by Sharlene Irete
People Editor
Monday is the first day of the lunar year 4706-07 and the first day of the Year of the Ox.
The ox is the sign of prosperity earned through fortitude and hard work. As with their animal namesake, people born in the Year of the Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) are said to be dependable, tolerant and persistent. The ox is the second animal among the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
In the story of the origin of the Chinese zodiac, the Jade Emperor, the lord of heaven, invited all the animals in the world to a race to celebrate his departure from earth. The first 12 animals to finish would be immortalized in the order they finished.
The tiger, rat and ox led the pack, but toward the end of the race, the rat distracted the tiger and edged past. The rat then hitched a ride on the ox's back and won the race by jumping off at the last moment.
The lunar sequence was forever in the order of rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and boar. It is believed that people will have the characteristics of the animal that ruled the year of their birth.
Chinese New Year is the second new moon after the winter solstice. Festivities continue for 15 days and end with the Lantern Festival at the full moon. New Year is traditionally a time for families getting together.
San Francisco celebrates Chinese New Year with events today through Feb. 8. Chinese New Year festivities include the flower market fair, the community street fair, the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. pageant and the New Year parade beginning 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Second and Market streets.
The 21⁄2 hour parade ends on Kearny Street in Chinatown. Coverage of the parade will be on KTVU Fox 2 from 6-8 p.m. Information at www.chineseparade.com
The Chinese New Year of the Ox is celebrated a little closer to home at 1-3:30 p.m. Feb. 7, at Gardnerville Elementary School, 1290 Toler Ave., Gardnerville.
Traditional Chinese music and dance will be performed by Sonia Carlson and the Chinese Cultural Group. Activities include Chinese calligraphy, origami, games, art and crafts and a New Year parade with Chinese lions. Chinese snacks will be served. Cost is $8 for ages 5 and older, $7 for seniors and free for children younger than 4 years.
This program is funded in part by the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment of Arts. Register at Douglas County Parks & Recreation Department, 1327 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, 782-9828.
Chinese New Year tidbits:
n 'Kung Hei Fat Choi' is Cantonese for 'congratulations and be prosperous.'
n Oranges and tangerines are symbols of abundant happiness because the Chinese words for tangerine and orange sound like 'luck' and 'wealth.'
n Firecrackers are set off during the dragon dance in the New Year parade to drive away evil spirits from coming into the New Year.
n A custom at New Year's Eve dinner is to serve fish to wish for abundance in the new year. 'Yu,' the word for fish, is a homonym of the words for 'wish' and 'abundance.' The fish is served with head and tail attached to symbolize a good beginning and good ending for the next year.
n Chinese New Year preparations begin a month before the New Year with a big housecleaning to clear out the dust of the past year.
n Red is believed to be the luckiest color. Celebrants decorate homes with red banners and dress in red for the celebrations.
n Chun lian are red paper scrolls of Chinese sayings meant to bring luck and fortune to the dwelling for the coming year.
n Hongbao are red packets filled with money, given to children on Chinese New Year by parents, grandparents and friends for good luck.
More information
www.123chinesenewyear.com
www.chinatown-online.co.uk
Famous oxen:
Warren Beatty
Jon Bon Jovi
Barbara Bush
Charlie Chaplin
George Clooney
Bill Cosby
Sammy Davis Jr.
Oscar De La Hoya
Princess Diana
Walt Disney
Whoopi Goldberg
Dustin Hoffman
Anthony Hopkins
Don Johnson
Jane Fonda
Jack Lemmon
Eddie Murphy
Jessica Lange
Paul Newman
Jack Nicholson
Richard Nixon
Barack Obama
Colin Powell
Robert Redford
Peter Sellers
Sissy Spacek
Bruce Springsteen
Meryl Streep
Margaret Thatcher
Vincent Van Gogh
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