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February 12 marks the first day where the first crescent of the moon will be visible on earth after our planet moves away from the shadow of the sun. This New Moon also marks the start of a new calendar in different cultures and religions. It marks the beginning of new opportunities and at the same time, a renewal of life.
One of the most popular observances celebrated during this period is the Lunar New Year or what’s more popularly known as the Chinese New Year. In Chinese Zodiac, it is a period of transition from the Year of the Rat (2020) to the Year of the Ox. The celebrations start on the 4th of February in what is called the Little Year where people perform ceremonies, offer prayers and generally clean their houses to remove bad luck and welcome the new year on the 12th during the Spring Festival. Celebrations will then culminate on the 26th in a Lantern Festival where people can offer their prayers and wishes for the new year.
Spring and Lantern Festivals
In most Chinese Communities, celebrating the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is a whole month affair. Preparations start as early as January as decorations are set up and plays and performances are rehearsed for the Spring Gala Festival. The people are given a 7-day holiday so that they can go home to their families and celebrate the new year with their loved ones.
Celebrating the Spring Festival during the Lunar New Year is a historical tradition in Chinese communities as it commemorates the period when seeds first sprouted and harvest was made possible for a largely agricultural country. Over centuries, Spring Festival celebrations evolved from small farming community gatherings to country-wide celebrations filled with feasts, concerts and plays with themes depicting local farm life and how this represents the people and their national identities.
As celebrations come to an end after 16 days of new year celebrations, people go out on parks and reserves to fly paper lanterns to heaven during the Lantern Festival. This tradition began centuries ago when people believe that their prayers and wishes can be best received by the gods and deities by flying them up to heaven through these paper lanterns. Though each celebration is enlarged every year, most people still observe on their own way by performing ceremonies and prayers and offerings to the gods and deities responsible for a good harvest. They also send their prayers and wishes to receive blessings for the new year.
Year of the Ox
According to the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, 2021 will be the Year of the Ox, most specifically the Metal Ox (1961, 2021). It officially starts on the 12th of February and will end on the 1st of February next year. People born during the Year of the Ox (2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961 and so on) exemplify the characteristics of an Ox, particularly its strength and dependability. They are hardworking and especially perform with diligence to achieve what they are determined to accomplish in everything they set their minds to.
Though Oxen may find it difficult to communicate through words and may sometimes choose not to speak their minds especially when it comes to their emotions, their actions sincerely convey their every thought and emotion. Since Oxen are loyal and devoted individuals, they can strengthen existing relationships or form life-long partnerships, especially during this year.
An Ox best match with those born during the Year of the Rat, Monkey or Rooster while they best complement those born from the Year or the Rabbit and the Snake. They can also go along with people born during the Year of the Pig and the Dog but not so much with people from the Year of the Tiger, Dragon, Horse and Goat.
Lucky Colours in Decorations
Like most Chinese celebrations, the decorations for the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival uses the colour red, as they believe that red is an auspicious or lucky colour. Red lanterns are hanged all over town while red couplets are stuck on walls and doors with messages of prosperity. Homes and public spaces are also decked with green, yellow and white decorations especially since not only are these the lucky colours for the Year of the Ox, but green and yellow also presents the flowers and the leaves particularly representing spring.
Kumquat Trees whose fruits are said to symbolise gold coins, are trimmed before they are hanged with red envelops and other lucky charms to invite growth and abundance in all aspects of life. Flower decorations are made from paper cutouts when there are no fresh plants to display. Chinese characters are also made from red, green and yellow paper cutouts and are strategically placed all over the house to ward off evil spirits and invite in blessings.
Food and Traditions
Spring Festival celebrations started with people exchanging crops and performing ceremonies with offerings to gods and deities. Today, this month-long celebration is commemorated with various activities rooted in tradition and practice. Aside from hanging lanterns everywhere, one of the most popular tradition during Chinese New Year would be the giving of red envelopes and feasting on dumplings and glutinous rice cakes during New Year’s Eve dinner.
As family members gather around for a feast, the older generation gives red envelops to the children. Not only are they passing money for abundance, but they are also wishing the younger generation prosperity in their life. As the children receive these envelopes, they then wishing their parents and grandparents, good health and wishes. Giving out red envelopes has also become customary not only between family members but also within groups or communities such as in the workplace.
Aside from these, New Year’s Eve is also celebrated with dancing dragons and fireworks to drive away evil spirits and welcome new blessings. As the month-long celebration comes to a close, people write their prayers and wishes on paper lanterns which they light up to heaven during the Lantern Festival.
Though these celebrations have undergone countless of changes over the centuries and people today may have more causes to celebrate, the one thing that didn’t change is the fact that the Lunar New Year, the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival is a time to give importance to family and be thankful for another year and another chance to receive countless blessings.
If you need guidance especially on this coming Lunar New Year, we Psychics, Mediums and Clairvoyants practice Astrology, Numerology and other Divinations to help answer your questions and deliver messages which you most need at present time. Our Love and Relationship Psychics can help you get a feel of your potential partner especially when you are born this Year of the Ox!
Call us on 0818 400 111 today to get a Psychic Reading.
