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Posts Tagged ‘Chinese New Year’


Last week was Chinese New Year and the start of the year of the Dragon! In Chinese culture, many Chinese women in China are superstitious in feeling that because the year of the dragon is the “luckiest” year in the lunar calendar, they need to scramble to have a “dragon baby” this Chinese Zodiac year.  I have been reading that there has been a surge in the number of mainland China women going to Hong Kong to give birth in order to avoid China’s one-child policy, which is now prompting authorities to cap the number of births permitted in the former British colony.

Parents across China right now are aspiring to produce “Dragon Babies” in the hope that the symbol, long associated with emperors, power and intelligence will bring wealth and luck. Doctors have warned some women may even turn to illegal means to dodge the cap. Newspapers have reported cases of mainland women illegally crossing the border and skirting the rules by going straight to emergency rooms in public hospitals to deliver their babies. As a special administrative region within China, Hong Kong largely runs its own affairs under the “one country, two systems formula.” Hong Kong also has its own currency and legal system — the “one child” rule does not apply. Who knew that the year of the Dragon could cause a baby boom! I thought you might find this topic interesting – what are your thoughts on the topic? Next year is the year of the snake in the lunar calendar and it is speculated there will be a drop in baby births in China.

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There are many traditions that we follow here at le•top, and Chinese New Year is a big one! Since my husband, Paul is from Hong Kong, as well as having family and spending so much time there, the traditions of the Lunar New Year are very near and dear to us…even if they are loud and cause a ruckus! I will also admit that we love celebrating and having fun at work, too.

Traditional Firecracker Lighting and Big Bang!

Traditional Firecracker Lighting and Big Bang!

One time-honored observance at this festive time of year is the setting off of firecrackers — hundreds and hundreds of them! They’re each rolled up in red paper — red is a very auspicious color — and strung together on a long fused string. The mythology is that because firecrackers are so deafening (you can see we’re covering our ears!), the popping and booming sounds are thought to scare away evil spirits — not to mention, in modern times, to set off car alarms!

Red firecracker paper...like red leaves of fall!

Red firecracker paper...like brilliant red leaves of fall!

Kung Hay Fat Choy! Wishing everyone happiness, health and great prosperity!

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Shine from Yahoo!

12 animals of Chinese Astrology. Courtesy: Shine from Yahoo!

There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Babies born today, January 26, 2009 through February 13, 2010, will be an ox (other years of the ox include 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997). Some of the characteristics of this animal sign are: Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.

Sound like anyone you know? Click on the image to see the daily or overview forecasts for all 12 animals.

To learn more about Chinese Astrology, wikipedia has a very in-depth write-up!

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Happy New Year!

2009 is the Year of the Ox

2009 is the Year of the Ox

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