What is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, as it celebrates the end of Winter and the coming of Spring. Spiritually, it is a time of renewal, good fortune and positive tidings for the year ahead. Socially, it signifies reunion and the renewal of harmony. Personally and in business it is a time to tidy up loose ends and turn over a new leaf.
Why is it in late January?
In 2012, Chinese New Year falls on the 23rd January. It is celebrated later than the traditional Western New Year on January 1st, as it is determined by the lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon.
The Chinese lunar calendar has remained unchanged since the Han Dynasty, about 2000 years ago. According to this system, the Chinese New Year is arranged so as to fall about midway between the Winter solstice (shortest day of the year) and the Spring equinox (the day in Spring where the amount of daytime and night is equal).
Our current calendar is the Gregorian or solar calendar, which is based on the Earth’s movement around the sun and has a fixed number of 365 days a year (366 each leap year). The Gregorian calendar has also been the official calendar in China since 1912, however the lunar calendar is still used for traditional holidays, such as Chinese New Year.
Animal Signs
The Chinese calendar follows a twelve year cycle, with each year being attributed to a different animal. In recurring order, the animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Each animal sign has certain characteristics, for example, Tigers are said to be thoughtful, brave and strong-willed, whilst Snakes are considered wise, enthusiastic and attractive.
The Dragon is one of the strongest of signs and is symbolised by ambition, enthusiasm and success.
