Lunar New Year
January 20, 2014
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 9
Happy Lunar New Year!
The Horse gallops in
THE HORSE RIDES IN. A float celebrating the last Year of the Horse in 2002 shows participants in the
annual Golden Dragon Parade, the highlight of the Lunar New Year, in Los Angeles, California. People born
between January 31, 2014 and February 18, 2015 are Wood Horses. The 115th Golden Dragon Parade takes
place February 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
What sign are you?
Find the year you were born. Those born in
January or February should consult page 16.
1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 — Rat
1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 — Ox
1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 — Tiger
1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 — Rabbit
1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 — Dragon
1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 — Snake
1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 — Horse
1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 — Sheep
1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 — Monkey
1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 — Rooster
1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 — Dog
1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 — Pig
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The Year of the Horse comes thundering
in beginning January 31, 2014, and its
arrival will be celebrated not only by Asian
nations such as China, Korea, Nepal,
India, and Iran, but also in western cul-
tures and beyond. As with many tradi-
tions, the Lunar New Year observation
dates back to an ancient legend: China’s
Jade Emperor scheduled a race for 12
animals in the kingdom to determine their
order in the calendar. The Horse came in
seventh, following the Rat, the Ox, the
Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, and the
Snake. In 2014 we celebrate the popular
and productive Horse.
The Lunar New Year has many names
among the countries in which it is
observed. For example, in Vietnam, it is
known as Tet Nguyen Dan, while in
Thailand the celebration — which takes
place in April — is known as Songkran.
Korea celebrates Sol and Cambodia
commemorates Chaul Chnam Thmey.
China recognizes Chuen Jie (the Spring
Festival), a time when families and friends
come together to wish one another
happiness and pay respects to ancestors in
a celebration beginning with the New Year
and continuing for 15 days.
Considered by many to be the oldest
calendar system in the world, the Chinese
lunar calendar traces its origin back as far
as 2637 B.C.E. Each year is represented by
one of the 12 animals of the zodiac: Rat, Ox,
Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse,
Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Every culture has different traditions,
and in the case of the lunar calendar, the
animals that populate the yearly cycles
sometime differ. For example, in the
Vietnamese tradition, the Rabbit is
referred to as the Cat, the Sheep as Ram,
and the Rooster as Cock. In the Tibetan
cycle, the Rat is instead called the Mouse,
the Rabbit is the Hare, and the Rooster is
the Bird.
Every 12 years, each animal returns, but
in a different incarnation based on one of
five elements — metal, water, wood, fire,
and earth. For example, this year is the
Year of the Wood Horse, which was last
celebrated 60 years ago in 1954. After this
year, the Wood Horse will not reappear
until 2074.
According to Chinese astrology, people
born in the Year of the Horse (1906, 1918,
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002,
2014) are known for their energy, enthu-
siasm, confidence, and logic. They are
popular and enjoy making new friends.
Horses, including Wood Horses born
between January 31, 2014 and February
18, 2015, are open-minded and love trying
out new ideas and technology. They are
friendly and cheerful but should be wary of
others trying to take advantage of them, as
they tend to be gullible in their eagerness
to help others.
New Year traditions
For many cultures, the arrival of the
New Year marks a spiritual time in which
celebrants give thanks at temples and
pray for a year’s good luck. Another widely
practiced tradition involves sweeping
homes clean of evil spirits by literally
cleaning and sweeping dwellings of dirt
and dust. In addition, new clothing is often
purchased in commemoration of the New
Year.
The Spring Festival in China ushers in
the country’s busiest travel season, as
families journey great distances, often by
train, to reunite with loved ones. In the
Thai festival, Rohd Nam Songkran,
revellers get wet and wild by dowsing one
another with water to bring rain in the
coming year.
Worldwide celebrations also bring out
many culinary traditions. Many in Korea
spend their day preparing traditional
foods to share with family and friends.
Chinese eat dumplings and rice cakes in
celebration of the Lunar New Year,
Vietnamese dine on a kind of rice cake
called banh trung, and those in Korea
savor a rice cake soup called duk-kuk.
Children celebrating the arrival of the
Lunar New Year are greeted with many
treats. In China and Vietnam, youngsters
receive special red envelopes containing
New Year’s money (in China, the enve-
lopes are called hong bao). Korean children
bow to their parents and grandparents
and, in return, receive freshly minted
money, though not in red envelopes.
During the next Lunar New Year, the
Year of the Sheep will plod in, from
February 19, 2015 to February 7, 2016.
The Year of the Horse
The Horse is the seventh animal of the lunar zodiac. The Horse typically
symbolizes freedom, independence, and speed. Those born under the Horse
sign are often seen as likeable and energetic individuals who are full of
confidence but who can be moody and have a quicksilver temper.
Horse facts
Year of the Horse: January 31, 2014 to February 18, 2015
Chinese Calendar Year: 4712
Horse Years: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
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The Gregorian and Chinese lunar calendars
Animal
Gregorian
Chinese
Horse
Sheep
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
January 31, 2014
February 19, 2015
February 8, 2016
January 28, 2017
February 16, 2018
February 5, 2019
January 25, 2020
February 12, 2021
February 1, 2022
January 22, 2023
February 10, 2024
January 29, 2025
Year 4712
Year 4713
Year 4714
Year 4715
Year 4716
Year 4717
Year 4718
Year 4719
Year 4720
Year 4721
Year 4722
Year 4723
Characteristics: Those born in the Year of the Horse are independent and
versatile. They love being with others and make friends easily. Horses are seen
as adventurous people who love to travel, which may lead them to leave home at
an early age. They radiate sex appeal and tend to be quite active, playing sports
and spending time outdoors.
Best careers: Horse people make good athletes, doctors, teachers, and archi-
tects. Their popularity and gregariousness also leads them to become superior
politicians, salespeople, and entertainers.
Compatible signs: Dog and Tiger
Lucky numbers: 2, 3, and 7
Born in the Year of the Horse: Jackie Chan, Ang Lee, Eric K. Shinseki, The-
odore Roosevelt, Sandra Day O’Connor, Thomas Edison, Isaac Newton, Anto-
nio Vivaldi, Jerry Seinfeld, Harrison Ford, Barbra Streisand, Janet Jackson,
Paul McCartney, Calvin Klein.