Happy New Year!

[LCHIEN]

Yes, its the Chinese or Lunar New Year, on Sunday Feb 10.

Happy new year and great fortune and prosperity to you and your Family in this, the Year of the Snake, 4711.



Loring

[dbhost]

Happy New Year to those that observe the Chinese calendar! Or just those that dig New Year celebrations! May your year to come bring prosperity, health, and happiness.

[cabinetman]

Happy New Year to those that observe the Chinese calendar! Or just those that dig New Year celebrations! May your year to come bring prosperity, health, and happiness.

+1. My wishes exactly.

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[LCHIEN]

Actually, for us, CHinese new Year is a cultural event. We do not use the lunar calendar except for trying (and its hard) to calculate the actual birthdays of those two generations older than us whose birthdays are recorded in the lunar year calendars.

Virtually all the world now uses the Gregorian Calendar according to Wikipedia: "The Gregorian calendar, also called the Western calendar and the Christian calendar, is internationally the most widely accepted and used civil calendar.[1][2][3] For decades, it has been the unofficial global standard, adopted for pragmatic interests of international communication, transportation and commercial integration and recognized by international institutions such as the United Nations and the Universal Postal Union.[4]"

As a cultural event, it means, giving younger generations lucky money gifts, for some shooting off firecrackers, eating certain traditional foods, having a special meal with family, watching or doing dragon dances, and wishing all, Chinese'Asian or not, a happy new year and prosperity. These are part of our heritage, a celebration and continuation of centuries old traditions. Really, other than the exact foods and activities, what's the difference between this and Thanksgiving?

So rather than a copy of January 1, it really means something to us, not because its the calendar we use (its not) but because of the inherent cultural traditions and well wishes that we give to each other and our friends.

[TB Roye]

Well then Sunday afternoon I expect to hear all H breaking loose at the local Chinese Market about a 1/4 mile away. Fire Crackers and the Dragon Dance. In fact they will probable do it twice, about noon and the later in the afternoon/early evening. At least as noisy as it is it doesn't contain Gun fire like on ours. It sounds like a war on New Years Eve or the 4th of July.

Tom

[trungdok]

Actually, for us, CHinese new Year is a cultural event. We do not use the lunar calendar except for trying (and its hard) to calculate the actual birthdays of those two generations older than us whose birthdays are recorded in the lunar year calendars.

Virtually all the world now uses the Gregorian Calendar according to Wikipedia: "The Gregorian calendar, also called the Western calendar and the Christian calendar, is internationally the most widely accepted and used civil calendar.[1][2][3] For decades, it has been the unofficial global standard, adopted for pragmatic interests of international communication, transportation and commercial integration and recognized by international institutions such as the United Nations and the Universal Postal Union.[4]"

As a cultural event, it means, giving younger generations lucky money gifts, for some shooting off firecrackers, eating certain traditional foods, having a special meal with family, watching or doing dragon dances, and wishing all, Chinese'Asian or not, a happy new year and prosperity. These are part of our heritage, a celebration and continuation of centuries old traditions. Really, other than the exact foods and activities, what's the difference between this and Thanksgiving?

So rather than a copy of January 1, it really means something to us, not because its the calendar we use (its not) but because of the inherent cultural traditions and well wishes that we give to each other and our friends.

Don't forget a little friendly gambling at home :P

Kung Hy Phat Choi
Chuc Mung Nam Moi

[tommyt654]

新年快乐 everbody,

[cabinetman]

The history and essence of "holidays" need to be taught. However that's done...family, religious, or other venue, to be a part of lives of those that celebrate them. It seems that the reason for celebrating can be taken for granted, or not understood at all.

Example...While many of those that shoot off firecrackers on the Fourth of July, they may not be aware of the meaning of that.

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[LCHIEN]

The history and essence of "holidays" need to be taught. However that's done...family, religious, or other venue, to be a part of lives of those that celebrate them. It seems that the reason for celebrating can be taken for granted, or not understood at all.

Example...While many of those that shoot off firecrackers on the Fourth of July, they may not be aware of the meaning of that.

.

People who don't celebrate traditional holidays of other cultures also need to understand and appreciate the historical and cultural meanings to those who do celebrate. Can you imagine what strict muslims think of our christmas traditions where apparently some fat dude in a red and white suit and white beard hands out toys to little kids, adults eat turkey and drink eggnog laced with rum and watch football games on TV?

[cabinetman]

People who don't celebrate traditional holidays of other cultures also need to understand and appreciate the historical and cultural meanings to those who do celebrate.

I agree. Holidays should be understood even by those that don't celebrate them. There are quite a few...here are some examples...
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* Naw Ruz (Bahá'í New Year)
* 1st Day of Ridván
* 9th Day of Ridvan
* 12th Day of Ridvan
* Declaration of the Báb
* Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
* Martyrdom of the Báb
* Birth of the Báb
* Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
* Vesak
* Bon Festival (in Japan)
* Blessed Rainy Day in Bhutan
* Samhain (Celtic): 31 October-1 November, Celtic New Year, first day of winter
* Winternights (Norse): 29 October-2 November, Norse New Year
* Yule (Norse): 21 December-22 December, winter solstice, Celtic mid-winter
* Imbolc (Celtic): 1 February-2 February, Celtic first day of spring
* Ostara/Easter (Norse): 21 March-22 March, vernal equinox, Celtic mid-spring
* Beltane (Celtic): 30 April-1 May, Celtic first day of summer
* Litha (Norse): 21 June-22 June, summer solstice, Celtic mid-summer
* Lughnasadh (Celtic): 1 August-2 August, Celtic first day of autumn
* Mabon/Harvest End (Norse): 21 September-22 September, autumnal equinox, Celtic mid-fall
* Advent
* All Saints' Day
* All Souls' Day
* Ascension Thursday (Ascension of Jesus into Heaven)
* Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent)
* Assumption of Mary (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
* Candlemas
* Childermas
* Christmas (Birth of Jesus)
* Corpus Christi (Sacrifice of Jesus)
* Easter (Resurrection of Jesus, end of Lent)
* Easter Triduum
o Holy Thursday (Celebration of The Last Supper)
o Good Friday (Death of Jesus)
o Holy Saturday
o Easter Vigil
* Easter Monday (Monday following Easter Sunday, not part of the Easter Triduum)
* Epiphany
* Lent (40 days of penance before Easter)
* Pentecost or Whitsun (Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus)
* Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (last day of Carnival, last day before Ash Wednesday)
* Winter Lent
* Watch Night
* Akshaya Tritiya
* Baisakhi
* Dasara
* Diwali
o Diwali Amvasaya (Laxmi Puja)
o Diwali (day 2)
o Bhaubeej
* Durga Puja
* Ekadasi
* Ganesh Chaturthi
* Gokul Ashtami
* Gudhi Padwa
* Guru Purnima
* Holi
* Karthikai deepam
* Krishna Janmaashtami
* Mahashivratri
* Mahalakshmi vrata
* Makar Sankranti
* Navratri
* Onam
* Pongal
* Rama-Lilas
* Ram Navami
* Vaikunta Ekadasi
* Vijayadashami
* Ugadi
* Aashurah Muharram
* Eid: date determined by the lunar calendar and observation of the moon
o Eid ul-Fitr
o Eid ul-Adha
* Mawlid Al Rasul - Celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birth
* Nisfu Shaaban
* Nuzul Al Qur'an - First revelation of Holy Koran
* Ramadan-ul-Mubarik
* Isra' Mi'raj - Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven.
* Youm Arafat - Eve of Eid ul-Adha
* Hanukkah (also: Chanukah; the Festival of Lights)
* Passover
* Purim (Deliverance from Marcus Mit C)
* Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
* Shavuot (Festival of Weeks; Harvest Festival)
* Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles)
* Tisha B'Av
* Tu Bishvat (New year of the trees)
* Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
* Thanksgiving - (second Monday in October in Canada, fourth Thursday in November in USA) —
* Winter Solstice, Yule -
* Hanukkah -
* Christmas Day - (25 December) —
* Kwanzaa (USA) - (26 December - 1 January) —
* Boxing Day (26 December or 27 December) — non-Sunday after Christmas.
* St Stephen's Day or Second Day of Christmas (26 December) — Holiday observed in many European countries.
* Eid ul-Adha (31 December 2006 or 22 December 2007) —
* New Year's Day - (1 January) — Holiday observing the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. Preceded by New Year's Eve on 31 December, which is celebrated with festivities in anticipation of New Year's Day.
* A secular name for these holidays is a winter holiday.
* Valentine's Day (14 February)
* International Women's Day (8 March, particularly in Eastern European Countries)
* Hug a Cop Day (23rd June)
* Labour Day, Worker's Day or May Day (1 May in most countries. The United States and Canada both celebrate on the first Monday in September)
* Mother's Day (second Sunday in May in North America, fourth Sunday in Lent in UK)
* Father's Day (Various dates depending on celebrating country)
* Halloween (31 October)
* Astronomy Day (date varies depending on cycle of Moon)
* World Ocean Day (8 June)
* Canada Day (1 July) in Canada, celebration of the date of the Confederation of Canada. In effect Canada's political independence from the British Empire in 1867.
* Independence day (4 July in the United States; many other nations refer to the holiday celebrating their independence as Independence Day as well. )
* Lee-Jackson-King Day (20 January) Combined holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1984 to 2000
* Confederate Memorial Day Celebrated by the original Confederate States at various times during the year.
* Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January in the United States)
* Groundhog Day (2 February in United States and Canada)
* Spring Holiday, a secular euphemism for Easter or Good Friday. Counterpart of "Winter holiday".
* Patriot's Day (third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine, United States)
* Queen's Day (30 April in the Netherlands)
* Labour Day (Many European and South American countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1)
* Hug a Cop Day (23 June International)
* Loyalty Day (1 May in the United States)
* Juneteenth (19 June) Official holiday in 14 states that commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas (unofficial in 5 other US states)
* Victoria Day (Monday on or before May 24 in Canada, also in some parts of Scotland)
* Flag Day (14 June in the United States)
* Pioneer Day (24 July in Utah, United States)
* Labor Day (first Monday in September in the United States (federal holiday) and Canada)
* Grandparents Day (Sunday after September Labor Day - proclaimed in the United States by Jimmy Carter in 1978)
* Sweetest Day (third Saturday in October, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan in the United States)
* Mother-in-Law's Day (fourth Sunday in October, Germany)
* Saint Nicholas Day (05 December in the Netherlands, 06 December in Belgium)
* Boxing Day (26 December in the Commonwealth of Nations)
* Holidays originating in ancient Latvia
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...6211746AAjYkhe

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[phrog]

I agree. Holidays should be understood even by those that don't celebrate them. There are quite a few...here are some examples...
.

Deleted the list in the quote; but aren't all those Federal holidays now?
(My brothers were lawyers for the Federal government and I couldn't resist.)

[phrog]

So rather than a copy of January 1, it really means something to us, not because its the calendar we use (its not) but because of the inherent cultural traditions and well wishes that we give to each other and our friends.

Isn't it too bad that everyday couldn't be like this, well wishes to everyone all over the world?

Curious, what is the meaning of "the Year of the Snake?"

[LCHIEN]

Isn't it too bad that everyday couldn't be like this, well wishes to everyone all over the world?

Curious, what is the meaning of "the Year of the Snake?"

Ah, the lunar calendar years have a cycle of 12 in that each one is named for an animal. They listed here along with the dates that go with them: http://www.teasetc.com/tea/article.asp?ID=49

The date of the lunar new year cycles depending upon the phase of the moon, usually it falls between late January and a little past mid-Feb. So the lunar year associates roughly with calendar years. What we cal 2013 jan 1- dec 31 coincides from Feb 10 to Dec 31 with Lunar year 4711 (they've used the lunar calendar for a few more millenia)

After they go thru all 12 they repeat. I'm a Dragon (a good year), was born in 1952, dragon years were also 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, and 2012. Anyone born in those years (making adjustments for the approx month or so difference) would be called a dragon. There's a whole astrology/zodiac/horoscope kind of thing similar to your birth signs (Taurus, Gemini, etc) that supposedly tells you what your personality is and who you are compatible with but that in reality has about as much cred as the horoscope.

However, my Wife is born in the year of the Rat and most of those chinese horoscopes say that rats and dragons make good couples. So what do I know?

Here's a couple of the predictions:
DRAGON is the fifth sign of the lunar calendar.
I am an unquenchable fire, the center of all energy, the stout heroic heart. I am truth and light, I hold power and glory in my sway. My presence disperses dark clouds. I have been chosen to tame the Fates.

Magnanimous and full of vitality and strength
Constantly on the go, egoistical and eccentric, dogmatic, whimsical and demanding, but never without and band of admirers
Dragon children tend to assume the burdens and responsibilities of a family
Energetic and eager with the potential to accomplish great things. But, if not careful to contain enthusiasm, can burn up in smoke.
Powerful and difficult to oppose, prosperous, but prone to megalomania and intimidation
Despite his ways is loyal to friends and family
Don’t expect a Dragon to be overly sentimental or romantic
A super positive person
It is said that Dragons born during a storm will lead a tempestuous and hazardous life, while those born during calm seas and heavens will live a more protected and amiable life
Dragons, befriend the Rat and Monkey- avoid the Dog.


SNAKE is the sixth sign of the lunar calendar.
Mine is the wisdom of the ages. I hold the key to the mysteries of life. Casting my seeds on fertile ground, I nurture them with constancy and purpose. My sights are fixed. My gaze remains unchanged. Unyielding, inexorable and deep, I advance with steady gait, the solid earth beneath me.

Philosopher, theologian, political wizard, wily fancier- the Snake is the deepest thinker and the enigma
Endowed with a personal wisdom
Graceful and soft-spoken, will gravitate naturally towards the finer things in life
Very beautiful
Generally relies on their own judgment, not working well with others, trusting their own instincts rather than outside advice
By nature is skeptical, but will keep his suspicions to himself
One of the most tenacious signs, never stops plotting and can be viciously unrelenting. Can be possessive and demanding in relationships.
Snake women are the original femme fatale, if she doesn’t have money and power she will marry into it, and won’t agonize over women’s rights. She will be her husbands’ best asset.
Ox and Rooster are your fellow intellectuals; Snake and Boar do not mix well!

[greenacres2]

Happy New Year!!

When my 2 older sons were young, we went to a Chinese restaurant almost every week. One year, the owners invited our family to their New Year Celebration. We went, expecting to see a lot of customers--not the case!! It was all their family and only us and another "American" family were not related. It was such an honor, and we had a blast!!

I was sad to see Peter and his new bride Tina sell the place, it's not been the same under any of the successor owners. One year i asked if they were going to be open on Easter--and Tina said "of course". Well, they opened for just 3 or 4 families, and instead of the buffet they just kept a variety of dishes coming--then took time to sit with us for the afternoon learning about Easter. Those were special times. Thanks for the memories Loring!!

earl

[phrog]

Thanks, Loring. I just found out I'm a Snake. (Many of my friends have been telling me this for years. ) Just missed the same Dragpn year as you by 3 days.
I just love this site. I learn sooo much.