Thursday, February 03, 2011

Gung Ha Fat Choy - Gong Xi Fa Cai*

*A wish for the New Year in Cantonese and Mandarin for the New Year.

With the appearance of the new moon last night a good part of the world's population welcomed in the New Year. The fourth year of the 12 year cycle of the solar-lunar calendar which has its origins in the astrology and legends of Northern Asia this is the Year of the Rabbit. Though we tend to think of it as Chinese New Year's it is celebrated in several other countries in Asia - as an example last night was Tet, the beginning of the New Year in Vietnam.

The prognosis for the coming year according to one sage:
A placid year, very much welcomed and needed after the ferocious year of the Tiger. We should go off to some quiet spot to lick our wounds and get some rest after all the battles of the previous year.

Good taste and refinement will shine on everything and people will acknowledge that persuasion is better than force. A congenial time in which diplomacy, international relations and politics will be given a front seat again. We will act with discretion and make reasonable concessions without too much difficulty.

A time to watch out that we do not become too indulgent. The influence of the Rabbit tends to spoil those who like too much comfort and thus impair their effectiveness and sense of duty.

Law and order will be lax; rules and regulations will not be rigidly enforced. No one seems very inclined to bother with these unpleasant realities. They are busy enjoying themselves, entertaining others or simply taking it easy. The scene is quiet and calm, even deteriorating to the point of somnolence. We will all have a tendency to put off disagreeable tasks as long as possible

Money can be made without too much labor. Our life style will be languid and leisurely as we allow ourselves the luxuries we have always craved for. A temperate year with unhurried pace. For once, it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances
Given the current climate I can only hope that the astrologer who predicted this is 100% accurate in their reading of the year ahead.

To find out what you own future holds in the year 4079 on the Chinese calendar just click on the Zodiac sign below.

In the past years I have written about many of the traditions of the 15 days celebration throughout the world including the tradition of sending hui chun or good luck messages to family and friends. These hopes and wishes for the New Year are hung around the house or office in the hope of bringing fortune in the coming year. The people at Discover Hong Kong have a web page that allows you to send hui chun to friends expressing your hopes for their health, prosperity and happiness in this Year of the Tiger.  I used it to send quite a few out this year but have the uncomfortable feeling they may have ended up in friends and families "spam" boxes.

I thought I'd post this hui chun for everyone rather than chance more ending up in "spam" folders and people thinking they've been forgotten:


And that is my wish for all of us as health is, after the sort of year I've seen both for myself and those I love, more important than all the wishes for wealth or prosperity.

Xin Nian Kuai Le



03 febbraio - l'anno del coniglio
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4 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Wishing you health and abundance in this Year of the Rabbit!

yellowdoggranny said...

feb. 10th I'm having a chinese new year party for the old farts..will let you know how it comes out..

David said...

I click my tiger and it gives me rabbit.

No, no chance for a placid year worldwide. But it does seem as if authoritarianism will have to be relaxed. What an extraordinary January it's been already in Tunisia, Egypt and the Yemen. And our students here are very much mobilised...

lynette said...

It's a good wish. I hope it will be a good year for all of us.