Articles and Stories

February 5, 2013

The Chinese New Year is the most important day of celebration in the Chinese calendar. Chinese months are calculated by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. This year, the year of the Snake begins on February 10, 2013. Chinese New Year is celebrated in China and in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations.

The Chinese New Year starts with the new moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the New Year is called the ‘Lantern Festival’; people light their lanterns in temples, and carry them to an evening parade.

Pictures of snakes can be found throughout China, here is a Chinese postage stamp and a coin:

During the Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes and give their children “lucky money” in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which, according to the legend, can drive away misfortune and bad luck. The fireworks displays are also part of the customs to drive away bad luck. Long ago, when fireworks were not invented yet, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten away the evil spirits.

Under Chinese tradition, each year is dedicated to a specific animal. The twelve animals are: Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram.
In 2013, the Snake is welcomed back after the 2012 year of the Dragon. Each of these animals is believed to influence the children born in that year and that they take on the character and qualities of the animal.

People born in the year of the Snake are said to be intuitive, introspective, refined and collected, quite intelligent and wise. They are attractive people who do not become flustered easily. People born in the year of the Snake are graceful people, exciting and, at the same time, dark. The Snake does not show emotions very well; he works modestly in the business environment. The Snake is not a great communicator and can become quite possessive when he set his mind on achieving a goal.

Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means your family will not starve. This could be interpreted two ways: it could mean that a Snake never has a problem with his family starving because he is such a great mediator, or it could mean that a Snake is willing to sacrifice his possessions in order to pay for his family’s food.