The Chinese New Year of the Water Tiger

 2022 is the Lunar Year of the Tiger, more importantly, the year of the Water Tiger, the third in the 12 annual animal Chinese zodiac cycles, all connected to the Moon. This year on 1^st February, we herald the start of a New Year. Chinese wish family and friend’s good health, good luck for the year ahead, with the traditional greeting “Gung xi fat choi,” which literally translates, “hope you increase your wealth”. There is a big celebration not only in China, but in China Towns, wherever there are Chinese settlements around the world, not forgetting China Town, around Leicester Square, London.

The Tiger is the third animal in the cycle of the Chinese zodiac and has huge significance in Chinese traditions and folklore. It centres on the hope for good fortune and prosperity.  The Tiger has been considered the “king of beasts” in Chinese culture. People born in the Year of the Tiger, 1950,1963,1974,1986 1998 and 2010 are said to take on the traits of that year’s animal. They tend to be powerful, rebellious dynamic and adventurous, fiercely impulsive and unpredictable. The Tiger is associated with young (masculine, active) energy. But, we are told not the Water Tiger, which is a more open minded animal, generally associated with achievements, overcoming challenges, determination of effort. The last Water Tiger Year was in 1962 and occurs every 60 years. Water as is known, is a calming element, quiet and reserved associated with emotion and mysticism.  Those born in the year of the Water Tiger are said to have great interpersonal relationships and very family oriented.

The way it is celebrated is that people will go back to their original homelands, from large cities in China and around the globe. They go to their temples to pray for protection. They used to pray for the mercy of The Buddha for protection. The energy of The Buddha was and is considered to protect everyone. It is also a time to spend time together with friends and family, playing traditional games.

Our Western fireworks fanfare ushering in our Gregorian New Year, wearing of special new clothes, exchanging gifts and hanging red lanterns, all originated in China.   

Why are traditions important to Chinese?                                                                       

      

Although China adopted the Western Gregorian Calendar in 1912, the Lunar or the Moon’s Calendar takes pride of place. The festival’s importance is deeply rooted in China’s real cultural history and is believed to have been celebrated for over 3500 years. 

The Chinese are a people who believe strongly in tradition, a tradition focussed on sharing of wealth, but more on the blessings, given to them over centuries past. Everyone focuses on receiving “red envelopes” referring to luck, “lucky envelopes” of money. Whether you go from Northern China to Southern China there are stark difference between what is considered “lucky”. But one thing is for sure, this holiday is celebrated not only in China but by almost 2 billion people across the world.

The Chinese New Year holiday typically lasts 16 consecutive days from New Year’s Eve, with the first 7 days considered as public holiday, with the Lantern Festival known as “Zhengyuan Festival” on the 15^th day when a display of lanterns are lit and released into the night sky, signifying the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebration.                                                                    

Originally traditions were focused with Buddhism and Taoism, with “feng shui”, folklore and mythology. The holiday is filled with rich tradition. Even today, we hear of great migrations of Chinese people crowding around train stations in China, returning back to their family settlements in the interior of China.

What have we to learn from this festival?

Different people, in different nations around the world attach different characteristics to mythology and symbolism. It has to do with tradition, to do with our own beliefs, our interpretation of life in general.

It is the second new Moon, following the Winter Solstice. For me, after a very cold, damp and frosty winter in London, I now can see a ray of light, sunlight in the mornings. It is the long awaited spring in London, not actually, but in my mind and a lesson in mindfulness after two years of face masks, glumness and separation of friends and family.

Victor Cherubim