Essential facts about Chinese New Year in general and the forthcoming New Year of the Rabbit (2011) in particular to help you enjoy this exciting Lunar New Year celebration even more!
The Chinese Calendar is attributed to Huang De, the Yellow Emperor, who established it sometime around 2700 BCE and Rabbit Year 2011-12 is Year 4707 according to this.
Animals and Elements
Fourth Year of a new 12-Year Cycle beginning (as usual) with the Year of the Rat, in 2008, followed (as always) by the Years of the Ox and Tiger, 2009 and 2010 respectively. February 3rd 2011 sees the inception of The Year of the Rabbit which ends on January 16th 2012. Each Year of this repeating 12 Year Cycle has Year Energies modified by the underlying Year Element via a parallel 10 Year Elemental Cycle (in which 5 Elements repeat sequentially in first Yin and then Yang modes) (1). Rabbit Year 20011-12 energies are modified by Yin (small) Metal--5 Elements Qigong aficionados will already have some understanding of each element's features, attributes and fundamental role in the human (and universal) constitution--a summary of each Element's qualities follows.
Attributes of The Five Elements
Wood: green, growth and expansion, nurture, 'spirit' versatility;
Fire: red, heat, light, warmth, explosiveness, destruction;
Earth: yellow, supportive, interactive, balancing, wise, suffocating;
Metal: white, strong, communicative, brilliant, intense. dangerous, destructive (2010 and 2011 Year Element);
Water: blue/black, internal, emotional, understanding, sensitive, intrusive.
Rabbit Year 2011-12
After tumultuous Tiger Year (2010-11), with its Yang Metal Year Element, containing conflicts and crises affecting global money-supply and national currencies, Rabbit Year provides some welcome rest and respite (necessary to prepare for the oncoming year of the Dragon). Yin Metal, the Year Element, suggests a focus on personal, rather than national, finance and on conservation and cultivation in this and other fields.Things should be more laid-back, easygoing and relaxed for individuals (although excessive laxity, particularly in financial matters, should be avoided). The Year Element, Small (Yin) Metal should serve to intensify these issues and make them more enduring as the year progresses.
Look at the full Moon and you may (like the Chinese) spot a Rabbit, standing under a tree, its paw holds the elixir of life. From their reproduction rate, we'll never see a world rabbit-shortage, thus the rabbit is a Chinese longevity symbol--its lunar location further emphasises this via the Moon's links to the reproductive cycle. Thus longevity is a good subject to meditate on during Rabbit Year.
Lunar Lights
Yuan Tan, the Chinese New Year Festival, begins when the Year's second New Moon appears (the first is the 13th and final 28-day Lunar Month of the departing Year) as the celebrations mark the start of a new Lunar Cycle. Lunar Months are actually 29.5 days and so the Chinese insert an extra month periodically (7 over every 19 years) hence it is a predictably moveable feast, with different start and end dates each year.
Celebrations begin with the first appearance of the Crescent Moon (or whenever as it's a world-wide festival as long as it's on New Year's Day) with fireworks, martial-arts performances and of course Lion and Dragon Dances particularly, in the West, in the 'Chinatowns' of major cities. In Sheffield U.K. (my home) crowds look out for Sheffield Chinese Lion Dance Team (of which I'm a member) in London Chinatown the Shaolin Fists Lion Dance Team of my esteemed Teacher (Grandmaster Yap Leong) is always in the forefront of celebrations.
Wherever you are, if you have the opportunity, I hope you'll go and join in and enjoy these celebrations. So, 'Kung Hei Fat Choy!' and Xin Nien Kuei Leur!' Have a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!
Notes and References
(1) See Allsop, P (2010) 'China's 12 Animal Cycle and the 5 Elements-Implications for the Years 2007-2011' EzineArticles, for a further discussion of this.
Peter Allsop M.Ed teaches Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong in Sheffield U.K. He is a Senior Student of Grandmaster Yap Leong, Area Coach for his Health, Youth and Longevity Qigong Programme and Shaolin Fists International Area Instructor for Yorkshire and Derbyshire U. K. Peter is also a Feng Shui consultant and a member of Sheffield Chinese Lion Dance Team with interests in Longevity, Iron shirt training and 5 Elements Qigong. He also publishes 'Red Dragon Martial Arts Ezine'. Discover more at http://sheffieldkungfu.com or http://www.hylenergiser.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Allsop
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