Bookshops, Drive-ins and Jive: Mysterious Origins- Chinese New Year 2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Mysterious Origins- Chinese New Year 2013

Chinese New Year 2013

People often wonder why the date for Chinese New Year changes each year. The Chinese calendar is a combination solar/lunar calendar, based on a number of rather complex astronomical calculations, including the longitude of the sun. Chinese New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice (all months begin with a new moon). Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4711 begins on February 10, 2013.

How did Chinese New Year come to be celebrated?

According to an ancient legend, people were once tormented by a beast called a Nian - a ferocious creature with an extremely large mouth, capable of swallowing several people in a single bite. Relief from the Nian came only when an old man tricked the beast into disappearing. In reality, New Years festivities probably evolved from a desire to celebrate the end of winter and the fertility and rebirth that come with the spring, much like the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Today, New Years is about family reunions and wishing everyone good fortune in the coming year.

The Year of the Snake

Legends and mythology are a big part of Chinese culture, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac. The depiction on a circular chart of 12 different animals representing the 12-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar was built on the foundation of astronomy and Chinese astrology which has existed for over 5,000 years.

Snake 1902, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037

People born in the Year of the Snake are seductive, gregarious, introverted, generous, charming, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, and good with money. They rely on gut feelings, are hard-working and intelligent.

The Snake: There are few animals with more symbolic associations than the snake. Chinese mythology holds that a half-human snake was the father of the Chinese emperors. They are associated with beauty and wisdom, esoteric knowledge and spiritual discovery.