The Meaning of the Chinese New Year

New Year in the East

Most cultures acknowledge the beginning of the new year with celebrations. After all, it’s a new year, a new cycle, and an opportunity for a fresh start. In China, the New Year is connected with the Chinese zodiac. Read on to learn more about Chinese New Year 2019 and what it can mean for you.

Understanding Chinese New Year

It’s the most important holiday in many nations throughout Asia—a massive number of people celebrate Chinese New Year. Cities worldwide with large Chinese populations celebrate it publicly. As with the western New Year, the overall theme of the Chinese New Year is to release old, unwanted experiences in order to make room for good fortune and for something new.

Wondering what the Chinese New Year has in store for you? Read with an astrology psychic and find out!

Most of the oddities of either system (leap years vs. leap months, for example) are attempts to reconcile a solar (seasonal) calendar with the timing set by the roughly 13 New Moons per solar year. In China, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other ancient civilizations, working in harmony with nature was the source of great fortune and a way to minimize difficulties.

In many western cultures, the New Year is celebrated on January first of each year. The date of Chinese New Year, on the other hand, is different each year. This is because the new year correlates with the New Moon between January 21 and February 20. In addition, cultural traditions prescribe certain preparations, such as ritual household cleaning, in the days before the new year begins.

The Chinese Zodiac

If you’ve ever been to a Chinese restaurant, your meal may have been served on a paper place mat that depicts the Chinese zodiac. Chinese zodiac signs are different from those in other astrology systems, including those used in Western systems. 

The signs of the Chinese Zodiac are all animals, and their attributions run on a 12 year cycle. Making the system even more complex is that there is also a 10 year elemental cycle in which the traditional Chinese elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are associated with the zodiac animal of that year.

There are deeper astrological teachings as well, including a more precise understanding of your inner zodiac sign, and your compatibility with other zodiac signs. 

2019 Is the Year of the Earth Pig

In 2019, Chinese New Year began on February 5, beginning the Year of the Earth Pig. The celebration of the upcoming return of spring and new life is such a part of the human psyche that you’ll find different cultural celebrations from one side of the world to the other.

The Return of Spring and New Life

Chinese New Year celebrations take place over the several days surrounding the New Moon (occurring between January 21 and February 20), making room for good fortune.

This is traditionally a time to honor ancestors and deities. It’s also the time to literally sweep out and cut away what’s old and unwanted to make room for good fortune. With this in mind, cleaning/sweeping and getting haircuts or cooking where cutting is involved are all done before February 5. 

Fireworks and the color red are thought to drive bad spirits away. The focus on abundance and harmonious connections should be practiced through the New Year period too. Avoid negative comments, or incurring or collecting debts during these times.

Some experts believe that the Year of the Earth Pig will bring about a friendlier mood among humanity at large. This is because the previous year, 2018, was the Year of the Dog, a pack animal. While dogs are wonderful, too much of a “pack mentality” can make it difficult for people to come together and cooperate. 

Pigs are more independently social, however, and it may be easier to interact in a “down to earth” way given that 2019’s element is earth. This is a good year for forming connections, making your home comfortable, and enjoying yourself. 

Yin Energy and Your Success

The Chinese zodiac uses animal symbols to represent birth years. There are 12 animals, and a cycle is 12 years long. The Year of the Earth Pig perfectly harmonizes with the rituals and observances of the Chinese New Year. The pig is generous, sensitive, and kind. The pig wants to serve others too. The fact that this is a yin year makes the sign even more loving and receptive. 2018, The Year of the Dog, was yang energy, but 2019’s yin energy will be the key to your success this year.

Challenges Lead to Breakthroughs

Offer gifts of money in red envelopes to close family members and share various foods like dumplings or cakes with friends and co-workers. If the Pig is your animal sign, this will be a year of intense challenges that lead to breakthroughs. Use the earthy environment for inspiration and direction. You have a vision and you can make it a reality using a song, a dance, or another creative form of expression.

Pig Energy and Other Animal Signs

If you were born in The Year of the Pig, the Chinese New Year is the perfect time for gathering your collaborators, the Rat, Rabbit, Sheep, Tiger, and Monkey. Snakes should focus on balance this year. In addition, Ox, Dragon, Horse, Rooster, and Dog will all look to you to draw on your receptive, kind energies. It’s certainly time to celebrate.

Considering Western and Chinese Astrology

If you have often found yourself dissatisfied with standard western astrological approaches, investigating Chinese teachings may be a wise idea for you. A different culture can provide you with a new lens through which you can gain a unique perspective.

Another option is to learn about Chinese astrology and then compare and contrast it with a full western-style astrological reading. Pulling together the insights from both traditions can be hard work, but you may be able to better understand yourself and others when you take into consideration different cultural understandings of astrology.

Chinese astrology plays an important role in your day-to-day life. Your birth year impacts your moods, experiences and more, which is why you should get a psychic astrology reading. Our astrology psychics can tell you about the important dates in your life (past, present, and future) that will massively impact you.

Find an astrology psychic or learn more about astrology readings.

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