha was alive, he called all the animals to celebrate the New Year with him - Only twelve came. He named a year after each one and said the people born in that year, would demonstrate the traits of that particular animal.

2014 is the Year of the Horse, which includes anyone born in 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1990 & 2002. People born under this animal sign are energetic, cheerful, popular, talented and enjoy entertaining. They like to succeed and don't do too well when they fail at any task. They are also extremely independent and do not believe in asking for advice or help. As a result, even a slight setback results in bouts of bad temper.

The Chinese also believe that the animal has some influence on how the year will go for the world in general. The Year of the Horse is expected to bring general health and prosperity. It apparently is also a good year to travel to new destinations and mingle with the locals.

Though commonly known 'Chinese New Year', the day is also celebrated in neighboring Asian countries like Thailand and Singapore. In Vietnam, the new year is called 'Tet' and while the traditions are similar, the celebrations last for just seven days.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year)

Resources: musiced.about.com, wikipedia.org

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284 Comments
  • peggy123
    peggy123almost 9 years
    I love horses
    • diamondkid
      diamondkidover 9 years
      Wow!
      • animegirly
        animegirlyalmost 10 years
        This coutry look fun
        • animefan3
          animefan3almost 10 years
          Look at the city it look awesome in Japanese and the food look good
          • ravermccare23
            ravermccare23almost 10 years
            It is officially the year of the sheep!!
          • mandm2000
            mandm2000almost 10 years
            But thats okay because this article was posted last year
            • mandm2000
              mandm2000almost 10 years
              It is actually year of the sheep since it is 2015 now
              • bibliophile
                bibliophilealmost 10 years
                ooohh the food looks delish!!!! 🍱
                • animegirly
                  animegirlyalmost 10 years
                  I know bibliophile the food look delish
                  • happypug12
                    happypug12almost 10 years
                    I know, bibliophile! I especially want to eat the dumplings and the noodles, but everything looks good! Like or reply if you like or love Chinese, Japanese, or Korean food!
                    • animegirly
                      animegirlyalmost 10 years
                      I do love Japanese,Chinese and Korean happypug12
                      • nikukyu
                        nikukyualmost 10 years
                        I liked! Love all the countrys foods, especially my country' foods!
                        • animefan3
                          animefan3almost 10 years
                          Nikukyu your country is amassing and your amassing too
                          • nikukyu
                            nikukyualmost 10 years
                            Awwww beautifulgirl thank you! You are awesome, and your country is awesome too!
                    • frankiebaby
                      frankiebabyalmost 10 years
                      for the description of the sheep, it says artistic, but I can't come anywhere near that at all
                      • doge101
                        doge101over 9 years
                        Im artistic in musical arts... does that count? Well I'm a good singer, piano player, and guitar player. I'm trying the viola next!
                        • nikukyu
                          nikukyualmost 10 years
                          Well, I'm artistic! At least they got a person right!
                          • ravermccare23
                            ravermccare23almost 10 years
                            that's the same with me, but I really can't agree with Happypug12, since I am DEFINITELY not artistic at all
                            • happypug12
                              happypug12almost 10 years
                              You might be artistic, u just don't know it, frankiebaby.
                            • Anonymousalmost 10 years
                              I♥️ horses I'm so glad it is the year of the horse!!!!