To all of you that celebrate the custom!



My best regards and wishes

From the NY Daily News

In 2010, the Chinese New Year is on February 14th and it is The Year of the Tiger. The Chinese New Year follows the Chinese zodiac, a twelve month cycle, which the Chinese believe each person born under a particular character/animal takes on the characteristic of that animal.

TIGER

The Tiger is considered to be a risk taker in life and a leader, rather than a follower. People born under the sign of the tiger are adventurous, self starters who are first to take on something new. They look for solutions to challenging situation rather than focus on the problems and shortcomings. They are positive in their outlook and surround themselves with people who are open, honest, effective and productive. The Tiger is thought to be a lucky sign but someone who is more likely to make their own luck. They are courageous in what they do, and proud of their achievements. They are also known to look after their appearance and sometimes can appear vain. Tigers are confident people who like the lime light, and possess a high level of personal presence.

Check the birth year chart below to find out what sign you are;

THE YEAR OF THE RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996,

THE YEAR OF THE OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997

THE YEAR OF THE TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

THE YEAR OF THE HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

THE YEAR OF THE RAM 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

THE YEAR OF THE DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

THE YEAR OF THE PIG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

I feel queazy - my sign is a snake!?!

I happen to be a Ram (I'm not from Walmart tho) I would probably honor that but my family has a traditional symbol calendar and it goes according to your birth month and day. Mine is a bear. I can tell you more about the bear if you want, or the calendar. To be politically correct, I want to say this without offending, the Chinese have no part in my culture and I will have no part in theirs. Chinese transplants? love them, very smart to get out of China!


smugnessity
Suz

Suzanne wrote:

I would probably honor that but my family has a traditional symbol calendar and it goes according to your birth month and day. Mine is a bear. I can tell you more about the bear if you want, or the calendar.

I for one would love to hear more about that.

Suzanne wrote:

To be politically correct, I want to say this without offending, the Chinese have no part in my culture and I will have no part in theirs. smugnessity Suz

I also do not wish to offend, but I've heard those that would argue that point and say that it's just a matter of how far back we are willing to go in human history.
As for me, my family got here just in time to enjoy the Great Depression and then fight in WWII. My paternal Grandfather worked mostly as a laborer in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was bent over from all the years of heavy work. Before coming to this country, he was told the streets in America were paved with gold and always joked that he was bent over from picking it all up. LOL! My maternal Grandmother came here when she was 5 years old and the only family member with her was her 8 year old brother. They worked from farm to farm as migrant workers. She married and had 9 children and then during the depression her husband died leaving her to raise all those kids.
Don

B-Blue I totally agree with you and I for one have no charge against transplants and the people of China but the government of China treats it's people as if they are just replaceable ants on the ole ant farm, I have great respect for the people and their struggles but I don't buy at Walmart. So anyway on with the symbol of the bear. As a brother, the bear imparts this advice to both our ancestors and us today:
* Because the bear is cautious, it encourages discernment to humankind.
* Because of a fierce spirit, the bear signals bravery to those who require it.
* Because of its mass and physical power, the bear stands for confidence and victory.
* Because it prefers peace and tranquility (in spite of its size), Bear calls for harmony and balance.Bear is a symbol of protection. childbearing. motherhood, freedom, discernment, courage, power, unpredictable. Interesting symbol to honor and be a test to, huh?

Here's the Zodiac symbols
Otter: Jan 20 - Feb 18
Wolf: Feb 19 – Mar 20
Falcon: Mar 21 – Apr 19
Beaver: Apr 20 – May 20
Deer: May 21 – Jun 20
Woodpecker: Jun 21 – Jul 21
Salmon: Jul 22 – Aug 21
Bear: Aug 22 – Sep 21
Crow/Raven: Sep 22 – Oct 22
Snake/Serpent: Oct 23 – Nov 22
Owl: Nov 23 – Dec 21
Goose: Dec 22 – Jan 19

So which one are you? tell me true
Suz

Looks Like I'm a bear, and a rooster!

I am a strange beast indeed ..

a scorpion snake goat

UH OH......I'm a Dragon / Deer.

Oh well...gotta be something I 'spose.

Now here's something that answers a few questions for me...my wife, the lovely Tricia, is a Ram / Bear....ruh roh.

Cheers, Vince

I'm a rabbit, does that make me a cannibal when I eat rabbit I hunt?

Dimitri

Well, Mr D, my favorite hunting/eating animal is currently the "red rock wide horned stinkpala" alias the goat.

If you are a canibal, then I am one too

Suz,
I agree 100% on China and Walmart. Both appear as giant corporations with no concern for their workers.
Very interesting symbology! In my case the symbol would be the snake/serpent.
Throughout history, the snake has been an especially diverse symbol, representing immortality, sin, protection, and femininity. In Animal Dreams, writer, James Hillman discussed the multiple symbolic functions of the snake. The snake has long been a symbol of immortality because it constantly renews itself and is reborn as it sheds its skin. In the shade, the lethargic snake looks dead, yet it comes back to life in the sun. From the Indian subcontinent to the Mediterranean basin, a coiled snake has come to represent the navel of the universe. Similarly, a snake swallowing its tail is a common symbol of eternity, an "endless cycle of life and death". Whereas the snake can represent immortality, it is also an omen of death. The snake is associated with death because of the toxic poison that it secretes. This prophet of death has long been linked to original sin and evil because of its role as the betraying, seducing villain in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. In Genesis 3:1, the serpent is described as "more crafty than any other wild animals" as it cruelly tempts the ignorant Eve into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Hence, the snake has been seen as partly responsible for the fall of man. Many critics of the bible have read the snake's interaction with Eve as kind of sympathetic relation to the original woman. Therefore, the snake is also a feminine symbol because of the strong bond that it shares with the earliest matriarch. Since the snake has such a strong association with woman, it also represents fertility. Snakes were often found beside wells and springs as a promise of life and fertility. The snake is also a contrary symbol of the negative mother because it wraps around, smothers, and swallows things whole. Whereas the snake is a feminine symbol, it is also an undeniably phallic symbol associated with man. Vedic mythology describes a "cosmic serpent" as the creator of the universe that agitated and stirred the primal oceans. The snake is more simply a phallic image because it has a long shafted body that stands erect with a stiffened head, secreting fluids from its tip. The snake represents many various, sometimes contrary, things.

Don

Don't forget the symbol of Medicine Don...two snakes coiled around the length of the Rod of Asclepius, an ancient symbol associated with astrology, the Greek god Asclepius and with medicine and healing.

Cheers, Vince

You guys are so fun! Take it and run! Room for rum? Well slap my bum. Bear with me while I ram one home. Whereas the snake is a feminine symbol, it is also an undeniably phallic symbol....what the...I've heard of those...I know of a guy that is a stewardess, wonder what his symbol looks like...i don't wanna wonder...Snake/Serpent: Oct 23 – Nov 22
Most shamans are born under this Native American animal symbol. The Snake is a natural in all matters of spirit. Easily attuned to the ethereal realm the Snake makes an excellent spiritual leader. Also respected for his/her healing capacities, the Snake also excels in medical professions. The Snake's preoccupation with matters intangible often lead others to view them as mysterious, and sometimes frightening. True, the Snake can be secretive, and a bit dark – he/she is also quite sensitive, and caring. In a supportive relationship the cool Snake can be passionate, inspiring, humorous, and helpful. Left to his/her own devices, the Snake can be despondent, violent, and prone to abnormal mood swings. Yeah baby! Slap me hard! Now kiss me quietly....slap me again....yeow


boinkin
Suz

Cheers, Vince