Happy Lunar New Year!

Lunar New Year is one of the most celebrated holiday in Eastern Asian Cultures. Since I was a kid I was always fascinated with Asian customs and culture. Like literally the “Joy Luck Club” is one of my favorite movies EVER.

The Lunar New Year is tied to the Lunary Moon Calendar. Unlike our Gregorian Calendar this Calendar’s New Year celebration is a week long yearly celebration from parades to feast beginning with the first New Moon at the end of January and beginning of February.

It is a 15 day of celebration with feast and festivals honoring their ancestors, their deities, and family.

This year we welcome in the year of the Tiger.

Each year in the Lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals included in the cycle of 12 stations or “signs” along the apparent path of the sun through the cosmos.

The 12 zodiac animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. In addition to the animals, five elements of earth, water, fire, wood and metal are also mapped onto the traditional lunar calendar. Each year is associated with an animal that corresponds to an element.

The year 2022 is slated to be the year of the water tiger. The water tiger comes up every 60 years. The water tiger is action-oriented and represents strength, clearing away evil and bravery.

How are you bringing in the Chinese Lunar New Year?