Gung Hay Fat Choy


( Drawing attribution from Bookmakers Ltd ARTIST: Karen Pellaton )


恭禧發財


February 18, 2007 marks the arrival around the world of the Chinese New Year. For 15 days, the Chinese people will celebrate the pending arrival of spring with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The date of the Chinese New Year is derived from The Chinese calendar invented in the year 2637 B.C.E. by then Emperor Huangdi. On the Chinese calendar the year 2007 is officially the Lunar Year 4704 – 4705.

“The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the First Moon of the lunar calendar. The corresponding date in the solar calendar varies from as early as January 21st to as late as February 19th. Chinese New Year, as the Western new Year, signified turning over a new leaf.”

The importance of family and friends and the beginning of new opportunities are celebrated throughout the world.

There are twelve animals associated with the new year cycle. It is legendary that Buddha asked all animals to meet him but only twelve came. The history of the new year is that persons born in the year of a specific animal would have some of the traits of the animal. Like people celebrating other new years, resolutions for the coming year are made. The current Chinese New Year is the year of the “Pig” or the “Boar”. It is often said that people born in the Year of the Pig would have such traits as “excellent manners, make and keep friends, work very hard, and appreciate luxury”.

There are many celebrations which take place over a two week period, the Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on March 04, 2007, which is the fifteenth day of the new year.

Gung Hay Fat Choy translates to “Best Wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.”





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