Happy Chinese New Year
Posted on Sun, Feb 14, 2010
BLOG POST BY: Linguistic Resources Department, CTS LanguageLink
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恭喜發財
This Sunday, begins Chinese New Year, often called "Lunar New Year" and is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Here is a very brief history and explanation of the significance of this holiday and celebration.
THE CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600 BC, 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 14th.
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."
THE YEAR OF THE TIGER
Year of 2010 is the Year of a Golden Tiger, which begins on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the cycle of Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animal signs and is a sign of courage. This fearless and fiery fighter is revered by the ancient Chinese as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts. In many Asian cultures, the tiger features as a manifestation of courage, power, passion and royalty.
New Year Greeting:
恭喜發財
Chinese translation:
Wish you prosperity.
May you be happy and prosperous!
Wishing you a prosperous new year!
For more on the Chinese New Year, here are just a couple sites we like:
http://www.theholidayspot.com/chinese_new_year/zodiacs.htm
http://www.history.com/content/chinesenewyear/traditions-and-symbols
Which animal is hiding in your heart?
Questions or comments, email us at blog@ctslanguagelink.com