Chinese New Year is one the biggest and longest celebrations in China. The Chinese New Year for 2008 starts on February 7, 2008. According to the Chinese calendar it is the 4706 year and will be known as the year of the rat. The Chinese calendar works on the lunar calendar and each month begins on the darkest day. So it is not that every month starts from the 1st. The Chinese New Year celebrations start on the first day of the month and continue till the fifteenth day of the month, when the moon is the brightest. It is one of the biggest festivals of China and the preparations start much before the start day.
Chinese New Year and Animal Signs
The Chinese years are named after different animals. The legend goes that in ancient times Buddha asked animals to meet on the Chinese New Year and twelve animals came and he named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have the personality traits of that animal. The twelve animal signs according to Chinese are:
| Rat |
Cow |
Tiger |
| Rabbit |
Dragon |
Snake |
| Horse |
Sheep |
Monkey |
| Chicken |
Dog |
Pig |
Chinese New Year Celebrations
The Chinese New Year is celebrated with people wearing new clothes, decorating their houses with red color paper and giving children lucky money in red envelopes. The red color has a very important significance for the Chinese people. The red color represents power happiness and vitality. The red color is also a symbol of fire and according to legends, drives away bad luck. Other than this the Chinese New Year celebrations also have extensive use of fireworks. In the olden days the Chinese used to lit bamboo stalks believing that the flames would frighten away the evil spirits.
The Chinese Lantern Festival
The Chinese New Year time is the period for family reunions as all family members go to each other’s house and share meals mainly as a feast on the New Year’s Eve. The end of the Chinese New Year celebrations is marked with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns are decorated with different pictures of birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs and various scenes legends and history. People hang the glowing lanterns in temples and even carry them to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. In many parts of China the lantern festival also has the dragon dance adding to the gay festive mood. The dragon is typically made of silk, paper and bamboo and stretches to nearly 100 feet in length. The dragon is generally carried by young men, who dance their way through the crowd, carrying the dragon on their shoulders.
Chinese New Year of Rat
The Chinese New Year 2008 is going to be the year of the rat. Those who are born under the rat zodiac sign are known to have leadership qualities with pioneer and conqueror attributes. These people are generally charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and very hardworking. Though they are not always sure of themselves and also don’t plan for the future way ahead, they definitely stand by their friends at all times. The Chinese years of Rat are:
1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Compatibility between Rat and Other Zodiac Signs
Rat –Rat
This is a wonderful partnership, especially in business terms. The two will always compete with each other.
Rat –Ox
Sexually very attracted to each other and yet would fail in marriage.
Rat –Tiger
They have the potential for great companionship but there are also chances for some major conflicts arising.
Rat –Rabbit
These two signs don’t gel well. The rats think that rabbits are boring and the rabbits are always on a look out for adventure. They easily frustrate each other.
Rat – Dragon
They make great partners and value each other. Both these signs get along with each other very well.
Rat –Snake
If both the zodiac signs can work out their differences they have a lot to learn from each other.
Rat –Horse
The word is Never. These two zodiac signs are not at all compatible and never work their differences out.
Rat –Sheep
If both these zodiac signs work hard and make efforts their relationship will surely survive.
Rat –Monkey
The rat and the monkey are very compatible with each other. Both of them share similar goals and fulfill each other’s need.
Rat –Rooster
These two signs are always in conflict with each other. This relationship is just not worth the effort.
Rat –Dog
These two zodiac signs have the potential to make a good match for each other, if they just try a bit.
Rat –Pig
Both these signs share a very intense relationship with each other. The only thing that you require to keep in mind is how you handle your finances.
Chinese New Year
2007 - Feb. 18
2008 - Feb. 7
2009 - Jan. 26
2010 - Feb. 14
2011 - Feb. 3
2012 - Jan. 23
