Year 2008 will be the "Year of the Rat beginning on February 7th.

It is Year 4706 by the Chinese calendar

Introduction

Some people believe that 2008 is Chinese year 4706. The belief goes something like this.....
The first King of China was the Yellow King, but he was crowned in 2697B.C. he used the winter solstice day, which means... ("either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator"), ...as the first day of the year which was around the 23rd of December 2698 B.C. thus losing 8 days from what we would term as traditional new year, so if you take the date from the Chinese Kings inauguration, then it is indeed Chinese year 4706.

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Chinese Lunar New Year

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. Like the Western calendar, The Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, with the start of the lunar year being based on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, because of this cyclical dating, the beginning of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. This year it falls on February 18. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.

The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart."

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Animal Legend

According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarrelled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.

All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The boar, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the boar last.

Origins

The origin of the Chinese New Year is itself centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be traced. It is popularly recognised as the Spring Festival, and celebrations last 15 days.

Nian - The New Year Monster

Nian in Chinese means 'year'. However, the word comes from the mythical monster that would terrorise the people at New Year. Nian threatened to destroy mankind. The Emperor summoned a wise man to solve the problem. The wise man issued Nian a challenge. he said Nian could only kill the weak humans because they were no match for his strength, so if he wanted to prove his strength, then he should destroy all the other monsters that roam the earth. Nian took the challenge, after a year he had destroyed all the other monsters, so he came back to terrorise mankind. but on the day he returned some children were playing with firecrackers, and they noticed that Nian was afraid of the noise. So from that day forth every New Year firecrackers and other fireworks are used to scare away the last remaining monster of the earth.

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Lap Bak

Another tradition called "Lap Bak" (Cold Eighth) which is the eighth day of the lunar month, (Chinese New Year). ... Dried lotus seeds, red beans, nuts, and dried dates, are made into a hot rice soup. The tradition comes from the Buddhist faith, it is said to purify the body to enable a good start to the New Year.

Red Couplets

Red Couplets are Chinese sayings written on red paper, normally with four gold coloured Chinese characters. Which mean a wish for a long life, wealth, and happiness. If you have already read the tale of Nian the New Year Monster, then you will also know that the colour red like the firecrackers will keep him away. Chinese people usually place these on doors or walls, but you will find them in many different places. Although they are associated with the New Year, they can be seen in some Chinese homes all year round, and I also promise you that they do indeed bring you luck, as I have them in my home. Red is a very lucky colour.

This is the most popular luck symbol, if used by westerners it should be placed above the door, but hung upside down as to allow the luck to flow into your home.

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DoorGods

Chinese New Year door Gods are placed at entrances to Chinese homes, to protect the occupants. This is a tradition, but at that time was indeed a belief. It dates back to the Tang Dynasty in year 618-907 AD when the emperor Taizong became ill. He dreamt that ghosts had come to take him away, and this scared the emperor, which in turn made it difficult for him to sleep. His loyal generals heard of his plight, (YuchiGong and QinQiong), and decided to protect him by standing outside his bedroom door. This helped for a while, but then the emperor became concerned for his generals. So he decreed that paintings should be made of his generals and hung or placed outside the door, thus relieving the generals of such a hazardous task. When his loyal subjects heard about this, they too placed paintings outside their doors, commonly know as "Door Gods". It continues to this very day.

Fortune Sticks

Fortune Sticks are used as a method of fortune telling, (Kau Chime) which involves a set of 78 numbered sticks in a bamboo case.
It is held with two hands and shaken until one of the sticks falls out, then it is cross referenced with ancient text, the fortune is given as a poem or rhyme, which gives a hint of the persons possible future.
It is just regarded as hint, unlike westerners who will believe that the future can be made clear and concise, it allows a simple guide in which they can determine how to live more wisely given the surroundings of conditional influences of their lives.

KitchenGods

Images of kitchen Gods are burnt on the 24th, because the Kitchen God returns to heaven, to give his report about the Chinese family to the ruler of heaven, (The Jade Emperor), The image of the Kitchen God has its lips painted with honey, or sugar, in order that the words it will use will be only sweet words, then it is burnt, the Kitchen God is removed from the shrine during this period, and carefully cleaned, then replaced on New Years eve.

Flowers

Flower fairs appear around Chinese cities on the 26th day of the last moon, its a very popular tradition to stroll through these fairs whilst waiting for the New Year to come.
The flowers are used as a symbolic activity, in which they have a play on words, for instance the Kumquat Tree is called the 'Gam Gat Sue' These rhythm with associated words in Chinese such as Gam which rhythms with Gold, and Gat which rhythms with 'Luck', whilst the significance of the small green leaves of this plant is the word Luk (Green) which rhythms with the word wealth. The oranges take on the shape which are a symbol of perfection, and unity.
Other flowers are said to signify life, growth, and prosperity.
Some flowers that are associated with Chinese New Year are the...
(1) Peach Blossom, which signifies long life, and a defence against the strongest of evils. they are placed above front doors of Chinese homes.
If you have a Peach Blossom bloom during the celebrations, it is said to bring you good fortune in the year ahead. They are used more often inside the house for decorations.
(2)Peony, the flower of riches and honour, also a symbol of feminine beauty, being bright red offers the beholder luck and good fortune.

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Traditions

Preparations tend to begin a month from the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas), when people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing.

The big clean up starts several days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom, to sweep away any traces of bad luck, doors and windows are given a new coat of paint, (usually red). The doors and windows are then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors can be swept. Beginning from door, the dust and rubbish must be swept to the middle of the living room, it is then placed in the corners of the room, and must not be taken or thrown out until the fifth day. The rubbish in the corners must not  be trampled on. The superstition is that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of your family away. Also, you must not sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front door or you will sweep away the good fortune of your family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out of the back door.

New Years Eve

The eve of the New Year is perhaps the most exciting part of the event, here, traditions and rituals are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing. Dinner is usually a feast of seafood and dumplings, signifying different good wishes. Delicacies include prawns, for liveliness and happiness, dried oysters (or ho xi), for all things good, raw fish salad or yu sheng to bring good luck and prosperity, Fai-hai (Angel Hair), an edible hair-like seaweed to bring prosperity, and dumplings boiled in water (Jiaozi) signifying a long-lost good wish for a family. It's usual to wear something red as this colour is meant to ward off evil spirits - but black and white are out, as these are associated with mourning. After dinner, the family sit up for the night playing cards, board games or watching TV programmes dedicated to the occasion.

Midnight.

At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks. Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out.

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New Years Day.

On the day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet, takes place. This involves married couples giving children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Then the family begins to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then their neighbours.

All debts had to paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Back when tinder and flint were used, no one would lend them on this day or give a light to others.

Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four" (Ssu), which sounds like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning.

If you cry on New Year's day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.

On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy colour, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given lai see, little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune.

At Chinese New Year, grudges are very easily cast aside

For those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-coloured birds or swallows. It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room. Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.

While many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and don'ts, these traditions and customs are still practiced. These traditions and customs are kept because most families realize that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity.

The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows. 

Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends.

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Check your year

The Chinese Horoscope

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