Every year we enjoy looking into the Chinese zodiac signs and we do some guessing about what the new year will bring. Last year we did some guessing about the supply chain vs the Year of the Tiger!!
But before we start making predictions, what is the Lunar Calendar? The Gregorian calendar is what we use in the Western culture, but things are different in the Eastern cultures. Many Asian communities follow a lunisolar calendar, in which the months are lunar but years are solar. The Lunar New Year will begin on a different day on the Gregorian calendar every year. This year Lunar New Year’s Eve is January 21 and the new year begins Sunday, January 22.
The Chinese zodiac gives us a 12-year cycle, with different symbolic animals representing the years. Last year was the Year of the Tiger and this year, 2023, is the Year of the Rabbit!! Persons born in this year are born under the sign of the Rabbit, and the Rabbits are assigned certain personality traits.
What is the personality of the rabbit… and am I one?
Your first question might be… am I a rabbit? The birth Years of the Rabbit include 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 and 2023, so if you were born in any one of those years you are definitely a Rabbit!
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be peaceful, avoiding arguments, criticism and change. Rabbit people are also viewed as highly intelligent and tenacious, but they can fall prey to jealousy and pessimism. Actual rabbits are timid, shy, curious, and high spirited and they are affectionate as pets.
Will we be lucky this year?
We asked Google what is predicted in the Year of the Rabbit, and the answer was: “In Chinese culture, the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. With a little bit of the Rabbit’s gentle determination and the Water flow, we can accomplish great things in 2023! The Year of Water Rabbit is very positive, full of opportunities and good luck. It’s the perfect time to focus on building strong relationships and finding inner peace.”
What about people who were born in the Year of the Rabbit? Will this be a lucky year for Rabbit people? The predictions say that the luck will be average with no big fluctuations. March, July and December will be lucky months and they will perform well in their career and experience a small increase in wealth.
How do we Celebrate the Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival, is celebrated by nearly two billion people worldwide. The Lunar New Year Celebrations take place from January 20 through February 15, 2023.
Traditionally it’s a time to honor ancestors and deities, and the celebrations involve family reunions, parades and fireworks. While based on the Chinese calendar, Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Korea, Singapore, Mongolia, Tibet and Vietnam and in Asian communities around the world.
More than just the beginning of a new calendar cycle, Lunar New Year represents reunion and rebirth, marking the end of Winter and the start of Spring. An interesting story about the celebration is offered at cnet.com. “According to one legend, a monster would emerge from under the Earth at the start of every year and eat villagers. Since the monster, Nian (Chinese for “year”), was afraid of bright lights, loud noises and the color red, they were used to exile the beast — and all have become associated with the holiday.”
So wherever there is celebration of the Lunar New Year there will be bright lights, loud noises and the color red. Across Asia, red and gold symbolize good fortune. Many people wear red during Lunar New Year, and children often receive red envelopes stuffed with money. Families will hold feasts, thoroughly clean their homes and visit shrines to honor deceased relatives. One of the features is a Lantern Festival, held on the first full moon of the year to mark the end of the New Year season. The first full moon will be on February 5th.
What events are happening?
There are very big, spectacular parades in Los Angeles, New York City and in San Francisco.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles presents the 124th Annual Golden Dragon Parade, taking place from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, January 28. It will feature floats, marching bands, entertainers, dragon dancing, stunning outfits, martial art performers and more. It takes place along North Broadway in Chinatown.
The Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco is one of the largest in the world. The Grand Parade will be held on Saturday, February 4th. More than three million people watch this parade every year. There are more than 100 parade entries. These include participants marching down the street with flags, lanterns, and drums.
New York City’s annual Lunar New Year Parade is on February 12, 2023. The parade heads down Mott and Canal Streets to Chatham Square, and like the other parades, it will feature dragons, lanterns, drums, martial artists and a whole lot of fun.
We hope our AMS family can find a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit!!
