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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2019)
Lunar New Year February 4, 2019 THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 9 Happy Lunar New Year! The Pig wallows in PEACEFUL & PRODUCTIVE PIG. An employee of ProAurum gold house presents the Australian 2019 Year of the Pig one-ounce gold coin with 999.9 purity in Munich, Germany. The Lunar New Year, which begins February 5 this year, marks the Year of the Pig. People born under the sign of the Pig are generally considered to be caring, charitable, generous, outgoing individuals who are sincere and genuine. They are also known for their tendency to be pessimistic and can be materialistic and stingy. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) 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, 2020 — Rat 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 — Ox 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 — Tiger 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 — Rabbit 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 — Dragon 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 — Snake 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 — Horse 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 — Sheep 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 — Monkey 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 — Rooster 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 — Dog 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 — Pig w w w The Gregorian and Chinese lunar calendars Animal Gregorian Chinese Pig Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog February 5, 2019 January 25, 2020 February 12, 2021 February 1, 2022 January 22, 2023 February 10, 2024 January 29, 2025 February 17, 2026 February 6, 2027 January 26, 2028 February 13, 2029 February 3, 2030 Year 4717 Year 4718 Year 4719 Year 4720 Year 4721 Year 4722 Year 4723 Year 4724 Year 4725 Year 4726 Year 4727 Year 4728 The Year of the Pig comes snuffling in February 5, 2019, and its arrival will be celebrated by people throughout the world — not only in Asian nations such as China, Korea, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Iran, and Mongolia, but also in western and other countries. 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. Similar to many traditions, the observa- tion dates back to an ancient legend: China’s Jade Emperor wanted to determine the order of the calendar, so he called upon 12 animals in the kingdom to participate in a race. The order in which the animals finished determined the placement in the calendar. The Rat, Ox, and Tiger scored the first three places, while the Pig finished at the back of the pack in last place. In 2019 we celebrate the cheerful and sincere Pig. Like many celebrations observed by multiple cultures, the Lunar New Year is known by many names. In Vietnam, it is known as Tet Nguyen Dan, while Korea celebrates Sol, Cambodia commemorates Chaul Chnam Thmey, and Thailand enjoys Songkran, which occurs in April. China recognizes the Spring Festival, Chuen Jie, when friends and family come together to wish one another happiness and pay respects to ancestors in a celebra- tion that begins on the New Year and continues for 15 days. Each culture has different traditions, and in the case of the lunar calendar, the animals that make up the yearly cycles sometimes differ. For example, in the Tibetan cycle, the Rat is referred to as the Mouse, the Rabbit as Hare, and the Rooster as the Bird. In the Vietnamese tradition, the Rabbit is referred to as the Cat, the Sheep as Ram, and the Rooster as Cock. This year’s animal, the Pig, is also called the Boar in some countries. Each animal recurs every 12 years, 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 Earth Pig, which was last celebrated 60 years ago in 1959. After exiting on January 24, 2020, the Earth Pig will not return until 2079. According to Chinese astrology, people born in the Year of the Pig (1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, and 2019) are known to be sensible, smart, forgiving individuals who are affectionate and courteous. They are also known for their tendency to be impatient and can be materialistic and fearful. Earth Pigs — including those born between February 5, 2019 and January 24, 2020 — possess great willpower and are resourceful, hardworking, and honest. 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. In addition, new clothing is often purchased in commemoration of the New Year. The Spring Festival ushers in China’s busiest travel season, a time when families journey great distances to celebrate with loved ones. In Thailand, revellers get wet and wild during Rohd Nam Songkran, a festival in which celebrants dowse one another with water to bring rain in the coming year. Worldwide celebrations also bring out many culinary traditions. Vietnamese dine on a kind of rice cake called banh trung, Chinese traditionally eat rice cakes and dumplings, and people in Korea prepare traditional foods, including duk-kuk, a rice cake soup. 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 envel- opes are called hong bao). Korean children bow to their parents and grandparents and, in return, receive freshly minted money (though not in red envelopes). The next Lunar New Year will bring the Year of the Rat, from January 25, 2020 to February 11, 2021. Have a safe and prosperous Year of the Pig! The Year of the Pig The Pig is the twelfth animal of the lunar zodiac. Those born under the Pig sign are generally considered to be caring, charitable, generous, outgoing individuals who are sincere and genuine. They are also known for their tendency to be pessimistic and can be materialistic and stingy. Pigs born between February 5, 2019 and January 24, 2020 are Earth Pigs. The earth element makes for Pigs who are very productive and possess great willpower. Earth Pigs are ambitious but are aware of their own limits. They are resourceful, hardworking, and full of stamina. They also cope well with stress. Pig facts A few animal characteristics Rat: Honest, idealistic, practical, sentimental, argumentative, greedy Ox: Careful, diligent, eloquent, patient, eccentric, stubborn Tiger: Ambitious, dynamic, honorable, loyal, critical, impatient Rabbit: Artistic, considerate, intelligent, peaceful, hesitant, judgemental Dragon: Energetic, faithful, generous, sincere, defensive, opinionated Snake: Charitable, elegant, organized, reflective, anxious, possessive Horse: Calm, confident, independent, talented, contradictory, moody Sheep: Adaptive, creative, empathetic, polite, impractical, pessimistic Monkey: Charming, sensitive, vivacious, wise, cunning, selfish Rooster: Adventurous, courageous, funny, hardworking, cynical, vain Dog: Brave, devoted, knowledgeable, trustworthy, disagreeable, strict Pig: Affectionate, cheerful, obliging, optimistic, naïve, snobbish Read your forecast for the Year of the Pig! Horoscopes by Madame Mingmei begin on page 12. Year of the Pig: February 5, 2019 to January 24, 2020 Chinese Calendar Year: 4717 Pig Years: 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 Characteristics: Those born in the Year of the Pig are intelligent and optimis- tic. Pigs often sacrifice their own happiness and comfort for the sake of others and feel responsible for keeping everyone happy. Pig people are honest, easygoing, want everything done right, and rarely ask for help. Pigs are naïve, but some- times their innocence exceeds imagination. Best careers: Pig people make good teachers, coaches, writers, film directors, restaurateurs, painters, doctors, engineers, scientists, musicians, administra- tors, chefs, builders, and researchers. Born in the Year of the Pig: Chiang Kai-shek, the 14th Dalai Lama, Gurinda Chadha, Ishiro Honda, Le Duc Tho, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Alexander Wang, Heechul, Ni Hua, Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock, Andrew Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Henry Ford, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elton John, Mila Kunis, Farrah Fawcett, Tupac Shakur.
