Perhaps the most significant of all Chinese holidays, today January 26, 2009 marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Ox. Sometimes referred to as the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. Celebrations continue until the lantern Festival, the 15th day of the lunar month.
The Ox symbolizes prosperity through fortitude and hard work. People born under this sign are said to be stable, dependable and persevering. This holiday is not only celebrated by the Chinese, but in many other Asian countries such as Korea, Mongolia, Bhutan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. Other countries also celebrate the holiday, but to a lesser extent.
New Year traditions usually involve gift giving, New Year markets and fairs, and of course fireworks. No new year’s celebration would be complete without them. You might also notice the abundance of the color red. Red is associated with happiness and believed to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. Check out your horoscope to discover what the Year of the Ox has in store for you, courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board.
photo by yewenyi
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