BS: Happy Chinese New Year!

Subject: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:57 AM

I would like to wish everyone a very prosperous Year of the Sheep. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 10:08 AM

Kung Hey Fat Choy!

(it's been nearly 35 years since I roomed with a Hong Kong Chinese guy at grad school so I may have got that wrong, I hope it means Happy New Year)

For the year of the Goat (or Sheep, apparently Chinese think all caprids look the same)

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 11:12 AM

Baaaahhhhh

And many more of 'em

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 11:30 AM

Well, I am a sheep. Goat. Ram. Whatever! At first I didn't like the connotation of Sheep. Sheep are not too smart, whereas goats tend to be pretty clever. But... sheep and goats both pretty much mind their own business and don't go looking for trouble, but will lock heads if trouble comes to them.

Not only that, I am a Fire Sheep. Mister is a Wood Sheep. My father was a Metal Sheep.

Anyway, I am hoping for good fortune this year. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: stevetheORC
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 11:36 AM

Very Happy New Year to all Sheepsy's from a Celtic ORC :0))))

And a happy new year to all the Humans to!!

ORC

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 12:26 PM

Orcs don't eat sheep... do they?

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: *daylia*
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 12:36 PM

Thanks Kim! Here's what the 'Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes' (Theodora Lau) has to say about what to expect in the Year of the Sheep ...

"This is a smooth year following that of the energetic Horse. A year to relax and make peace with oneself as well as with others ...

Patron of the arts, the Sheep will bring out all the creativeness in our natures. We will be productive and imaginative in artistic and aesthetic ventures. The pessimistic vibrations cast by him will also make us oversensitive and fretful of little problems...

On the world scene, things will be tranquil and subdued ... Hopefully the Sheep's love of harmony and keen sense for coexisting with his enemies will preserve this year from many upheavals. The moderates and doves will be heard and heeded. Wars, international conflicts and mutual animosities usually end in the year of the Sheep.

The serenity of the Sheep's peaceful ways will slow things down a bit for the more intensely active signs, but after all, this is not a year for whirlwind activities - it is one for introspection."

:-)   Hear hear! Doesn't sound Baaaaaad at all!

Y'know, I don't put much stock in horoscopes of any kind, but look at what was expected for 2001, the Year of the Snake -

"...A year for shrewd dealings, political affairs and coups d'etat. Looking back into history, we find that the year of the Snake has never been tranquil. Many disasters ...tend to culminate in the year of the Snake. Perhaps this is becuae it is the strongest negative force in the cycle ... the Snake likes to resolve his differences one way or another. If he fails and things cannot be peacefully settled, then he will declare war.

...Once the Snake uncoils to strike, he moves like lightening and nothing can stop him. The year of the Snake is always unpredictable. Changes that occur can be sudden and devastating. The Snake is not merciful.

Whatever else happens, the Snake will give us faith in our convictions and coerce us to act and to act forcefully during his reign This is not a year for fence-sitters."

And what did we experience that year? Sept 11, the war with Afghanistan ... some coincidence! May this year be more peacefully coincidental!

daylia

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 12:37 PM

I heard it was a Chinese custom on new years eve, to clean their homes from top to bottom, to clean out all bad luck from that year.
Damn it's a shame I don't follow their customs, otherwise my house would be clean today!
Happy New Year
Peace. Rustic

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 12:46 PM

Yeah, and there's a special way to sweep, too.... you don't sweep stuff out the door, because you sweep away your good luck!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 06:11 PM

Wear something red ~ it's traditional and lucky... if you give someone a present, wrap it in red paper.

So how do Wood Dragons get on with sheep then?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Genie
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:10 PM

Well, my year (horse) won't be back for another 11 years. Welcome the "goat" ("black sheep").

about the 15-day celebration

customs and taboos

How do you say it? Gun Hoy Fat Chow? (Something like that).

Genie

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 10:11 PM

My mother was an inflatable sheep....

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: hesperis
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 11:01 PM

What's it say about Year of the Horse? I am a Horse, and I definitely had an interesting year... God.
So, Happy New Year, and blessings to those who have a different festival tomorrow as well. :wink:

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: JennyO
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 12:13 AM

Anyone know what is being predicted for this year for a wood rooster?

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 12:44 AM

Great thread, Kim, thanks and Happy New Year!

Thanks for the links, Genie. I love the second day being the birthday of all dogs!

katChinesesnakeNativeAmericanred-taileddhawk...somewhere there's got to be a cat sign..not Leo!**bg**

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 02:33 AM

Happy New Year
I had to talk to the kids in my school about Chinese new year this is what I found out for anyone interested.

Gung Hay Fat Choy (Chinese New Year)
This is a time for families to get together. The Chinese add a year to their age on New Year's Day, regardless of the day on which they were born. It's one big, grand birthday party! It's a time for new clothes, time to fill the home with flowers and fruit, and time for families to remember their ancestors. There are money gifts wrapped in red paper for the children, called lai see, and firecrackers are set off to scare away any evil spirits.
At this celebration, the ceremonial dragon winds its way through the throngs of happy people in the streets. Those who are under the dragon are doing some fancy foot work to help hold it up. It is an honor to be chosen for this task.

Chinese Festival Characters and Colors
The new year festival is named for one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, on a rotation basis. The symbols for the zodiac are thousands of years old, and they include the monkey, rooster, dog, boar, rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, and ram.
The joyous colors of the festival are orange and red, and people make pyramids of oranges and apples in their homes for good luck
The celebration can last as long as a week. There are art exhibits and karate contests, as well as dancing and a parade with papier-mâché figures of the lion. The best part of the celebration is the Golden Dragon Parade, with many people holding up the long dragon as it weaves back and forth along the street. The dragon is a symbol of goodness and strength.

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: mouldy
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 02:48 AM

I've just heard from my old fella in Shenyang (NE China), and he says it sounds like Beirut used to, outside. He says he's not going to take any holiday time off in the next 2 weeks because the rest of China will be on holiday too, and everywhere crowded. It's been -20 up there in the north, so I guess there's plenty of dancing out in the streets to keep warm.

(We're both hares).

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 02:53 PM

Well, I went to the local tip with a trailer full of old boxes. I am wearing a red hoodie and we just ate a dinner of duck and mushroom, beef and peppers, prawn with tomato and garlic and 2 types of rice all washed down with green lotus tea.

I won't go into Chinatown later though.

I might get baaaaahed...

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: rock chick
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 06:59 PM

Thought it was year of the goat! according to my info and a TV cook programme (Ken Hom) ? but i could be wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Helen
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 07:01 PM

Gung Hay Fat Choy from another Goat/Sheep/Ram

I was oblivious to the fact that it was the year of the Goat until yesterday morning when I heard the news on the radio. Nice surprise!

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 07:36 PM

even google tipped its hat to the sheep:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Susan A-R
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 10:59 PM

I cooked some nice Peking Noodles yesterday, in honor of the event. Noodle signifying long life and being a trad. new year's dish. I guess I have to wait a while (4 years or so ) for the year of the dog. Bark! Happy New Year.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Gareth
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 04:44 AM

The Year of the Sheep ???? Hmmmm !!!!

Much celebration in Canton and Cathays.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 11:56 AM

According to programme I was listening to on Radio 2 it is the year of the ram or black sheep so we're off to the beer shop for some bottles of Rigwelter to celebrate!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: *daylia*
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 12:10 PM

Year of the Black Sheep, Mrs. Duck? Ahhh, then it's my year after all, 'Dog' that I am! Just ask my family ...

daylia (ruff ruff - whaddabitch!)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 03:11 PM

Chuc Mung Nam Moi - that's Vietnamese for "Happy New Year", which coincides with the Chinese. And it's the year of the Water Goat.

Here's a page with some Vietnamese recipes and other stuff.

One sad thing that links in with this is that the chaplain to the Vietnamese Community in Britain, Monsignor Peter Diem, was murdered recently on his first trip home to Vietnam in twenty years. He used to celebrate the monthly Mass for the Harlow Vietnamese community. They'll be remembering him this New Year.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 03:25 PM

We shouldn't cook Vietnamese. They might object.
Lo Hie Faht Choi, everyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Chinese New Year!
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 10:02 AM

Rock Chick - Goat, Sheep, Ram - all the same. Depends on which source you ask. :-)

We ate at Chinese buffets all weekend, I wore red, and my little Chinese sheep symbol, and we put up one of those neat paper dragons, and drank tea. I finally bought me one of those little celadon Chinese tea sets. It's way too cute.

There are lots of Internet resources for Chinese astrology, if you just search.