Its The Year of The Tiger This 2010!

Here's a little 101 on the upcoming Chinese New Year! - -

Ideas for Celebrating Chinese New Years.

The days before Chinese New Year’s are spent thoroughly cleaning and decorating the home (often with red banners, as red is considered especially auspicious), preparing special foods, getting a haircut and mending old clothes. Everything is meant to look fresh and new to set the tone of the coming year.

Red is said to be the luckiest color and most celebrants decorate their homes with red banners and dress in red for the celebrations.

Chinese New Year Ideas for celebrating:
Host a Chinese potluck and invite your friends and family over to celebrate the Chinese New Year with you. Be sure to decorate your home with red!

If there is a large Chinese community in your town or city, check to see what will be going on. Often dragon dances, parades and other festivities are scheduled and open to the public. Check your local listings or contact the local Chinese cultural center or cultural association. The bright and open celebrations are not to be missed!

Red paper scrolls: Chun lian are special Chinese couplets, often written on red paper, which are hung outside the front door of houses and businesses. The sayings are meant to bring luck and fortune to the dwelling for the coming year. Check out the following pages to learn more about chun lian and how to write a common Chinese verses in the beautiful Chinese calligraphy.

Sources -
http://www.chinapage.com/duilian/chunlian0.html
http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/learn/class_newyear.html
http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/new_year_g.html

Red Packets - Hongbao, or red packets filled with money, are given to children on Chinese New Year’s by parents, grandparents, friends and other relatives to symbolize luck and wealth. Making red packets is a fun family activity that is easy enough for even young kids and a couple of dollars put into each makes them a well-received gift. Check out the following page for directions on how to make them:
http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/class_packet.html

Paper Lanterns The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year’s) lasts for 15 days and is marked at the end of it by the lantern festival (Yunxiao). Celebrating the first full moon of the year, paper lanterns were traditionally carried into the streets for a community parade and were often accompanied by fabulous folk dances, including the dragon dance. Try making paper lanterns to hang around your home as part of your Chinese New Year’s celebrations. Directions can be found at:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lantern/


A MORE DETAILED LOOK:

(The Chinese calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles and thus the new year falls on a different day of the Western solar calendar each year.)

To have a Tiger in the house is great protection against fire, theft and evil spirits.

The year of the Tiger is one filled with drama and there is often tension & unpredictability in the air. Events can happen quickly.

Characteristics:
People Born in the Year of the Tiger are very lucky and very courageous. Tiger people are dynamic, attractive, lively, social, enthusiastic, intelligent, alert and optimist.

The tiger is very competitive with a wonderful fighting spirit. They are natural leaders with great strategy techniques. They can also be stubborn and impatient.

Compatible business partners
People born in the years of the earth dog, metal pig, water tiger, wood horse and fire dragons.

Good Careers for Tigers:
Artist, Acting, Comedian, Musician, Race Car Driver, Chauffeur, Aviation, Writer, Politician, Managers, Marketing and Sales

Compatible Friends:
Horses, Dogs

Most incompatible Friends:
Monkeys

Love Partners:
Best with: horse, dog
Conflict with: Ox and Monkeys

Tiger Holidays:
Tiger people love vacations filled with adventure and excitement. They love to soak up the sun as well as to enjoy an active night life.

2010 Horoscopes for Year of the Tiger

If you were born in the year of the Rat:
Rat people should curb their natural impulsive natures and try to avoid taking unnecessary risks during the Year of the Tiger. Travel can be good for you this year.

If you were born in the year of the OX:
Keep your head about you this year, as the year of the Tiger is not always easy for the stability loving OX person. There could be friction at home and work. However, your natural perseverance will get you through this dramatic year.

If you were born in the year of the Tiger:
Tiger will love to see the year of the OX end as the usher in their very own year. This will be a good year full of energy and activity for you. Just be cautious to not overspend.

If you were born in the year of the Rabbit:
Put plans and projects into gear this year! A time to prosper.

If you were born in the year of the Dragon:
Relationships may be difficult for the Dragon in the year of the tiger. This is a good year to take courses and learn new skills. Remember to stay positive this year.

If you were born in the year of the Snake:
A good year to keep a low profile and a level head.

If you were born in the year of the Horse:
A good year for the horse! A vibrant time and time of great socializing. Keep finances under control. Smooth sailing ahead.

If you were born in the year of the Sheep:
An interesting and busy year ahead for you. Could be a bewildering year, but stay positive and all will turn out well.

If you were born in the year of the Monkey:
Not the best year for the Monkey person. Best to keep on working steadily, keeping a low profile.

If you were born in the year of the Rooster:
Don't be afraid to make commitments and set plans this year, they will pay off.

If you were born in the year of the Dog:
A good year for romance. Your past hard work starts to pay off this year. This will be a busy year for you.

If you were born in the year of the Pig:
This is a year for the Pig person to keep their head down. It is not a particularly good year for pigs, although you still may have some luck coming your way.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!



SOURCE: www.chiff.com