2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig or Boar (Ji Hai in Romanized Mandarin or Ge Hoi in Cantonese)
Lois Denmark, DACM, L.Ac., Dipl. OM (NCCAOM)
The Year of the Pig is the last animal sign of the 12 Year Chinese Zodiac Cycle
As such it is often considered predictive of an ‘auspicious year, in general signifying a year of wealth & good fortune!
February 4, 2019 is typically time for a big family reunion dinner as it represents the 30th day or Lunar New Year’s Eve.
This year the Lunar New Year is celebrated from February 5 through February 19
Foods symbolizing luck are included:
- Fish: the Chinese word for fish sounds like the Chinese word for ‘surplus’
- Puddings: symbolize advancement
- Dumplings: resemble Gold Ingots
After the feast, families will stay up past midnight to welcome in the new year.
Things To Enjoy:
Set off Fireworks as loud banging noises banish evil spirits and negative influences
Eat Dumplings as the shape of dumplings resemble gold ingots and an entire bowl of dumplings will represent wealth and prosperity
Clean your home before the New Year
Things to Avoid:
Avoid Cutting or Washing your Hair:
The character for hair is the same as the first character for the word ‘Prosper’;
Therefore do not sever Prosperity by cutting your hair or wash your fortune away
(Dry Shampoo is acceptable)
Avoid Cleaning on Day 1 of the Lunar New Year
Discard trash before midnight of the Eve of the Lunar New Year so as to not wipe or sweep away any of the Good Luck that is coming into your home along with the Lunar New Year.
Avoid Buying or Gifting Books until after February 19
The character for book Shu1 is the same as the word for ‘lose’; gifting of books during this time is also considered wishing bad luck on the recipient.
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/lunar-new-year-etiquette-dos-donts-chinese-new-year/index.html accessed on February 4, 2019 at 11:47AM
