The Chinese new year arrived on February 4, 2013 the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and Spring Festival. This is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and Chinese descendants around the world. The first day of Chinese New Year 2013 (Chun Jie / 春节 2013) will be celebrated on Sunday, 10 February 2013, and the festival will last for as long as 15 days, until Sunday, 24 February 2013.
Chinese New Year 2013 is an annual official public holiday for many countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. The Spring Festival 2013 is among the longest public holidays in China, one of the Golden Week. Some countries refer to the Lunar New Year with their local name, such as Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese New Year) in Vietnam, Korean New Year in South Korea, or Setsubun in Japan. Chinese New Year is the biggest annual event, where families gather for reunion dinners and friends visit each other. Each of the fifteen days from New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival has a particular activity associated with it. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family: parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. It is a time to honor living ancestors (spiritual as well as biological).
New Year's Day includes a Dragon Lion Dance. These dances are not only a form of entertainment, but an opportunity for the dancers (martial artists) who are performing the Dragons or Lions (often in two-person teams) to demonstrate their Kung Fu skills. The more elaborate the dances become, the greater the strength and flexibility and mental focus that is required. The dancers are given a gift in a red envelop (Hong Bao) offered in gratitude for their performance.
In the Chinese hierarchy of animals, dragons are considered the most sacred and are a symbol of the most auspicious power. Dragons have the power to bring life-sustaining wind and rain, however it may manifest in destructive was such as a hurricane. The legendary Yellow Emperor - Huang Di, is believed to have transformed into a dragon at the moment of becoming and immortal. For this reason, the Chinese sometimes refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragon." In terms of Yin and Yang, the dragon is seen as the embodiment of yang or male energy. His yin/female counterpart is the Fenghuang - the Phoenix.
*********
2013 is the Year of the Black Snake or Year of the Water Snake. According to Chinese philosophy when the dragon fell down from the sky it transformed into a snake. Therefore, the snake is also called a Little Dragon. Just like the Dragon, the snake doesn't like to be seen. Some see the snake as sly, quiet, lonely and humble animal. The snake does not attack other animal unless it's hungry. If we keep the distance from it, a snake avoids people and will not hurt people. The snake has the ability to swallow an animal bigger than its size. So we cannot underestimate snake...In Chinese Five Element theory, Snake is in the Fire group. But it also contains Earth and Metal. When it meets Chicken and Cow, then the Snake brings up strong Metal characteristics. When it meets Horse and Sheep, then it will emphasize its Fire characteristics. 2013 is the year of Black Snake or Water Snake. Black is in color representing Water Element in the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. That is why we also can say 2013 is a Water Snake year. Snake is considered as Fire Element and it's under Water in 2013. The Fire of Snake in the Water shouldn't bring too much trouble nor big fortunes to most of people. But Fire and Water will be the biggest factors to determine people's fortune in 2013...
In the mood for some fun? Check out the fortune site:
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2013/2013Zodiac.htm
Thank you for your contribution to this blog:
http://publicholiday.org/calendar/chinese-new-year/
http://taoism.about.com/od/holidays/ig/Chinese-New-Year/Dragon-In-Parade.htm
To A Prosperous New Year and 2013
To Your Health, Wealth and Prosperity
Saquina Akanni
Prosperity Doctor
www.saquinaakanni.com
