Happy New Year! While we (in the western world) celebrate the New Year on January 1st, The Chinese New Year falls on the second New Moon after the winter solstice (January 23rd for 2012), and this year we welcome the year of the Black Water Dragon.
Origins and Traditions
Chinese New Year is a centuries-old celebration to chase away evil for the upcoming year and welcome good fortune.
Legend has it that Chinese New Year began when villagers sought to protect themselves against a mythical beast called the Nien that arrived each New Year’s Day to devour everything in its path, including crops, livestock, people and especially children.
Villagers tried to protect themselves from the Nien by putting food outside their doors each New Year to appease the beast’s hunger. One year, the villagers noticed the Nien was frightened away by a small child dressed in red. So instead of putting out food, the villagers began to hang red lanterns and other red decorations around their doors and windows. They also used firecrackers to scare the Nien away, and they were successful. The Nien finally disappeared for good!
Modern Chinese New Year celebrations involve feasts with family, parades, new clothes, gifts and other traditions that highlight the bounty of the old year and the promise of a fresh new year. Red is the most important color in the festivities, and is seen everywhere in clothes, decorations, and foods.
Chinese Zodiac Simplified
The Dragon is one of 12 animals that presides once every 12 years in the Chinese calendar.
The Chinese zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare/Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig/Boar. According to tradition, people may share some of the traits of the animal that designates their birth year. You may already know your animal from the popular paper placemats at Chinese restaurants, and you can determine your Chinese Zodiac animal by the year of your birth.
Zodiac animals are believed to influence the events and characteristics of their years, so they are used for astrological predictions for the general climate as well as personal predictions.
Whether or not you’re a “believer” in astrology, there’s no denying that at the specific place and time of your birth, the moon and stars and planets were at a unique relative relationship to you. Just as tides are affected by the moon, so does astrology give us one small clue to your unique make-up.
In addition to a zodiac animal, each year is designated a Chinese Five Elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each of the Five Elements possess certain characteristics that effect each other and cyclically transform into the next. 2012 is a Water year, and Water is a symbol of patience, power, and wisdom. The color associated with the water element is black, hence the Black Water Dragon.
2012 – A Year of Calm Visionary Power
Unlike the wicked, fire-breathing dragons of Western mythology, the dragon of Chinese astrology symbolizes potent and benevolent power. Dragons are ancient, regal, wise, and intelligent, and Dragon years are considered particularly auspicious for new businesses, marriage and children. Dragon years also tend to boost individual fortunes and the world economy – here’s to hoping the Chinese are right about this one!
It’s also true, however, that Chinese Dragon years (regardless of the element that they are linked to) tend to magnify both success and failure. So while they can mark huge achievement, disasters can be equally immense. Years of the Fire Dragon (1917, 1976, and 2036) typically wreaks the most havoc. However, years of the Water Dragon (1992, 1952 and 2012) is noted for its calm and visionary intelligence.
Regardless of your Chinese zodiac sign, you should invite greatness into your life this year as your ride the tails of the Black Water Dragon. Happy New Year!
