What's so Great about the 2011 Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year  is among the very few unique events that are celebrated around the world on quite an impressive magnitude. Just like in previous years, the 2011 Chinese New Year celebration is an occasion that is expected to make quite an impact to a lot of people , both Chinese and non-Chinese alike.  The ways in which it is usually celebrated are interestingly colorful ,  exotic, symbolic and a lot of fun for everyone involved.

What’s worth noting about the 2011 Chinese New Year?

Four remarkable features, among many, stand out for me: (1) the peaceful vibes of the animal sign, (2) the exciting food galore and its symbolism, (3) a fresh start for more energy,  and (4) the colorful Chinese New Year lanterns.

The Chinese astrology is known for its twelve animal sign rotating cycle with each animal sign assigned to a year and representing a particular type of personality. One animal is designated for each year: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. In general, you will know which animal sign you belong depending on your birth year following the Chinese calendar and not the Gregorian calendar (starts on January). In particular, the exact hour, day and month of birth may vary your Chinese astrological animal sign. Those born during the year of a certain animal were believed to share some of the qualities and characteristics of that animal.

The 2011 Chinese New Year , according to the Chinese calendar, starts on February 3. And what I like most about it is . . . it is the Year of the Rabbit, my year.

What do soothsayers say about the Year of the Rabbit?

They say that the year of the cool and gentle rabbit has arrived. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be eloquent, talented, and ambitious. They are upright, cool, and their tastes are excellent. They are admirable, trustworthy, and are usually financially lucky. With much gracefulness and peace-loving nature, the Rabbit brings a great deal of welcomed time of trouble-free days, comfortable living, and simply an easy life. Everyone is on their best demeanor while enjoying a lax time. No more stiff rules and regulations, and all things not so pleasant are put on hold. Thus, the 2011 Chinese New Year is a good time for those burnt by the Tiger’s claws to lick their wounds, lay back and enjoy the serenity.

Who wouldn’t want to be comfortable and peaceful? Come and enjoy the calmness that the Year of the Rabbit brings to all, regardless of the zodiac sign.

What kind of festivity would it be without the tasteful Chinese cooking? One thing that many outsiders may not realize is that many of the aspects of the 2011 Chinese New Year celebrations have a very specific purpose and meaning even the food. Whether you are Chinese or not, you may find these ideas very interesting and worth trying.

When it comes to cooking for a Chinese New Year celebration, it is fascinating that each food that is prepared has its very own meaning and a definite reason for being prepared. A list of basic food items for the 2011 Chinese New Year with their symbolic meaning is outlined below. So, bring a big appetite with you in case you go Chinese and decide to celebrate.

• Dumplings are believed to bring wealth in the New Year to those who eat them on this special day. Since wealth is something that many people wish to accumulate, so, this is one way to pave the way.
•  Bamboo shoots, black moss seaweed, egg rolls, and oranges are symbolic of wealth .
• Noodles, Chinese garlic chives, and peanuts are for long life. More people are concerned about longevity and these foods are something that the Chinese are quite famous for such attribute. The secret however, to that long life was in consuming the proper foods as part of the New Year festivities.
•  Lettuce, whole fish, and pomelo are supposed to bring prosperity to the consumer.
• Whole fish and pomelo- in addition to prosperity , these foods believed to bring abundance and togetherness (as in marriage or romance) during the coming year.
• Chicken is the main course if happiness is the goal. It is also associated with marriage, particularly when served with foods such as lobster that are considered to be dragon foods).
• Eggs, seeds (such as watermelon seeds), and pomelo- add these food items if you are planning for children in the near future. Add the last two items especially if you want several children.
• Tangerine or seaweed- add these items to your plate on this special day if luck is what you are most in need of. You may want to double up on your servings of both to get out of bad luck.

There are varied recipes to help you celebrate the 2011 Chinese New Year in as traditional a setting as much as possible. Foods such as Jiaozi (Chinese noodles) and egg rolls are commonly found online. Add a few lettuce wraps and longevity noodles and you have a good grip on the good things that most of us hope will come our way in the coming year. Take time to enjoy cooking and preparing the dishes that make a Chinese New Year so special as well as you enjoy eating them.

As in a traditional January celebration of the New Year, the 2011 Chinese New Year offers a fresh start to invigorate. One way or the other, the festivities and/or the past year could have drained most of our energy. It will be very timely and one great opportunity to refresh oneself given the carefree ambiance ushered in by the Year of the Rabbit and the parade of delectable Chinese cuisine that one should be feasting on. Here are some easy ways which I found useful to refresh oneself and to spark inspirations for the 2011 Chinese New Year and beyond.

Reading – is an effective way to hatch and stir up new ideas. You may want to read good materials for entertainment value, fun, or inspiration; or you may want to expose yourself to new fields of knowledge . Read up on various ideas and then synthesize them into some new concept or learning that you might find useful for yourself and others.

Meditate – doing brief breathing exercise, or just being in solitude and quiet (not thinking) are very simple yet effective ways of coming into stillness and guarantees to refresh.

Call a friend – having heard your friend’s voice, having the chance to catch up on the latest happenings, and having someone to greet or share your concerns with can definitely make your day. . . after all it's supposed to be New Year!

Writing – with your hands and not with the computer will be able to massage the acupuncture points in your hands which will enable to open up your creative flow.

Doing physical workouts- try new workouts routine to refresh both body and mind. Yoga and lifting weights can be helpful.

Sleeping – try to sleep early and to have enough hours of sleep. It has been said that our creative brainwaves are most active while sleeping and it happens between 11:00 pm to 2:00 am.

Using the imagination – close your eyes and for at least 15 minutes imagine only the good things that are happening in your life and let the creative energy to flow.

Being active – Don’t sulk or just sit down to wait aimlessly and avoid giving in to any sort of negativity because such attitudes can make way for depression to easily set in. Do something active like hiking, go window shopping and walk around the mall, or do some gardening to reenergize the soul and body.

The Chinese New Year festivities culminate on the 15^th day of the first month of the lunar year or 15^th day of the new year in a celebration called Lantern Festival. This is the last activity that takes place over days of festivities that marked the beginning such that of the 2011 Chinese New Year.

Chinese lanterns are a very integrated part of the Chinese traditions that goes back to the very early days of their culture. Each year they hold the lantern festival where thousands of them are lit and displayed.

The Chinese lanterns are very beautiful and with quite unique designs. People take a great deal of pride in making them themselves rather than buying ready-made lanterns. Children make them using colorful materials and shape them like animals, especially those that have special years named after them in the tradition of the Chinese New Year. The size and design of the lanterns have certainly changed over the years, yet, the true meaning behind them remains.

Many teachers in some parts of the world find that talking to their class about the Chinese culture is in order. They often conclude their sessions with an activity where the students actually make Chinese lanterns and take them home. It is a great way for them to learn about history from other cultures around the world.

People who had the chance to witness this event taking place in China found it to be very fascinating. We can only imagine what 2011 Chinese New Year celebration is like until we actually get the chance to experience it.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!