Gregorian New Year

This is the New Year that the world celebrates on January 1 each year.

The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar.  It is Lunar based and was named for Pope Gregory XIII, who initiated the calendar in 1582.  It marks time following Christ’s death and originally was used primarily to determine the date for Easter.

Although inelegant and flawed, it is an effective system, differing from the solar year by only 26 seconds, or only 1 day’s difference every 3323 years.

Chinese Solar New Year

The Chinese Solar New Year, like the Gregorian calendar New Year uses a fixed date.  It begins on February 4 each year, considered to be the first day of Spring.  It’s most important use in Classical Feng Shui is in determining a person’s Gua number.  Those calculations are based on a year beginning on February 4.  If a person is born from January 1 through February 3, the previous year is used for calculations.

Lunar Shift of Annual Energy

Based on my Feng Shui Master’s Feng Shui research and testing, the major shift of energies and influences is the first New Moon following January 1, the Gregorian calendar New Year.  In 2010 the actual shift of energies occurred on January 15.  The shifting energies of time are a major part of my Classical Feng Shui practice.  Most of my clients are updated prior to this date, in preparation for this date.  I consider using this shift of energies with my clients the most valuable service I offer.  It is working with now, which is all we really have – NOW.

Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

For 10 years I have consulted with numerous 5-star Las Vegas resort casino on the Feng Shui of Chinese New Year event displays.  This work has required me do extensive research on tradition and customs for Chinese New Year, along with feed back from Asian marketing.  My design recommendations for a decade have been to use the real energetic blueprint of influences incorporated into satisfy traditional Asian customs and culture and base the designs on actual Classical Feng Shui principles.  The following are some of the very interesting traditions of this rich culture which takes nothing for granted, incorporating each life detail with significance.

The traditional Chinese New Year for 2010 is February 14, the date of the beginning of 15 days of celebrations.  This date is calculated as the first day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar year.  Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC when Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac, making 2010 the year 4708 on the Lunar calendar.  2010 is the year of the Metal Tiger.  The location of Jupiter each year is the location of the animal of the year.  Each animal of the Chinese zodiac is simply a way to talk about the location.  In astrology, Jupiter is considered the benefactor of the zodiac, bringing prosperity and loving relationships.  I find it interesting these ancient Chinese mathematicians and philosophers chose the location for the year to be the benefactor of the zodiac, offering hope for each year.

Chinese New Year has catapulted in international popularity in the last few years, and the traditions in the 2 week celebration process are steeped in tradition and symbolism.  Every minute detail is significant – color, food, decoration, action and word is precise and symbolic.

Food

Each food carries a symbolic meaning, often relating to similar sounding words relating to prosperity or favor

Fish, “yu” – sounds like surpluses

A type of black hair-like algae, pronounced “fat choy” in Cantonese, is featured in a dish because its name sounds like “prosperity”

Main Chinese dumplings – resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots

Mandarin oranges are abundant at this time and are round and gold, like coins

Seeds for growth, abundance and expansion – sunflower, pumpkin

Noodles are served uncut, representing longevity and long life

Flowers

Plum blossoms – luck

Kumquat – prosperity

Bamboo- luck, any time

Sunflower – have a good year

Egg plant – plant to heal all sickness

Colors and Symbols

Red, red, red – clothes, envelopes, lanterns;  red and noise (like firecrackers) will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune

Calligraphy – each year has it’s own calligraphy of two characters, one for good fortune, one for the animal of the year

Special Chinese knots – for luck, longevity, happiness

Preparations for the New Year:

Chinese New Year is the most celebrated event of the Chinese year.  No detail is spared or insignificant.  Preparations include such actions as cleaning, sweeping out left over old luck and energy.  New Years Eve focuses on family with a bountiful meal followed by fireworks.  At midnight all windows and doors are opened welcoming in the new energy.  Beginning on New Year’s Day, each day for fifteen days, holds specific significance.

New Years Day

Red envelopes or red packets, “lai shi” or “lai see” are given to children or younger or single members of family.  Lai See are filled with money, usually in even numbers.  Six and eight are considered lucky.

Wearing red is favorable.

Only positive, favorable comments are made.  No arguing, no complaining, no criticizing.

This is also a day for friends and family.  Ancestors are honored and a place is set for the deceased to enjoy and be part of the family.

Day Two

Married daughters visit birth parents. (In traditional Chinese customs married daughters may not see their birth family often.)

Pray to ancestors and all gods.

Day Two is considered the birthday of dogs.  Dogs are supposed to be treated especially kindly on this day.

Days Three and Four

Don not visit relatives on this day; theory is that this is a day to take a break from perhaps too much family time and a rest from too much rich food.

Day Five

Considered the birthday of the Chinese God of Wealth.  Eat dumplings.

Day Seven

Considered Common Man’s birthday

Eat tossed raw fish salad

A family activity where the family gets together and tosses the colorful salad, making wishes for continued wealth and prosperity

Day Eight – On this day people go back to work.  They have not worked for 7 days.

Another family dinner to celebrate the birth of the Jade Emperor.

Days Nine and Ten

Another day celebrating the Jade Emperor and offering prayers

Day Thirteen

Day of pure vegetarianism, probably to clean the gastric system due to too much consuming too much rich foods in the prior days

Day dedicated to General Guanyu, known as the Chinese God of War, a real General, considered the greatest general in Chinese history.

Day Fifteen –

I give you a powerful concept behind the fifteen day celebration period of the Chinese New Year.  Remember, the Chinese New Year is a Lunar based event the most yin time of the year, Winter – a time of  stillness, quiet, death, introspection as it transforms into Spring, the most yang period of the year, Spring -  marking growth, and new beginnings.  The fifteen day celebration is really holding the yang energy of the New Year while the moon is waxing – growing, active and increasing. That is why the celebrations go on for two weeks – to hold this yang energy of benevolence while it is yang – growing. Following that holding, capturing celebration time, there is a celebration, the Lantern parade and dragon dance.

To learn more about the spectacular Dragon Dance, check my blog in the next couple of weeks.

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