Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Lunar New Year 2016 to you all -

the Chinese Year of the Fire Monkey has begun...


I can't stand monkeys (full of fleas and thievery)

so I've chosen a picture of a dancing lion - looks a bit like

a psychedelic Father Christmas/Cuddle Cat cross

with some ribbon toothpaste in there, too.


Kong hee fatt choy and best wishes -

Rosa canina

The year of the Fire MonkeyWhen does it start? The new year, according to the Chinese calendar, begins on 8 February and ends 27 January 2017
Why 'Fire Monkey'? Each year is associated with a Chinese zodiac animal sign, as well as one of the five vital elements: Gold, Water, Wood, Fire or Earth
What's special about people born in this year? They are ambitious and adventurous, but irritable according to chinahighlights.com

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Characteristics

• Strengths include being sociable, innovative, enthusiastic and self-assured
  
• Character weaknesses include being suspicious, cunning, selfish, arrogant - and even jealous
  

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Lucky charms for fire monkeys

Numbers: 4 and 9

Days: The 14th and 28th of any Chinese lunar calendar month

Colours: White

Flowers: Chrysanthemum

Directions: North

Months: The Chinese lunar months 8 and 12

Chinese New Year's Day Taboos

To be avoided on the first day of the Chinese New Year:

Medicine: Taking medicine on the first day of the lunar year means one will get ill for a whole year.
New Year's breakfast: Porridge should not be eaten, because it is considered that only poor people have porridge for breakfast, and people don't want to start the year “poor” as this is a bad omen.
Laundry: People do not wash clothes on the first and second day, because these two days are celebrated as the birthday of Shuishen (水神, the Water God).
Washing hair: Hair must not be washed on the first day of the lunar year. In the Chinese language, hair (发) has the same pronunciation and character as 'fa' in facai (发财), which means ’to become wealthy’. Therefore, it is seen as not a good thing to “wash one’s fortune away” at the beginning of the New Year.
Sharp objects: The use of knives and scissors is to be avoided as any accident is thought to lead to inauspicious things and the depletion of wealth.
Going out: A woman may not leave her house; otherwise she will be plagued with bad luck for the entire coming year. A married daughter is not allowed to visit the house of her parents, as this is believed to bring bad luck to the parents, causing economic hardship for the family.
The broom: If you sweep on this day then your wealth will be swept away too.
Crying children: The cry of a child is believed to bring bad luck to the family, so parents do their best to keep children as happy as possible.
Theft: Having your pocket picked is believed to portend your whole wealth in the coming year being stolen.
Debt: Money should not be lent on New Year’s Day, and all debts have to be paid by New Year’s Eve. If someone who owes you money, do not go to his or her home to demand it. Anyone who does so it is said will be unlucky all the year.
An empty rice jar: An depleted receptacle may cause grave anxiety, as the cessation of cooking during the New Year period is considered to be an ill omen.
Damaged clothes: Wearing threadbare duds can cause more bad luck for the year.
Killing things: Blood is considered an ill omen, which will cause misfortunes such as a knife wound, or a bloody disaster.
Monochrome fashion: White or black clothes are barred as these two colours are traditionally associated with mourning.
Welcoming the New Year: According to tradition, people must stay up late on New Year’s Eve to welcome the New Year, and then to let off firecrackers and fireworks to scare off inauspicious spirits and Nian, the New Year monster.
Giving of certain gifts: Clocks, scissors, and pears all have a bad meaning in Chinese culture.

What does your Chinese zodiac sign mean?

In Chinese astrology, the 12 animal zodiac signs each have unique characteristics.

• Rat: Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted, charming, artistic, sociable.
  
• Ox: Loyal, reliable, thorough, strong, reasonable, steady, determined.
  
• Tiger: Enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, leadership, confidence, charismatic.
  
• Rabbit: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, diplomatic, sincere, sociable, caretakers.
  
• Dragon: Lucky, flexible, eccentric, imaginative, artistic, spiritual, charismatic.
  
• Snake: Philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, decisive.
  
• Horse: Adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, strong.
  
• Sheep: Tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive, sensitive, calm.
  
• Monkey: Quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright, versatile, lively, smart.
  
• Rooster: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, confident.
  
• Dog: Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, smart.
  
• Pig: Honorable, philanthropic, determined, optimistic, sincere, sociable.
  

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/12144891/chinese-new-year-2016-year-of-the-monkey.html





Bet y'all wanted to know all that

This is me - I'm a tiger!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgCnywMOY9I

Do you get Happy Cats in the UK?



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki-neko



They are in all the Chinese shops and restaurants here -

I love them, finding them both comical and soothing.

I've treated myself for CNY to one in red and gold with a waving left paw

for a cheerful Chinese takeaway vibe in the hallway.


I hadn't realised (not having a television) that other people

found them as mesmerising as I do(!):

Judging by this photograph of the rather dishy Paulo Rebelo

the Portuguese use the same beckoning gesture as the Italians and Spaniards :

Kong hee fatt choy, everyone!

Happy Chinese New Year - the year of the Fire Cock.


I was given this car air freshener thing as a present by some English mates -

I was thrilled, and thought "What a clever rooster on his bicycle of fire"...

...it took me nearly ten years to twig :

I'm a water ox....who wishes he was a fire cock!

candyfloss wrote:Chinese New Year's Day Taboos

Monochrome fashion: White or black clothes are barred as these two colours are traditionally associated with mourning.

Darlington are at home to one of their main rivals, Curzon Ashton, today. This does not bode well.

Bampots wrote:I'm a water ox....who wishes he was a fire cock!

I'm a metal pig - as is our friend, Tony Bennett of Harlow.

http://www.futurescopes.com/chinese-astrology-zodiac-signs/pig/8428/metal-pig-chinese-astrology

I wonder if all his trips to China (and Hong Kong?)

(perhaps joined figuratively by the resident bore on Cristobell's?)

have paid off in terms of Oriental astrology -

- or if he is, as I suspect, much better interpreted through the eyes

of the Western Zodiac tradition? I believe TB identifies as Virgo :

https://cafeastrology.com/articles/virgomanlove.html

Happy Chinese New Year tomorrow Feb 16th 2018

Year of the dog....

When is Chinese New Year 2018?

The 2018 Chinese New Year begins on Friday, February 16.
The celebrations are tipped to last for over two weeks - and if you fancy making a trip before the festivities end, read this guide for a first-timer's trip to China.
Chinese New Year takes place on a different date each year, because it is based on the lunar calendar.
New Year's Day normally falls between January 21 and February 20.

How is Chinese New Year celebrated?

The global celebrations are an explosion of light and sound, involving bell ringing, lighting firecrackers and watching traditional lion dances.
Chinese families gather together for a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, and clean their houses to sweep away bad fortune on New Year's Day.
Traditionally, kids would be given red envelopes stuffed with 'lucky money' and positive wishes on New Year's Day.
Some teens now have red envelope apps, so their relatives can transfer cash digitally

Which animal represents 2018?

2018 will be the Year of the Dog.
The Chinese zodiac moves in a 12-year cycle, and those born in 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018 are also known as Dogs.
According to the Asian astrology, your year of birth - and the animal this represents - determines a lot about your personality traits.
Although each of the twelve animals gets an outing every dozen years, there are different varieties - and 2018 will be the first Year of the Earth Dog since 1958.
Anyone born in an Earth Dog year will be communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace.

"Dog is the symbol of loyalty and honesty. People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility. On the negative side, they are likely to be self-righteous, cold, terribly stubborn, slippery, critical of others and not good at social activities."

"Personality of people under the sign of dog

For people who were born in the year of dog, they are always impressed by their honesty, loyalty, diligence, as well as upright character. Such type of people carry many good qualities valued most by their friends, such as a great sense of integrity and fair, helpful and complaisant. Genuine and unassuming as they are, dog people are charming and popular for their effortless and down-to-earth styles. They have the most profound feelings of duty and are cynical in most cases. Especially when someone encountered an injustice, people under the sign of dog are always the one who reaches out and helps those who needed them. In one word, the reliable dog people are always someone on whom you can count and they will never let you down."

https://www.chinatours.com/culture/chinese-zodiac/dog.html

I once had a boyfriend who was born in 1946 the year of the Dog and he was kind and considerate - all of the above and yes, lacked warmth.  They are lovely people.

List of celebrity Dogs :-  Leonard Cohen was one :-

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls033572185/