Sunday marked the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is known as the Lunar New Year. The appearance of the new moon marks a new month according to the Chinese calendar. Each Chinese New Year is symbolized by 1 of 12 animals. The 12 animals are the rat, ox, tiger, dragon, rabbit, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.
2007 will be celebrated as the year of the pig. Chinese folklore is said that if you are born under this sign then you are a splendid companion, an intellectual with a very strong need to set difficult goals and carry them out. You are sincere, tolerant, and honest but by expecting the same from others, you are incredibly naive. Your quest for material goods could be your downfall. The Boar would be best in the arts as an entertainer, or possibly a lawyer. Pass years that were celebrated as the year of the boar included 1911 - 1923 - 1935 - 1947 - 1959 - 1971 – 1983. Famous people born in the year of the boar include Lucille Ball, Ernest Hemingway and Mahalia Jackson.
According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.
All the twelve animals gathered at the riverbank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, which was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last.
The Chinese celebrate their New Year for ten days and prepare by cleaning their home to get rid of the past years bad luck. Altars are decorated with ritual offerings to ancestors and the gods. Their houses and markets are decorated with lucky kumquat trees and peach blossoms to beckon good fortune. The color red represents joy and happiness and people decorate and wear red. Money is given to children and relatives that are unmarried. The money is given in red envelopes that are inscribed in gold with the family name. Fortunes are also inscribed. Steamed dumplings and tangerines are considered lucky for their bright color and are given in lucky even numbers as a gift.
This is a family holiday and families will feast together and then visit extended family and friends. Grudges are also forgiven and friendships are restored. Families will assemble in the streets to watch the New Year parade.
It takes fifty people to wear the famous dragon costume. As the dragon twists in the procession there are fifty dancers that are dressed in lion costumes. It is said the dragon and lion heads ward off evil spirits. Loud noises and fireworks also banish the evil spirits away.