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Chinese New Year 2012 – Year of the Dragon

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by on January 6, 2012 at 12:49 pm

Nine Dragons1 Chinese New Year 2012 Year of the Dragon
Each of the 12 Chinese New Year Signs is celebrated once every 12 years and this time it’s the Dragon’s turn.

2012 will be the year of the dragon.  Starting on January 23rd, 2012, the Chinese New Year (also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) will kick off with many days of festivities.

The dragon, unlike many of the other Chinese New Year Zodiac signs, is featured prominently in ceremonies and events all year round, regardless of being the featured zodiac.

Let’s take a closer look at what to expect from people who are Dragons.

.

Chinese Zodiac Personalities – Dragon

(Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.

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Traditional Dragon attributes and associations

Attribute
Zodiac Location 5th
Ruling hours 7am-9am
Direction East-southeast
Motto “I Reign”[2]
Season and month Spring, April
Fixed element Water
Stem Positive
Lunar Month Dates April 5 – May 4
Birthstone Ruby
Colors Red
Roughly equivalent western sign Aries
Polarity Yang
Food Wheat, poultry

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Symbolic value

Historically, the dragon was the symbol of the Emperor of China. In the Zhou Dynasty, the 5-clawed dragon was assigned to the Son of Heaven, the 4-clawed dragon to the nobles (zhuhou, seigneur), and the 3-clawed dragon to the ministers (daifu). In the Qin Dynasty, the 5-clawed dragon was assigned to represent the Emperor while the 4-clawed and 3-clawed dragons were assigned to the commoners. The dragon in the Qin Dynasty appeared on national flags.

The dragon is sometimes used in the West as a national emblem of China. However, this usage within both the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan as the symbol of nation is not common. Instead, it is generally used as the symbol of culture. In Hong Kong, the dragon is part of the design of Brand Hong Kong, a symbol used to promote Hong Kong as an international brand name.

In European-influenced cultures, the dragon has aggressive, warlike connotations and it is conjectured that the Chinese government wishes to avoid using it as a symbol, but most Chinese disagree with this decision. Westerners only sometimes confuse the disposition of the benevolent Chinese dragon with the aggressive Western dragon.

Sometimes Chinese people use the term “Descendants of the Dragon” as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s when different Asian nationalities were looking for animal symbols for representations.The wolf was used among the Mongols, the monkey among Tibetans.

In Chinese culture today, the dragon is mostly used for decorative purposes. It is a taboo to disfigure a depiction of a dragon; for example, an advertisement campaign commissioned by Nike, which featured the American basketball player LeBron James slaying a dragon (as well as beating up an old Kung Fu master), was immediately banned by the Chinese government after public outcry over disrespect.

Credit all Information to Wikidpedia

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Chinese New Year Signs

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by on January 6, 2012 at 11:29 am

201220Chinese New Years 7x46 large Chinese New Year SignsThe Chinese New Year starts on January 23rd, 2012.  This will be the Year of the Dragon (so long Year of the Rabbit 2011).

The Chinese New Year symbols and zodiac are always fun to read about, so check out the information Wikipedia has to offer.  As far figuring out your sign, Holy Mountain Trading Company has a great break down of Chinese New Year Signs. that we’ve recreated for you below.

What’s Your Chinese New Year Sign?

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so (see below). The following are the twelve zodiac signs (each with its associated Earthly branch) in order and their characteristics.

  1. Rat – (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming.
  2. Ox – (Water buffalo in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
  3. Tiger – (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
  4. Rabbit – (Cat in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
  5. Dragon – (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
  6. Snake – (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
  7. Horse –(Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
  8. Sheep – (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
  9. Monkey – (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
  10. Rooster – (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
  11. Dog – (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
  12. Pig –(Boar in Japan and Elephant in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.
1948 10 February 1948 – 28 January 1949 Rat Earth
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1949 29 January 1949 – 16 February 1950 Ox Earth
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1950 17 February 1950 – 5 February 1951 Tiger Metal
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1951 6 February 1951 – 26 January 1952 Rabbit Metal
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1952 27 January 1952 – 13 February 1953 Dragon Water
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1953 14 February 1953 – 2 February 1954 Snake Water
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1954 3 February 1954 – 16 February 1955 Horse Wood
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1955 24 January 1955 – 11 February 1956 Sheep Wood
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1956 12 February 1956 – 30 January 1957 Monkey Fire
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1957 31 January 1957 – 17 February 1958 Rooster Fire
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1958 18 February 1958 – 7 February 1959 Dog Earth
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1959 8 February 1959 – 27 January 1960 Pig Earth
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1960 28 January 1960 – 14 February 1961 Rat Metal
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1961 15 February 1961 – 4 February 1962 Ox Metal
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1962 5 February 1962 – 24 January 1963 Tiger Water
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1963 25 January 1963 – 12 February 1964 Rabbit Water
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1964 13 February 1964 – 1 February 1965 Dragon Wood
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1965 2 February 1965 – 20 January 1966 Snake Wood
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1966 21 January 1966 – 8 February 1967 Horse Fire
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1967 9 February 1967 – 29 January 1968 Sheep Fire
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1968 30 January 1968 – 16 February 1969 Monkey Earth
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1969 17 February 1969 – 5 February 1970 Rooster Earth
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1970 6 February 1970 – 26 January 1971 Dog Metal
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1971 27 January 1971 – 15 January 1972 Pig Metal
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1972 16 January 1972 – 2 February 1973 Rat Water
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1973 3 February 1973 – 22 January 1974 Ox Water
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1974 23 January 1974 – 10 February 1975 Tiger Wood
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1975 11 February 1975 – 30 January 1976 Rabbit Wood
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1976 31 January 1976 – 17 February 1977 Dragon Fire
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1977 18 February 1977 – 6 February 1978 Snake Fire
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1978 7 February 1978 – 27 January 1979 Horse Earth
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1979 28 January 1979 – 15 February 1980 Sheep Earth
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1980 16 February 1980 – 4 February 1981 Monkey Metal
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1981 5 February 1981 – 24 January 1982 Rooster Metal
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1982 25 January 1982 – 12 February 1983 Dog Water
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1983 13 February 1983 – 1 February 1984 Pig Water
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1984 2 February 1984 – 19 February 1985 Rat Wood
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1985 20 February 1985 – 8 February 1986 Ox Wood
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1986 9 February 1986 – 28 January 1987 Tiger Fire
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1987 29 January 1987 – 16 February 1988 Rabbit Fire
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1988 17 February 1988 – 5 February 1989 Dragon Earth
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1989 6 February 1989 – 26 January 1990 Snake Earth
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1990 27 January 1990 – 14 February 1991 Horse Metal
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1991 15 February 1991 – 3 February 1992 Sheep Metal
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1992 4 February 1992 – 22 January 1993 Monkey Water
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1993 23 January 1993 – 9 February 1994 Rooster Water
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1994 10 February 1994 – 30 January 1995 Dog Wood
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1995 31 January 1995 – 18 February 1996 Pig Wood
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1996 19 February 1996 – 7 February 1997 Rat Fire
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1997 8 February 1997 – 27 January 1998 Ox Fire
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1998 28 January 1998 – 15 February 1999 Tiger Earth
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1999 16 February 1999 – 4 February 2000 Rabbit Earth
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2000 5 February 2000 – 23 January 2001 Dragon Metal
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2001 24 January 2001 – 11 February 2002 Snake Metal
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2002 12 February 2002 – 31 January 2003 Horse Water
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2003 1 February 2003 – 21 January 2004 Sheep Water
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2004 22 January 2004 – 8 February 2005 Monkey Wood
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2005 9 February 2005 – 28 January 2006 Rooster Wood
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2006 29 January 2006 – 17 February 2007 Dog Fire
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2007 18 February 2007 – 6 February 2008 Pig Fire
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2008 7 February 2008 – 25 January 2009 Rat Earth
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2009 26 January 2009 – 13 February 2010 Ox Earth
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2010 14 February 2010 – 2 February 2011 Tiger Metal
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2011 3 February 2011 – 22 January 2012 Rabbit Metal
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2012 23 January 2012 – 9 February 2013 Dragon Water
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2013 10 February 2013 – 30 January 2014 Snake Water
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2014 31 January 2014 – 18 February 2015 Horse Wood
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2015 19 February 2015 – 7 February 2016 Sheep Wood
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2016 8 February 2016 – 27 January 2017 Monkey Fire
+
2017 28 January 2017 – 15 February 2018 Rooster Fire
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2018 16 February 2018 – 4 February 2019 Dog Earth
+
2019 5 February 2019 – 24 January 2020 Pig Earth
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Chinese New Year in a NutShell.

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by on January 27, 2011 at 10:54 am

The following video is a brief look at just what Chinese New Year is all about.  Enjoy!

Don’t forget to find us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

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Chinese New Year Party Ideas

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by on January 27, 2011 at 10:38 am

The most important traditional Chinese Holiday is just 1 week away!  To help you celebrate the upcoming Year of the Rabbit, here are some helpful Party Ideas!

Chinese New Year

This wonderful event is another great example of traditions crossing cultural boundaries.  Even though this may not be celebrated by everyone in the west, this New Year rivals the countdown to the big ball drop and has just as many fireworks to go along with it.  So if you enjoy the start of the new lunar year or prefer to call it the Spring Festival, here’s how you can celebrate in style!

Chinese Invitations
212283 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas
To let your friends and family know you are having this special event, send an invite their way which will help set the tone for your party.  Traditional red colored invitations are available in a variety of styles.  Gold and green colored invitations are available too.

You should also be able to find Chinese New Year themed stamps available from the U.S. Post Office. 

You can never have too much red for this time of year, so red envelopes are a good way to go.  If you prefer use plain white, try your hand at a little creativity and use some basic calligraphy skills to draw the Chinese symbol for luck.

Chinese Decorations

Be sure to clean out your house thoroughly before you prepare for this party.  Not only is it tradition, but it will help you better understand how to decorate your space.  You never know what you can do with that corner of the living room until you move that pile of books out!

Even though it may be cold outside where you are for this New Year, you can still hang some paper lanterns to let your guests easily spot your party as well as to set a mood for the event.  Try alternating white and red lanterns.  You can place them on a flat surface or hang them if you like.  Use them with fake flameless candles for a worry-free evening.
212024 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas
If you want to use lanterns with symbols and characters on them, we have those too:  Chinatown lanterns & Oriental good luck lanterns. 

Place some dragon head cutouts on your door to finish off the outside décor and prepare people for the delights which await them within!

Once inside, let the color red run wild!  And don’t skimp on the good luck either!  With the start of the New Year, you should get as much good luck as you can.  So share the positive with your guests and line your ceiling with these 12’ long good luck decorations.  And remember, good luck can come in many forms, so make use of this Chinatown good luck garland, too.
15916 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas
Hang this 6’ long Chinese Dragon on the walls to fill any white space as well as to chase away any misfortune.  No one wants a bad party.  In case you want a different sort of dragon or prefer one not hung on the wall, here are some other options:  Chinatown accordion dragon, 6’ long colorful tissue dragon, and dragon ceiling decoration. 
208782 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas
2011 will be the year of the Rabbit, but you can keep this Chinese Zodiac shimmer spiral handy to help keep track.  Which creature are you?  To help celebrate the year of the Rabbit, hang some danglers.  Or place a year of the rabbit cutout where all can see it. 

To add a general feeling of the Orient to your space, try tactfully placing these Asian cutouts.  They can help you feel more surrounded by the culture of China.  Also, hang a couple 36” oriental cascades to fill corners or draw attention to your other ceiling decorations.  You can place red silk parasols and folding fans on bookshelves, mantles or other surfaces to put the final touches on surrounding your guests with this event. 

212019 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas

 Chinese Food

As the name suggests, you could go the very simple route of serving traditional Chinese cuisine for this New Year.  Depending on your guests, you should try to cater your menu to their needs.  Variety is often the best way to be certain there is something for everyone. 
208730 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas
Since the menu is up to you, we’ll take the guess work out of decorating your table.  Start with a Chinese dragon table runner.  Feel free to cover any exposed table space with Chinatown confetti.  Or you can cover the entire table with this Chinatown table cover.  Place this stylish Asian gong centerpiece on your table to make its decoration complete.  Other centerpieces are available:  18” & 8.5”.

Save the fine china and set out these Chinatown plates, napkins and cups instead.  Compliment the red with this gold plastic ware. 

If you have other tables you would like to decorate, try a Chinatown table skirt.  You can also alternate tables with gold and red metallic fringe skirts for an eye pleasing effect.

Chinese Novelties

While firecrackers are both traditional and fun, be sure to use them safely and with parental supervision if necessary.  For something safer, try a Chinese yo-yo.  For both style and novelty-sake a 10” folding fan can be a nice touch.

Did you want to get a tattoo in college but chose not to?  A new year is the perfect reason to mark yourself with a Chinese symbol tattoo.  And if you still think this could be a mistake later on, they are removable!
213330 detail Chinese New Year Party Ideas
And while everyone else is handing out red envelopes with money in them, dare to be different by offering these gold favor boxes.  Shaped like a gold bar, their color compliments your red color scheme and they stack nicely as a display!  Fill them with candy or another traditional treat.

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