Chinese Families Prepare to Pay Respects to Ancestors During the Qingming Festival

In a few weeks, many Chinese families will begin preparations for the upcoming holiday known as the Qingming Festival. Also called Ancestors’ Day or Tomb Sweeping Day, the traditional Chinese festival happens each year on fifteenth day after the Spring Equinox, which this year makes it April 4th. Qingming Jie literally translates to the “pure brightness festival” or “clear and bright festival”, it is a time where people are encouraged to go outside and enjoy the beginning of the spring weather. The holiday is considered one of the Chinese Twenty-Four-Solar Terms, giving it a very close relationship with greenery, spring, and agriculture. 

Not only is this time a seasonal symbol, the Qingming Festival also represents a day for respecting ancestors and loved ones who have passed. In addition to spending time outside among nature and appreciate its beauty, it is also customary to sweep the tombs of ancestors after a long hard winter. Families will clear away weeds and add fresh soil around the gravestones of passed loved ones to show love and caring. They will then present offerings of wine, paper resembling money, and their favorite food to pay their respects and ensure ancestors are not hungry in the afterlife. 

Another custom held dear to those who celebrate the Qingming Festival is flying kites. On this day, people across China-young and old- gather together to fly handmade kites of all different shapes and sizes. The most beautiful part of kite flying comes when the sun sets. Once the evening comes, it is tradition for people to attach tiny colored lanterns to their kites before flying them, making them look like twinkling stars in the night sky. Cutting the strings of the kites and letting them fly freely is a custom that is believed to bring good luck to the kite owner. 

And of course what would a Chinese holiday be without a traditional holiday food? Dating all the way back to the Zhou Dynasty, over 2,000 years ago, it is custom to prepare and eat sweet green rice balls on this day. 

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What's Your Chinese Zodiac Animal Sign? (Part Two)

One of the most important aspects of the Chinese New Year is it’s representation of each year through a different animal, twelve to be exact. Originally, the animal signs were designed as a counting system to follow the lunar calendar. But it was during the Han Dynasty, where a significant relationship between the animals signs and people developed. It is believed that the animal that was being represented during the year of your birth can predict your strengths, weaknesses, and even different parts of your fortune. 

So what’s your animal sign and what does it say about you?

4. The Rabbit

Your sign is the rabbit if you were born in the years:

1927

1939

1951

1963

1975

1987

1999

2011

Your strengths:

According to Chinese tradition, the rabbit has long stood for a sign of hope. It is a compassionate, tender, gentle, and sensitive creature- loved by many. People born during the Year of the Rabbit are good at communicating with others in a clever, likable, and humorous way. The soft-spoken and hospitable rabbit makes for a good friend and listener. Easily bored, the rabbit likes to create an interesting and romantic life for itself, being very talented at spicing up dull situations. The rabbit works at a fast pace and if very efficient, but rarely argues or gets angry. 

Your weaknesses:

The rabbit can be impulsive at times, putting money into projects and ideas without thinking it all the way through, which may cause some road blocks in the workforce. It is sometimes easy for the rabbit to lose touch with reality because of their love of romance and tendency to daydream. 

What the Rabbit Can Expect for 2014:

This year will be a year of ups and downs for the rabbit. There will be a lot of good things as well as some bad. The workplace will bring some of each. It is advised for rabbits to try to have good relationships with colleagues, as this will make their job less stressful. When problems are encountered at work, the rabbit should look to family for support. Although the rabbit won’t experience a large increase in their wealth this year, their health and love life is expected to be positive. 

5. The Dragon

Your sign is the dragon if you were born in the years:

1928

1940

1952

1964

1976

1988

2000

2012

Your strengths:

The dragon is one of my favorite signs under the Chinese Zodiac, and I am not alone! The dragon has always enjoyed a high reputation and deep appreciation by the Chinese culture and people. The dragon represents the highest authority, honor, and success. In ancient history, Emperors were referred to as “dragons”, thought to possess divine power, and the thrown they sat upon was known as the “dragon thrown”. Those born under the sign of the dragon are considered great leaders and will achieve much success in life, especially due to their drive for perfection. They are not turned off by challenges and independent thinkers. Those born under the sign of the dragon are both energetic and excitable, making them fun to be around.

Your Weaknesses:

While their success and achievements are good qualities, it can sometimes make dragons seem arrogant or over confident. Dragons are impatient creatures and sometimes struggle to control their emotions, whether it is anger or joy. People whose sign is the dragon often struggle with opening up to others or trusting, which can often be a setback in their love life. 

What the Dragon Can Expect this 2014:

Those born during the Year of the Dragon can expect to have a smooth 2014. Work will flourish this year, as dragons can expect a promotion of some kind. When approaching this year, dragons are advised to be wise and think things through when it comes to work-related decisions and avoid being impulsive. Work will use up much of the dragon’s energy, so make sure to pay attention to health this year and exercise regularly. 

6. The Snake

Your sign is the snake if you were born in the years:

1929

1941

1953

1965

1977

1989

2001

2013

Your strengths:

Within Chinese culture, snakes symbolize mystery, delight, and wealth. Those who are represented by the snake have a good temper and generally remain calm under stressful situations. Despite their cool nature, underneath their calm demeanor, snakes are very passionate and often inspire others through their articulate nature. Due to snake’s unrelenting empathy and sympathy, they make for very good friends.

Your Weaknesses:

Snakes can sometimes be jealous creatures. It is difficult for them to fully trust others and can often become suspicious of others’ intentions. Due to this, they would rather rely only on themselves and don’t like to be dependent on anyone else, which can sometimes hurt their relationships. 

What the Snake Can Expect this 2014:

This year will bring much good fortune for the snake, a relief after their hardships last year. Their fortune will be the most promising towards the beginning of the year, so snakes are encouraged to pursue opportunities right away instead of waiting. This year also brings good fortune in the workplace, with coworkers and income. Investments made by businessmen will pay off within the next several months, bringing much financial satisfaction to the snake. 2014 will also be a wonderful year for love and romance! Single snakes have a good chance of finding love this year. The only area where snakes should be worried is with health. People represented by the snake do not have the best immune systems, and should make sure to see a doctor as soon as any signs of illness or trouble arise. 

7. The Sheep (Also Referred to as the Goat or Ram)

Your sign is a sheep if you were born in the years:

1931

1943

1955

1967

1979

1991

2003

Your strengths:

The sheep has traditionally been associated with gentleness and kindness. Due to its white color, the sheep is linked with purity and the meaning of good things. Those born under the sign of the sheep are tender, caring, and kind-hearted people. They are very compassionate and take excellent care of others. Sheep tend to enjoy a quiet, low-key life and have a special appreciation for the arts. 

Your weaknesses:

The sheep’s quiet and gentle nature is a strength but in certain circumstances can be a weakness as well. They are extremely shy creatures, finding it difficult to reach out to others and be outspoken about their beliefs. At times the sheep can be moody and has difficulty making decisions. They have a very hard time being bold and expressing their love, which can create challenges for them in the romantic world.

What the Sheep Can Expect this 2014:

This year will prove to be a good year for the sheep in all dimensions of life. Their career will flourish and the stressors they endure from their growing success will be manageable. They will gain a lot of experience and accumulate some wealth over the next year as well. As for the sheep’s love life, that will flourish as well! Single sheep are expected to find their partner in the upcoming year and couples will have happy and harmonious relationships. Their health will be relatively good this year, but it is advised for the sheep to pay close attention to their negative emotions, as they tend to be oversensitive at times, because these can have a detrimental effect on their health. 

For the rest of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals read "What's Your Chinese Zodiac Animal Sign? Part Three"! 

What the Arrival of the Year of the Horse Means For You

The Chinese New Year, beginning January 31st, is one of the most popular and exciting holidays on the Chinese calendar. So what makes it so exciting? Well, besides the festive parties and 15-day-long celebration, what makes the Chinese New Year so exciting and unique is its involvement and correspondence with zodiac signs and animals. Each year welcomes not just a new beginning, but also a new Zodiac animal. And with the arrival of 2014 also comes the arrival of the Year of the Horse. 

So what can you expect for the Year of the Horse? 

The coming of the Year of the Horse predicts much good fortune. It will be a year where your romance and your career will reach a point of harmony and peaceful coexistence, something many of us are happy to learn! The Year of the Horse encourages us to reach out and take advantage of the opportunities that are given to us, instead of letting fear, self-doubt, or lack of motivation get in the way. 

And what about those born during the Year of the Horse? 

If you were born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 then your zodiac animal is the horse and this year is your year! So what does this mean for you? 

Foretelling of the Year of the Horse predicts that as a whole, your luck and fortune will fluctuate, don't let knowledge of this upset you- but rather, use it to approach the year with caution, care, and above all, strength. When coming face to face with stressors or challenges, seek help from others and search within yourself to find your strength and motivation. 

 As a Horse, you tend to engage in a little self doubt, often seeking approval or confirmation from others before moving ahead with a project or decision- but let this year be the year you become more confident in your choices. 

2014 is a special year because it is not only the Year of the Horse, but specifically, the Year of the Wood Horse. This is important because in Chinese astrology the "element" of wood increases the philosophy of the sign, deepening and strengthening the positive traits associated with the Horse, including action, optimism, and high energy. 

The Wood Horse is also greatly linked with nature and peace, making the usually restless Horse more calm and stable, increasing your ability as a partner, in the romantic as well as professional sense. 

The Chinese End the Lunar New Year Celebration With the Lantern Festival

Last night, excitement buzzed throughout the United States as 40.3 million people tuned in to watch Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars, but in China people were celebrating for a completely different reason.

 Last night marked the fifteenth night of the lunar New Year, where the Chinese celebrate the closing of the national holiday with a festival known as the Lantern Festival. Not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival which is also referred to as the Lantern Festival, the official name for this much looked forward to holiday is the Shangyuan Festival. This festival, rich with culture and history, is observed by the Chinese as well as the Vietnamese. The Lantern Festival's purpose is to not only end the holiday in a big way, but also to signify the beginning of the new year, in this case the Year of the Water Snake. 

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The purpose of this day is to relax, enjoy oneself, and have fun with friends and family while ringing in the new year. On the night of the festival, beautifully and traditionally crafted lanterns, created to symbolize the 12 creatures of the Chinese Zodiac, are released into the sky- making for a breath taking sight. Firecrackers and fireworks are lit and people dance in the street beneath the hundreds of floating lanterns. 

The traditional food of this holiday is a glutinous rice ball, known as Yuanxiao. It is a sweet dumpling made with a sticky rice flour and filled with sweet stuffing. The legend behind the food is that is named after a maid of Emperor Wu Di, who reined during the Han Dynasty. It is meant to symbolize family unity, happiness, and completeness. 

While the Oscars boasts celebrating its 85th anniversary, the Lantern Festival has been a tradition throughout China since the Han Dynasty, in 206 BC! 

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Year of the Water Snake: What It Means to Be a Snake

When we welcomed the Chinese New Year on February 10th, we were ringing in the Year of the Water Snake. This means a year for "shedding your old skin" and starting fresh. We are especially excited about this year because the snake represents transformation and new beginnings. 

The purpose of  the snake is to symbolize wisdom and deep expressions of spirituality. So if you have any new careers you're chasing, new loves to win over, or fears to conquer-this is the year for you! The snake is so wise and spiritual because it crawls on the ground, which for the Chinese represents a connection to the Earth. Rather than a symbol of danger or evil, like it is often portrayed in the west, the Chinese view the snake as a healer and symbol of rebirth. This idea dates back to the ancient legend of a Chinese Snake goddess who created the first people from the clay in the banks of the Yellow River. 

Your Chinese sign is a snake if you are born in the years 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013. 

If you are born in a Snake year you are a very driven person, always striving to be as successful as you can be- but you are never impulsive about reaching your goals. Snakes are planners and strive towards their goals through careful calculations, waiting for the perfect moment to "strike". This drive can sometimes be taken to the extreme, wishing to meet goals regardless of the circumstances. 

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Although Snakes have an air of mystery about them, they are generally attractive and charming. They can be quite social at times, but also are content with hanging back and simply observing. Upon first glance, the Snake can seem distant or secretive- they don't reveal their thoughts to just anyone- but once a person gets to know a Snake, they will find them to actually be very sensitive and caring. 




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Chinese New Year: The Celebration (Part three of five)

As the Chinese New Year is quickly approaching, people across China are beginning the necessary steps in order to prepare their house for the New Year. Excitement vibrates throughout the country as the Chinese prepare to welcome the Year of the Water Snake on Sunday, February 10th. 

One of the most important preparations for the fifteen day holiday is to do a thorough house cleaning. The Chinese consider a clean home crucial for the start of the New Year, believing that through cleaning the house they sweep away any bad luck from the previous year. 

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The next step for preparing for the New Year is the fun part! Decorating! The legend of the origin of the Chinese New Year says that the monster that terrorized the villagers was deterred by the color red, so the tradition of painting doors and window panes red has continued to stay an important part of the New Year's preparation. Paper cut outs are also hung throughout the house, a very culturally significant tradition that extends all the way back to the Han dynasty. 

After these weeks of preparation for the holiday comes the celebration. Once the holiday has actually arrived, it is stressed to cease all cleaning of the house. It is thought that if you clean during the first few days of the New Year, you risk sweeping away the good luck that the New Year has brought. 

The New Year is an important holiday for families. It is a time for families to gather together and enjoy the company of one another. A traditional activity for families to participate in together is the preparing and cooking of Chinese dumplings, or Jiaozi. It is custom for many families to also hide a coin in one of the dumplings and whoever gets the dumpling with the coin in it is expected to have good luck in the upcoming year. 

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Giving out money packets to family members, especially children, is also custom. On the eve of the New Year, children will receive red packets decorated with gold symbols filled with money. These red packets are known as leisee. 

Festive and symbolic foods are served throughout the fifteen day period. The purpose of these very specific foods are to symbolize abundance and good fortune, something all Chinese people are trying to acquire in the coming year. These symbolic foods, such as lotus seeds and lychee nuts, are all gathered together on what is called a Tray of Togetherness. It is a circular shaped tray with eight compartments. These compartments are designed in a way so that they can be filled with all the special Chinese New Year foods in order to provide a delicious welcome into the New Year!

Chinese New Year: The History (Part Two of Five)

One of the most important, culturally significant holidays in China is rapidly approaching. On February 10th Chinese people across the country will begin to celebrate the Lunar New Year. 

In addition to being one of the most significant, the fifteen day event stands as the longest holiday in China-but where did it all begin?

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We were surprised to find out the event of the year that is so celebrated and looked forward to originally began out of fear! Legends of the origins of the Chinese New Year tell a story of a mythical lion-like monster named Nian (which is also the Chinese word for year!), who preyed on the people of the villages. 

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The terrified villagers sought the advice of a wise old man who told them that in order to rid of this monster they needed to use firecrackers and drums to make loud noises, scaring Nian away. The wise old man also claimed that Nian feared the color red, so the villagers could ward him off by hanging red paper cut outs and scrolls on their doors. The villagers took the advice and soon enough they were free from Nian's terror. This freedom is recognized as the "passing of the Nian", referred to in Chinese as guo inane. 

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is also closely tied to the spring season. It is a time for celebrating the end of the winter season and welcoming spring.