With all the big winter holidays behind us, I’m excited to start preparing for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration! The official date this year is February 17th, and it’s already become a main topic of conversation for me and my boyfriend, James, especially through all this snow – the Lunar New Year is all about welcoming in Spring. Although he is Vietnamese and I am Chinese, we both share similar traditions and cultures for Lunar New Year. We both enjoy the giving and exchanging of red envelopes (often filled with money), all the food you can eat (for a FULL week straight), lots of quality family time, and performances all over Boston’s Asian communities. Our favorite performance is the lion dance, which my sister’s dance team does every year in front of businesses and storefronts across Chinatown – bringing them luck and blessings for the new year. Honestly, what’s not to love?
If you were to join in on the festivities, you’d likely overhear people discussing the zodiac. It’s a huge element of the holiday, and it determines who will be having an extra lucky year or an unlucky year… The zodiac signs are based off of your birth year, and include both an element (i.e. Metal, Fire, Water) and an animal. I was born in 2002, which makes me a Water Horse. This year is the year of the Fire Horse, which makes it a very lucky year for anyone born in 1966! You can find your own zodiac using the chart below.
In Chinese astrology, your zodiac sign is also believed to predict good pairings/friendships and who you should be more cautious of or avoid all together. Whether you believe it or not, it adds a fun and personal aspect to the holiday. And yes, I do believe your zodiac animal will bring you some type of luck. After all, Lunar New Year lining up with your own zodiac animal (not including elements) only happens once every 12 years so I’m absolutely taking advantage of it while I can!
Growing up, I was often told the story of ‘The Great Race’ which explains the origins and myths around each of the zodiac animals. Basically, the animals crossed the river to meet the Jade Emperor for Lunar dinner using their natural skills and quirks. The Rat cheated a little, the Ox did all the hard work, the Tiger flexed, and the Dragon somehow came in fifth even though it could have easily flown to first place. The order they arrived in became the zodiac years in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Here’s a fun video explaining the myths in more depth, if you’re curious!
Whether it is your year for luck or not, I still wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! Once you figure out your zodiac animal, please feel free to share! I would love to know who I’m supposed to buddy up with for the next twelve months.
