February 19th, 2015

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4713 begins on Feb. 19, 2015. Legend has it that in ancient times Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year, twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality.

2015 is the year of the sheep, and people born under this sign (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, and 2015) are often artistic, kind, sensitive, sweet and polite. They have a tenderness about them and tend to be shy. They love art and are considered the most creative sign in the Chinese zodiac. (To view your personal Chinese zodiac horoscope Click Here)

Many traditions and superstitions ensue around this holiday (more than we can list here)! So I have shortlisted 5 suggestions to help you with your business and personal life.

  • Cleaning: ensure your home/ business is clean before New Year’s Eve as after that no sweeping or removal of dirt is allowed, as this would signify sweeping out all your good luck. Replace any dead houseplants with fresh live plants.
  • Decorations and appearance: add red decorations to your space which are considered to be lucky. In addition wear red clothing (considered happy and to bring a bright future) preferably something new on New Year’s Day. It is believed that the appearance and attitude during the New Year sets the tone for the rest of the year. If your zodiac sign is the sheep you should be given new red underwear by a family member and wear it for additional luck.
  • If at home or at work at midnight on New Year’s Eve be sure to open all windows and doors to let the old year pass and usher the new one in.
  • Gifts: it is customary to give children, and unmarried friends (love this one, finally a benefit to being single) and your employees a little red envelope with crisp bills inserted for good fortune! Some will even go to the bank and exchange old currency for new crisp bills. The practice of giving Mandarin oranges is also a symbol of good luck. They are exchanged in two’s among friends and families, relating to the Chinese saying that “good things come in pairs”.
  • Settling Debt: Our last tip, may be a bit hard for some………

Well now it’s time to by some firecrackers so I can ward off all those evil spirits on New Year’s Eve and plan my offering to the Gods for a happy, healthy, prosperous year! Let the festivities begin. “Gung Hay Fat Choy”.

 

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