Goodbye, year of the water snake, and hello, year of the wooden horse. The Chinese New Year, or Nónglì Xinnián, is coming up on Jan. 31, the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.
The Chinese months are determined by both solar and lunar changes, with the new year coming approximately a month and a half after the winter solstice and symbolizing the beginning of spring, explains Peter Newbury, a former professor of astronomy at UBC. As such, the fifteen days of celebration that go from January 31 to are also known as the spring festival.
The Chinese animal signs are a significant part of the new year, with this year ushering in the horse, an animal signifying unexpected adventure and surprising romance, according to astrologer Susan Levitt. These characteristics are the most pertinent to those born in the year of the horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014.
An additional astrological factor that isn't as universally recognized is the element put together with each year: either metal, wood, water, fire or earth. These distinguish the year even further, with 2014 known as the year of the wooden horse, or the green wooden horse, as wood is associated with greenery and nature. (You can find out your specific animal and element using this tool at ChineseAstrology.uk.)
Celebrations for the Lunar New Year include parades, wearing red (it's considered a lucky colour) and enjoying time off work. Modern times, however, seem to have changed the traditional holiday within China, with many disappointed to discover the government had not granted an official holiday on Lunar New Year's Eve, Jan. 30, in the western calendar. According to the Guardian, this is usually a time for families to gather together and have dinner, but due to the modernization of the economy, it was changed.
In Canada, with its population of more than 1.5 million people of Chinese heritage, according to the Government of Canada website, celebrations will be held in the many Chinatowns across the country.
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