Okay, I know you've heard about it, the Chinese New Year which starts way after the Roman/Christian/Walmart New Year. For my Pagan Brethren, the Chinese New Year is similar because it is Lunar, but instead of using the Winter's Solstice as a starting point, the Chinese use the second new moon after the winter solstice as it's starting point. This year it is February
The Chinese New Year begins and is celebrated for two consecutive weeks until the full moon with a Spring Lantern Festival and Dragon Parade on the final day. Not being Chinese, I've westernized it someone, but do enjoy it as much as the other major holidays in my life. In fact, I put it up there with Halloween, Yule, and Litha.
First, I get all my cleaning out of the way before the New Year day. Cleaning the house is rids it of bad luck and past misfortunes. Then I prepare my hóngbāo or red envelopes with money to give as give for fortune to those I give them to. I will be given out some to homeless people this year. I figure they can use a little luck to combat the greedy capitalist foot chocking them. Then I make sure I have red on a window or door facing all four winds to ward off the bad luck. This practice comes from the ancient story of the evil beast Nián Shòu, who kept terrorizing a town until it saw a child wearing red and was never seen again. So, red is believe to ward off bad luck. It is the same believe that has businesses hanging those red scrolls with gold characters in their work places. The red wards off bad luck and the gold brings financial gains.
Until this year, I only had one lucky Chinese luck charm hanging in a window. It is the one I keep over my kitchen window and dedicated to love. Well, it worked and within a year of hanging it, I had my beautiful Chinese girlfriend cooking for me in that same kitchen.
Coinkidink? Maybe. We well see, for this year I am hanging red in all window, with a red scroll in my business room.
新年快乐Xīnnián kuàilè (Happy New Years) ~~ Dr Eso Terry
