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Lunar New Year 2024 occurred on February 10, bringing the lucky Year of the Wood Dragon and the celebrations have begun in the major cities around the country and around the world.
In the Chinese zodiac, dragons are notorious for having strong leadership qualities and determination to succeed, which will inspire us to chase our dreams.
While Dragons can be quick-tempered, they prefer to be straightforward and surround themselves with individuals who challenge their beliefs, leading to personal growth and fresh starts in relationships
The Wood element will play a significant role in this year, as it encourages us to put forth effort to make positive changes and to grow as tall as the trees in the forest
Additionally, 2024 is also known as the year of the Green Dragon, symbolizing expansion and strength that will motivate us to reach new heights and attain personal power.
The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. It is the most solemn festival of the year for every Chinese and has been celebrated in China for thousands of years, with various forms of activities among the diverse regions of China.
The New Year celebration is centered around removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good. It's a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for good harvest.
Today it's celebrated also by Chinese communities outside the mainland. Lion dance, dragon dance, temple fairs, flower market shopping and so on are just a few of these rich and colourful activities.
In the run-up to the new year people will clean their houses to get rid of dirt, rubbish and other unwanted items. They will redecorate them with red couplets, lanterns, new flowerpots and furniture, and will shop for foodstuffs for banquet specialities.
The New Year is an important family reunion occasion, so those who are living or working far away would return home prior to the holiday. In China this is now known as Chun Yun -Moving in the Spring: tens of millions of people travel on the country's vast public transport systems or via private means, coming home to be with their loved ones.
Decoration is a big part of Chinese New Year celebration. People spend substantial time and effort to uplift their houses and the immediate surroundings in order to welcome the Gods of Wealth.
Traditionally if anyone happened to see any of the ‘Lucky Mascots’ on New Year's Day, they'd be very lucky for the year to come. The four ‘Lucky Mascots’ are Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn and Dragon Turtle. They are fictional animals either living in the sea or flying in the sky. This explains why people perform Lion and Dragon dances to celebrate the New Year.
Every Lunar New Year holds a special meaning based on an animal from the Chinese zodiac and an accompanying element (wood, fire, earth, water, metal).
The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 different animals, which include the rat, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, ox, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
This year, 2024, is the year of the wood dragon. The year of the wood dragon will potentially bring good luck, particularly for people who intend to start a business or are developing their careers.
Wood dragons tend to be intelligent, attractive and are universally liked, according to Chinesenewyear.net.
Famous people born in the year of the dragon
- Michelle Obama: Jan. 17, 1964
- Rihanna: Feb. 20, 1988
- Adele: May 5, 1988
- Martin Luther King Jr.: Jan. 15, 1929
- Bruce Lee: Nov. 27, 1940
And not so famous people such as this writer. So with that, gung hei faat choi!
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