|
|
|
Happy Chinese New Year!
Year of the Dragon!
This event is celebrated for 2 weeks the new moon,
to the full moon
|
|
Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, begins on Mon. Jan. 23 (2012) and is celebrated for two weeks, to Feb. 6th; from the new moon to the full moon. Celebrated in China and parts all over the world which have populations of Chinese heritage, it is the year 4709, is based on cycles of sixty years and is the longest calendar in continual use. Perhaps you have heard of the 12 animals of the Chinese astrological zodiac, and if you are familiar with acupuncture you may know of the 5 Elements – multiply 12 x 5 and you will get 60. This year ushers in the Dragon representing passion, creativity, energy, self-confidence. The Dragon leads parades with determination, bringing prosperity and abundance!
The New Year’s period is also know as the Spring Festival is a time for family togetherness and celebrated by sharing food and traditions. For more information and activities see below. The Lunar New Year is celebrated with fireworks at midnight. The first day is seen as representative of the coming year so peace, joy, happiness and repaying of debt are practiced in anticipation of a good year. The last day of the two week celebration concludes with the Lantern Festival.
| |
| How to celebrate:Step One As soon as you can, sweep the dust and dirt of the old year from your floors to make way for the New Year. You don’t have to do the whole house or clinic; you just have to hold the intention of doing so. Out with the old and in with the new. A clean house is very important. Sweeping away any bad luck that may have accumulated over the past year.It’s important not to clean during the first few days of the New Year - if you do any sweeping during this time, you can risk sweeping away good luck.Step Two Decorate your house or clinic in the traditional Chinese colors and symbols of wealth and good fortune: brilliant shades of red and gold. Decorate your doors and windows with red streamers, paint, or pictures. Red is considered to be a lucky color. You can also hang paper cutouts on doors and windows. (Paper cutting is an ancient Chinese art form dating back to the Han dynasty).Step Three Fill as many rooms as you can with flowers and blooming plants. These symbolize rebirth and new growth, and they ensure prosperity in the coming year. Force the blooming of peach or flowering quince branches, or bowls of fragrant paper-white narcissus. These too are said to bring good fortune and abundance.Step Four Go out to eat, or order in a traditional New Year’s Day dinner from a Chinese restaurant. Better yet, throw a Chinese New Year party at your clinic. Cook and or eat good luck-drawing dishes. These include foods such as oysters, which represent good fortune and success, fish, representing surplus, and lettuce, representing wealth, riches and prosperity.Step five Ring in the New Year with noisemakers, drums or your tuning forks; it helps to drive away evil spirits and bad Qi.Step Six Attend your town’s Chinese New Year’s parade. If there isn’t one have your clinic sponsor one. Step Seven Send greeting cards to all of your friends, patients and potential patients with warm and abundant wishes for the Year of the Tiger. Include in them red Hongbao “Lucky Money” envelopes, with a fortune, greeting, special offer, or a request to share abundant health in the coming Tiger year by referring a friend or family member. You can even suggest that they write down their dreams and aspirations they hold for themselves in the upcoming year on a piece of paper, place it in the Hongbao envelope and refer to if as often as possible throughout the year to make their wishes come true.That’s all I have for you. The links below may be able to provide you with more suggestions on how to get the most out the Chinese New Year celebration.Best wishes and may you have peace, prosperity and good health in the coming year!Jeffrey Grossman, L.Ac. www.acupuncturemediaworks.com
|
|
|
|
|
