Happy New Year! It's The Year Of The Ox

Today, January 26, 2009 is a very special day in the Chinese lunar calendar - it is Chinese New Year! This tradition, celebrated for thousands of years, is marked by 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals, celebrated in a 12 year cycle. As legend has it, they respond to an invitation from the Buddha to meet him on the new year.This year it is the Year of The Ox.
According to Chinese lore, the Ox represents a solid, hardworking and steadfast individual. So if you were born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, or 2009, you are said to carry these traits.
Some interesting facts about Chinese New Year:It is also know as Spring Festival, it is the lunar new year and falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar.The festival is 15 days long and requires certain visits to family members on certain days.It is a major holiday in China and people make changes ahead of the new year to welcome it, including cleaning house and cutting their hair. Certain foods such as Mandarin oranges, uncut noodles and melon seeds are eaten to bring wealth, health, happiness and good luck to the family.Festivities include dragon dances, during which loud drums and cymbals are said to ward off evil spirits.For good luck, people open windows and doors, turn on night lights, wear new slippers, clean house and eat sweets.To avoid bad luck, they do not say certain words that in Chinese sound like bad things such as death and loss.
The Chinese Zodiac Symbols, their traits and recent years are:
Rat: quick-witted, clever, charming

1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Ox: steadfast, solid, hard-working

1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Tiger: authoritative, self-possessed, charming

1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998

Rabbit: popular, compassionate, sincere

1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

Dragon: energetic, warm-hearted, charismatic

1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Snake: seductive, gregarious, generous

1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

Horse: energetic, self-reliant, money-wise

1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Goat: creative, wandering, unorganized

1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Monkey: upbeat, good at listening, lacking self-control

1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Rooster: practical, resourceful, observant

1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Dog: faithful, honest, distrustful

1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Pig: extremely nice, good-mannered and tasteful

1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Happy New Year! If you were born in the year of the Ox, you're probably hard at work!