2006-01-30 - 5:13 p.m.
Happy Chinese Lunar New Year to everyone out there.
The chinese (among other cultures) use a lunar calander. So their new year is based on the cycle of the moon around the sun, and is not tied to anything as arbitrary as a simple 12 month calander. They use the precise movement of the moon around the sun. Because of the inherent precision of the celestial movments, they are much more "accurate" than our simple calander, and that is why their new year moves as much as a week each and every year compared to last years.
It is really very neat, but not my cup of tea. But it is really nice to be able to say happy new year 2x a year. So welcome in the year of the DOG.
Here is a short list of things to do, and not do according to the students I nkow.
don't
wash your hair within 48 hours of new years, or you will wash away your luck
use scissors within 2 days because you will cut your luck
cry within 2 days or you will cry for the whole year.
do
eat dumplings becuase they look like gold ingots, and it will bring you wealth
eat dumplings because it reminds you of your family
spend time at home, and do NOTHING that is not family related. they are your best link to your past, and your heritage.
shoot off fireworks because it scares away the evil spirits and ghosts, and scares away the devils and dragons.
clean your house, you should pay attention to your home at the start of the new year.
some of those are good pieces of advice anytime.
Will
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