Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 15, 2007 issue
The Pig Ushers in Chinese New Year on February 18
Story by Celeste von Mangan
Most people are familiar with the Western zodiac that begins with the fire sign Aries and ends with the water sign Pisces. In the East, the Chinese zodiac begins with the rat and ends with the pig. In between are the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster and dog. Chinese years are named after the animals of the zodiac, and the Chinese New Year begins on Sunday, February 18, and ends on February 6, 2008.
The 15-day celebration of the new year is the longest and most important celebration in Chinese culture. Red, a lucky hue, symbolizes fire and according to legend can drive away bad luck. Red is the definitive color for the festivities. People wear red clothing, and children receive “lucky money” in red envelopes.
Fireworks displays during the Chinese New Year are rooted in ancient custom when people lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.
The beautiful dragons sinuously moving through the streets in Chinese communities are actually a dance, part of the Lantern Festival. These dragons are made of silk, paper and bamboo and often stretch to a length of 100 feet.
The red fire pig is the animal ruling this new year, and some people believe that it is the golden pig—an occurrence that happens once every 600 years. Golden pig or not, China and Korea are experiencing an increased fertility rate, as legend holds that babies born in this special year will be very prosperous. Hospitals and clinics in the two countries are reporting a 20 percent increase in pregnant women.
To bear children in the year of the pig is considered very fortunate, even in non-golden years, because they will always find a bright star shining above them in their hour of need. Pig people have great fortitude, patience and endurance. They need to be careful though, because their love of luxury may make them snobbish, stingy and conceited. Famous pig people include Lucille Ball, Alfred Hitchcock, Mahalia Jackson, David Letterman, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Jefferson, Humphrey Bogart and Arnold Schwarzenegger.