Happy Chinese New Year

It is the year of the Rat. (How appropriate.)

Chinese fortune tellers are predicting a rocky year ahead. We can expect political, financial, environmental and health related issues and scares. In 2008, the water and earth are in conflict with one another and according to Raymond Lo, a Hong Kong master of Feng Shui, "Earth usually conquers water, but it is too weak to control the rat, which symbolizes the most powerful water." If you don't believe him, read about the unusually harsh winter China is having or the roller coaster ride the stock markets have been on. He predicted last year (Year of the Pig) would be a clash of fire and water elements resulting in more bombings and gun battles. Afghanistan and Pakistan saw record numbers of bombings as well as the high profile assassination of Benazir Bhutto. So, he must be right.

In the East, rats are thought to promote the characteristics of wit, charm and wealth and not just dirty, skittish rodents. So being born in the year of the rat is not a bad thing. Some of the famous "Rats" are Al Gore, Cameron Diaz, William Shakespeare and George HW Bush. The rat is the first of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. According to Vivian, the rat is first because there was a race to see which animal would start the 12 year cycle and while the other animals were working to get to the front, the rat hid in the ox's ear and at the last minute jumped out ahead of all the other animals which include (in order): Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The pig was lazy and came in last. It's a twelve year cycle so for those who follow the system, it's more important to know what year you were born in (year of the Rat, Snake, Dog, etc.) then your actual age. So people born in the year of the Rat are 1, 13, 25, 37, etc. According to the Chinese calendar, it is the year 4507. (There is something about how they have to add a "leap month" to the calendar similar to our leap years but it hurt my head trying to figure out why it's necessary and the complicated system of adding an entire month to a year.)

The celebration lasts for 15 days because it always starts with the new moon and ends with the next full moon. Everything gets decorated in red and gold and again, according to Vivian, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated with family getting together for dinner. There are lots of superstitions about what you should and shouldn't do but she said it's symbolic for most people to clean the day before the new year to sweep out all the bad from the year before. But it's bad luck to do any cleaning on New Year's day because then you'll be sweeping away your good fortune. And you should never sweep the dirt out the door but rather collect it, then carry it out - the back door only (bad luck to bring it out the front). Oh, and you should open all your doors and windows on New Year's Eve to let out the old year and welcome in the new year. You should not lend anything on this day or else you'll be lending all year, not use any foul language, not speak of the dead or the past year. All your attention should be focused on the year ahead. And there's no crying on New Year's or you'll be crying all year. Don't wash your hair because you'll be washing away good luck for the new year and wear red. It's bright and sunny and will attract bright and sunny luck to you. To your friends and relatives, they give money in a red envelop.

Vivian said there are lots of other superstitions and things you should and shouldn't do but most people don't necessarily abide by all the rules, especially the younger generation. But fun to hear the different stories. The OWC had a lunch to celebrate at one of the Chinese restaurants in town but as the native Chinese ladies say, it's still "Indian Chinese."

You can check your year and horoscope here if you're interested.

Perhaps, in 2008, I should stop cursing all those Indian rats.