The Chinese New Year is steeped in history and mathematics, and is thought to have been first perfected in 500 BCE.
Westerners have heard several myths of how each year was originally named. One of the most popular legends is that Buddha asked the animals to meet him on New Year's Day, and for the 12 that came, he rewarded them by naming a year after each of them.
Ever since the event, legend has it that people born in the year named after a particular animal are said to have some of its attributes. For example, babies born this year will be natural leaders (like the tiger).
Apart from mainland China, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in many other countries like The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand etc.
Festivities continue from the start to the fifteenth day of the year. Chinese people take a few days off work to prepare for and celebrate this holiday - the most important in their culture. Families work hard to spend time together, and even poor relatives send money to each other in little red envelopes. Days are set aside for specific activities. For example the first five days include:
Day 1 - Welcome the deities and abstain from meat.
Day 2 - Married daughters visit parents.
Day 3 and 4 - Visit graves of dead relatives or homes of relatives who've recently passed on.
Day 5- Shoot firecrackers.
Even for us Westerners, the legends hold intrigue, mystery and even an element of fun.
Find out which animal you're most like by clicking on the link and type in your date of birth. I don't believe in this, but for the fun of it, was interested to find out what it said about the year I was born. According to this site, I'm a monkey: 'Very clever, but mischievous. Love a challenge and can wriggle out of difficult situations by thinking through difficult problems. Highly successful and well-liked.'
What animal are you? Are you anything like it?
