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Chinese New Year

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The Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is considered the most important holiday of all of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is also known as the “Spring Festival” or the “Lunar New Year.” It marks the end of the winter season, and the beginning of the spring season, lichun, the first solar term in the Chinese calendar year.
Chinese New Year is also the longest and most important festivity of the Chinese year. Its origins go back to ancient times, and it not only influences celebration in mainland China and Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines also celebrated this festive holiday.
Within China, traditions and customs of the festival widely vary. Windows and doors will be decorated with red couplets and paper-cuts with the popular themes of good fortune, wealth, happiness, and longevity. Money would be spent for presents, decorations, food, and clothing. There is even a tradition when families would thoroughly clean their house to sweep away any “ill-fortune” in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Children are given monetary gifts in red paper envelopes.
In association with the Chinese New Year, twelve different animals represent and predict what talents and weakness those who are born on that particular year. It is also known as the Chinese “match-maker,” advises who you could marry and who you should avoid. This is known as the Chinese Zodiac.
Alongside the 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac there is a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems. Each of the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of Chinese astrology, namely: Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal, and Water. The elements are rotated every two years while a yin and yang association alternates every year. The elements are thus distinguished: Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, etc. These produce a combined cycle that repeats every 60 years. For example, the year of the Yang Fire Rat occurred in 1936 and in 1996, 60 years apart.
Many confuse their Chinese birth-year with their Gregorian (January 1st- December 31st) birth-year. As the Chinese New Year starts in late January to mid-February, the Chinese year dates from January 1 until that day in the new Gregorian year remain unchanged from the previous Gregorian year. For example, the 1989 year of the snake began on February 6, 1989. The year 1990 is considered by some people to be the year of the horse. However, the 1989 year of the snake officially ended on January 26, 1990. This means that anyone born from January 1 to January 25, 1990 was actually born in the year of the snake rather than the year of the horse. Many online Chinese Sign calculators do not account for the non-alignment of the two calendars, using Gregorian-calendar years rather than the official Chinese New Year dates.

Year of the Rat- 1948, 1960, 1972,1984,1996,2008
You are ambitious yet honest. You are prone to spend time and money freely. You are seldom to make lasting friendships. You are the most compatible with Dragons and Monkeys, and you are the least compatible with Horses.
Year of the Ox- 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
You are bright, patient, and inspiring to others. You can be happy by yourself, yet you would make an outstanding parent. It is recommended that you marry a Snake or Rooster. The Sheep will only bring you trouble.
Year of the Tiger- 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Tigers are aggressive, courageous, candid, and sensitive. You should look for the Horse and the Dog for happiness. Beware of the Monkey.
Year of the Rabbit 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
You are the luckiest of all signs, and you are also talented and articulate. Affectionate, yet shy, you seek peace throughout your life. Marry a Sheep or a Boar. Your opposite is the Rooster.
Year of the Dragon 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
You are eccentric and abundant in health. Your life is complex and you have a very passionate nature. You are advised to marry a Monkey or a Rat late in life. Furthermore, you should avoid the Dog.
Year of the Snake 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
The Snake is wise and intense with a tendency towards physical beauty. However, you are also vain and hot-tempered. Your best signs are the Rooster or the Ox. The Boar is your enemy.
Year of the Horse 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
You are popular and attractive to the opposite sex. You are often ostentatious and impatient. The bottom line is that you need people. Marry a Tiger or a Dog early in life, but never marry a Rat.
Year of the Sheep 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Sheep are elegant and creative. However, they are also timid and prefer anonymity. They work best with Boars and Rabbits, but never the Ox.
Year of the Monkey 1956, 1968, 1980. 1992, 2004, 2016
You are very intelligent and you have the ability to influence people. You are an enthusiastic achiever, but you can be easily discouraged and confused. Seek a Dragon or a Rat to spend your life with you. Avoid the Tigers.
Year of the Rooster 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
The Rooster is a pioneer in spirit, and you are devoted to your work. You are on a quest after knowledge. You are also considered selfish and eccentric. Rabbits are trouble. Snakes and Oxen are your best opinions.
Year of the Dog 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
You are loyal and honest. You work well with others and you are generous. You are also stubborn and often selfish. Watch out for Dragons. Look to the Horse or the Tiger.
Year of the Boar 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Boars are chivalrous and noble. Your friends will be lifelong, yet you are prone to marital strife. You should avoid other Boars. Marry a Rabbit or a Sheep.

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