The Chinese New Year Festival Starts on February 14th 2010.
Unlike western calendars, the lunar Chinese new year calendar has names that are repeated every 60 years. Within the 'Stem-Branch' system is the shorter cycle of 12 years denoted by animals:
2010 is the Chinese year of the Tiger. In particular, this is the year of Gēng-yín (Metal Tiger). Gēng is the seventh of the ten celestial stems and Yín (Tiger) is the third of the twelve terrestrial branches, thus February 14th 2010 marks the year of the Tiger with its association to bravery.
The fact that the date of Chinese New Year varies within a lunar month is a clue that it's linked to the new moon. A rough, and almost infallible guide, is that the Chinese New Year date falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The winter solstice always falls on December 21st, the next new moon is January 15th, and the second new moon February 14th 2010.
One problem with any lunar calendar system is that some years there are 13 new moons. The Chinese deal with this be slotting in an extra intercalary month. However, the Chinese have been calculating the New Year for a long time, and 2010 and will be lunar year 4708 in the Chinese calendar system.
Unlike western calendars, the lunar Chinese new year calendar has names that are repeated every 60 years. Within the 'Stem-Branch' system is the shorter cycle of 12 years denoted by animals:
2010 is the Chinese year of the Tiger. In particular, this is the year of Gēng-yín (Metal Tiger). Gēng is the seventh of the ten celestial stems and Yín (Tiger) is the third of the twelve terrestrial branches, thus February 14th 2010 marks the year of the Tiger with its association to bravery.
The fact that the date of Chinese New Year varies within a lunar month is a clue that it's linked to the new moon. A rough, and almost infallible guide, is that the Chinese New Year date falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The winter solstice always falls on December 21st, the next new moon is January 15th, and the second new moon February 14th 2010.
One problem with any lunar calendar system is that some years there are 13 new moons. The Chinese deal with this be slotting in an extra intercalary month. However, the Chinese have been calculating the New Year for a long time, and 2010 and will be lunar year 4708 in the Chinese calendar system.
THE YEAR OF THE TIGER
This is definitely an explosive year. It usually begins with a bang and ends with a whimper. A year earmarked for war, disagreement and disasters of all kinds. But it will also be a big, bold year. Nothing will be done on a small, timid scale. Everything, good and bad, can and will be carried to extremes. Fortunes can be made and lost. If you take a chance, gamble for high stakes, but understand that the odds are stacked against you.
People will do drastic and dramatic things on the spur of the moment. It is not surprising that Watergate and the drama of Nixon's resignation culminated in the hotheaded year of the Tiger. Tempers will flare all around and it will be a trying time for diplomacy. Like the Tiger, we will tend to charge without thinking and end up regretting our rashness.
Friendships, joint ventures and deals requiring mutual trust and cooperation made at this time are brittle and will be easily broken. However, the forceful and vigorous Tiger year can also be used to inject new life and vitality into lost causes, sinking ventures and drab or failing industries. It will likewise be a time for massive change, for the introduction of new and bold, especially highly controversial, ideas.
The fiery heat of the Tiger's year will no doubt touch everyone's life. In spite of its negative aspects, we must realize that it could have a cleansing effect. Just as intense heat is necessary to extract precious metals from their ores, so the Tiger year can bring out the best in us.
Just one brief word of advice for this unpredictable year. "Hang on to your sense of humor and let things sizzle out!"
THE TIGER PERSONALITY
In the East, the Tiger symbolizes power, passion and daring. A rebellious, colorful and unpredictable character, he commands awe and respect from all quarters. This fearless and fiery fighter is revered as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts.
The Tiger is a fortunate person to have around, provided you are prepared for all the activity that comes along with his dynamic personality. The impulsiveness and vivacity of the Tiger person are contagious. His vigor and love of life are stimulating. He will arouse every sort of emotion in people, except indifference. In short, the captivating Tiger loves being the center of attention.
Restless and reckless by nature, the Tiger is usually impatiently geared for action. However, because of his suspicious nature, he is prone to waver or make hasty decisions. He finds it hard to trust others or to quell his emotions. He must speak his mind when upset. But just as he is quick-tempered, he is equally sincere, affectionate and generous. What's more, he has a marvelous sense of humor.
Every tiger has the humanitarian touch in him. He loves babies, animals, jazz or anything that can catch his imagination and attention for the span of the moment. When he gets involved, his involvement is total. Everything, even breathing, will have to take second place to the object of his adulation. He is never halfhearted about his endeavors, and one can trust the Tiger to give 100 percent of himself or even more if he had it in him to do so.
The more sensual types usually have a fling at the bohemian life in their youth. Some never grow out of it. Adventurous models seeking romance in Paris, budding painters displaying their wares on street corners, amateur bands on the road, one-night-stand pop singers or ambitious actors working on shoestring budgets are all more likely to be Tiger children than flower children. This may be because, aside from being an optimist, the Tiger is just not materialistic or security conscious.
He must have one phase in his life in which he acts out his impulses-play all the fantastic roles he has cut out for himself. A chance to thumb his nose at what he disapproves of. A time to lash out at society and scoff at binding traditions. The Tiger must express himself, find his identity and shape his personality, and if rebellion or open defiance of accepted modes will offer him the opportunity, then that's the road he will take. Could one love him any less for these imperfections, if they can be labeled as such? No, nine times out of ten we find ourselves rooting for him. We may shake our heads at his audacity and gasp at his insane acts of daring, but just the same we never forget to say a silent prayer for him and feel we have experienced a warm personal triumph when we see him succeed.
When the Tiger is dejected he will need cartloads of sincere, undiluted sympathy. Don't rationalize about who is right and who is wrong. Logic does not appeal so much to him. That's beside the point. Don't be stingy about comforting him. He would do twice as much for you if the situation were reversed. He will love to hear your words of wisdom and will hang on to every kind word of advice. But this doesn't mean that he will take it. There is a difference, you know. It never pays to be arbitrary with this fellow.
Better just hold his hand and wait till he talks himself dry, bounces all his feelings off of you and collects all the pieces of his shattered ego. Then, he will kiss you, hug you and let you go off feeling like you have just put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
After he packs you off, well, in all probability he will go out and do exactly what he was planning to do in the first place.
No matter how down and out the Tiger is, no matter to what depths of despair and depression he plunges, don't believe for one moment that he will ever say die! There will always be a tiny spark left somewhere in that unquenchable spirit of his to rekindle the fire and start him living and loving all over again.
A bit too intense to rely on in times of stress, the Tiger is still renowned for his ability to sway the crowd. At his best, he is warm, sensitive and sympathetic. At his worse, he is obstinate, unreasonable and selfish.
The lady Tiger is the most charming and radiant of hostesses. She can combine home and social life with aplomb. Solicitous, vibrant and absolutely disarming, she is a sweet little kitten only because this act gets her good reviews. But don't taunt her, she keeps her claws sharpened just in case she has need of them.
Fashion-conscious, articulate and liberated, the Tigress likes to pamper herself and can spend hours experimenting with new hair styles, makeup and costumes. She is the type who is constantly lamenting that she has nothing to wear. Actually she is at home just as much in blue jeans as with haute couture. Give a ball and she will turn out to stun them every time. She is great with the children, too. She tells lovely stories, mimics and makes fun of herself, flashes her brilliant smile and, most of all, endears them to her forever by bending all the rules in their favor. When she is around, they can have sweets before dinner, double helpings of ice cream and stay up late for their favorite TV program. Strange to say, her children are no more spoiled than others. They learn their lessons well. Perhaps this is because, after she shows she loves them, she makes sure to enforce the law. She makes them mind their manners, and if they perform well, she is extremely generous with rewards. There will be picnics galore, trips to the zoo and the national parks, or boating and fishing expeditions. Now, how can anyone resist that?
Like the Dragon and Rooster, the Tiger native has a super ego. Money, power and fame will mean nothing if his ego is hurt. Thwarted, the Tiger could turn out to be the meanest and pettiest bully you ever came across. He will go to any length to get revenge, even to bringing down the house with him. Little slights will enrage him, but he may let big issues pass without a fuss. Just remember, he hates being ignored!
Paradoxically, his two main shortcomings in life will be his rashness on one hand and indecision on the other. If he can learn to take the middle of the road, the Tiger will be a roaring success.
At heart, the Tiger is a romantic. He is playful yet passionate and sentimental all at the same time, and it will be quite an experience being in love with or married to one. He or she is also inclined to be over-possessive and quarrelsome when jealous.
The first stage of the Tiger's life will probably be the best. In these formulative years, he could be taught to keep a tight rein on the explosive emotions which could be the ruin of him. In his youth and prime, the Tiger will be absorbed in the pursuit of success and the fulfillment of his dreams. His old age could be calm if he could learn to give up the front seat and just relax. However, this will be difficult as he will be plagued by bittersweet regrets about the things he did and did not do.
On the whole, the Tiger's life will be volatile. It will be filled to the brim with laughter, tears, pain, joy, despair and every conceivable emotion in the book. If there is one thing one should never do it is to feel sorry for him. He won't need it, either: he can only love life if he is allowed to live it to the hilt in whatever manner he chooses. The Tiger is the ultimate optimist who will always bounce back for fresh challenges.
The Tiger could make a good life with the Boar. The honest and good-natured Boar, or Pig as he is often called, will complement the Tiger's rash moods and lend him stability and security. The Tiger will also do extremely well with the realistic and practical Dog. The loyal Dog will stick by the Tiger and is capable not only of restraining the Tiger but of reasoning with him as well.
The colorful but nevertheless down-to-earth Horse will also make a prime partner for the Tiger. They will share the same zest for life and love of activity. But the quick and nimble Horse will sense danger before the headstrong Tiger does, and the Tiger will benefit immensely from the Horse's fine reflexes and good sense.
Persons born in the year of the Rat, Sheep, Rooster or another Tiger will have no difficulty getting on with the Tiger. The one thing the Tiger should never do is to challenge the authority of one born in the year of the Ox. This is one serious and uncompromising fellow who will take no nonsense from the Tiger. In a confrontation, the Ox could gore the Tiger to death.
Likewise, the union between a Snake and Tiger is ill-advised. The only thing these two have in common will be their suspicious nature. But the Snake is quiet, cool and deadly with his misgivings, while the Tiger is loud and accusing. They will not find harmony.
Last, but not least, the Monkey will be the most elusive foe of the Tiger. This quick-witted imp never tires of teasing the Tiger, who ends up losing his infamous temper and making a fool of himself. The matchless guile of the Monkey will prove too much for the Tiger and in his dealings with the Monkey, the Tiger could suffer.
This is definitely an explosive year. It usually begins with a bang and ends with a whimper. A year earmarked for war, disagreement and disasters of all kinds. But it will also be a big, bold year. Nothing will be done on a small, timid scale. Everything, good and bad, can and will be carried to extremes. Fortunes can be made and lost. If you take a chance, gamble for high stakes, but understand that the odds are stacked against you.
People will do drastic and dramatic things on the spur of the moment. It is not surprising that Watergate and the drama of Nixon's resignation culminated in the hotheaded year of the Tiger. Tempers will flare all around and it will be a trying time for diplomacy. Like the Tiger, we will tend to charge without thinking and end up regretting our rashness.
Friendships, joint ventures and deals requiring mutual trust and cooperation made at this time are brittle and will be easily broken. However, the forceful and vigorous Tiger year can also be used to inject new life and vitality into lost causes, sinking ventures and drab or failing industries. It will likewise be a time for massive change, for the introduction of new and bold, especially highly controversial, ideas.
The fiery heat of the Tiger's year will no doubt touch everyone's life. In spite of its negative aspects, we must realize that it could have a cleansing effect. Just as intense heat is necessary to extract precious metals from their ores, so the Tiger year can bring out the best in us.
Just one brief word of advice for this unpredictable year. "Hang on to your sense of humor and let things sizzle out!"
THE TIGER PERSONALITY
In the East, the Tiger symbolizes power, passion and daring. A rebellious, colorful and unpredictable character, he commands awe and respect from all quarters. This fearless and fiery fighter is revered as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts.
The Tiger is a fortunate person to have around, provided you are prepared for all the activity that comes along with his dynamic personality. The impulsiveness and vivacity of the Tiger person are contagious. His vigor and love of life are stimulating. He will arouse every sort of emotion in people, except indifference. In short, the captivating Tiger loves being the center of attention.
Restless and reckless by nature, the Tiger is usually impatiently geared for action. However, because of his suspicious nature, he is prone to waver or make hasty decisions. He finds it hard to trust others or to quell his emotions. He must speak his mind when upset. But just as he is quick-tempered, he is equally sincere, affectionate and generous. What's more, he has a marvelous sense of humor.
Every tiger has the humanitarian touch in him. He loves babies, animals, jazz or anything that can catch his imagination and attention for the span of the moment. When he gets involved, his involvement is total. Everything, even breathing, will have to take second place to the object of his adulation. He is never halfhearted about his endeavors, and one can trust the Tiger to give 100 percent of himself or even more if he had it in him to do so.
The more sensual types usually have a fling at the bohemian life in their youth. Some never grow out of it. Adventurous models seeking romance in Paris, budding painters displaying their wares on street corners, amateur bands on the road, one-night-stand pop singers or ambitious actors working on shoestring budgets are all more likely to be Tiger children than flower children. This may be because, aside from being an optimist, the Tiger is just not materialistic or security conscious.
He must have one phase in his life in which he acts out his impulses-play all the fantastic roles he has cut out for himself. A chance to thumb his nose at what he disapproves of. A time to lash out at society and scoff at binding traditions. The Tiger must express himself, find his identity and shape his personality, and if rebellion or open defiance of accepted modes will offer him the opportunity, then that's the road he will take. Could one love him any less for these imperfections, if they can be labeled as such? No, nine times out of ten we find ourselves rooting for him. We may shake our heads at his audacity and gasp at his insane acts of daring, but just the same we never forget to say a silent prayer for him and feel we have experienced a warm personal triumph when we see him succeed.
When the Tiger is dejected he will need cartloads of sincere, undiluted sympathy. Don't rationalize about who is right and who is wrong. Logic does not appeal so much to him. That's beside the point. Don't be stingy about comforting him. He would do twice as much for you if the situation were reversed. He will love to hear your words of wisdom and will hang on to every kind word of advice. But this doesn't mean that he will take it. There is a difference, you know. It never pays to be arbitrary with this fellow.
Better just hold his hand and wait till he talks himself dry, bounces all his feelings off of you and collects all the pieces of his shattered ego. Then, he will kiss you, hug you and let you go off feeling like you have just put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
After he packs you off, well, in all probability he will go out and do exactly what he was planning to do in the first place.
No matter how down and out the Tiger is, no matter to what depths of despair and depression he plunges, don't believe for one moment that he will ever say die! There will always be a tiny spark left somewhere in that unquenchable spirit of his to rekindle the fire and start him living and loving all over again.
A bit too intense to rely on in times of stress, the Tiger is still renowned for his ability to sway the crowd. At his best, he is warm, sensitive and sympathetic. At his worse, he is obstinate, unreasonable and selfish.
The lady Tiger is the most charming and radiant of hostesses. She can combine home and social life with aplomb. Solicitous, vibrant and absolutely disarming, she is a sweet little kitten only because this act gets her good reviews. But don't taunt her, she keeps her claws sharpened just in case she has need of them.
Fashion-conscious, articulate and liberated, the Tigress likes to pamper herself and can spend hours experimenting with new hair styles, makeup and costumes. She is the type who is constantly lamenting that she has nothing to wear. Actually she is at home just as much in blue jeans as with haute couture. Give a ball and she will turn out to stun them every time. She is great with the children, too. She tells lovely stories, mimics and makes fun of herself, flashes her brilliant smile and, most of all, endears them to her forever by bending all the rules in their favor. When she is around, they can have sweets before dinner, double helpings of ice cream and stay up late for their favorite TV program. Strange to say, her children are no more spoiled than others. They learn their lessons well. Perhaps this is because, after she shows she loves them, she makes sure to enforce the law. She makes them mind their manners, and if they perform well, she is extremely generous with rewards. There will be picnics galore, trips to the zoo and the national parks, or boating and fishing expeditions. Now, how can anyone resist that?
Like the Dragon and Rooster, the Tiger native has a super ego. Money, power and fame will mean nothing if his ego is hurt. Thwarted, the Tiger could turn out to be the meanest and pettiest bully you ever came across. He will go to any length to get revenge, even to bringing down the house with him. Little slights will enrage him, but he may let big issues pass without a fuss. Just remember, he hates being ignored!
Paradoxically, his two main shortcomings in life will be his rashness on one hand and indecision on the other. If he can learn to take the middle of the road, the Tiger will be a roaring success.
At heart, the Tiger is a romantic. He is playful yet passionate and sentimental all at the same time, and it will be quite an experience being in love with or married to one. He or she is also inclined to be over-possessive and quarrelsome when jealous.
The first stage of the Tiger's life will probably be the best. In these formulative years, he could be taught to keep a tight rein on the explosive emotions which could be the ruin of him. In his youth and prime, the Tiger will be absorbed in the pursuit of success and the fulfillment of his dreams. His old age could be calm if he could learn to give up the front seat and just relax. However, this will be difficult as he will be plagued by bittersweet regrets about the things he did and did not do.
On the whole, the Tiger's life will be volatile. It will be filled to the brim with laughter, tears, pain, joy, despair and every conceivable emotion in the book. If there is one thing one should never do it is to feel sorry for him. He won't need it, either: he can only love life if he is allowed to live it to the hilt in whatever manner he chooses. The Tiger is the ultimate optimist who will always bounce back for fresh challenges.
The Tiger could make a good life with the Boar. The honest and good-natured Boar, or Pig as he is often called, will complement the Tiger's rash moods and lend him stability and security. The Tiger will also do extremely well with the realistic and practical Dog. The loyal Dog will stick by the Tiger and is capable not only of restraining the Tiger but of reasoning with him as well.
The colorful but nevertheless down-to-earth Horse will also make a prime partner for the Tiger. They will share the same zest for life and love of activity. But the quick and nimble Horse will sense danger before the headstrong Tiger does, and the Tiger will benefit immensely from the Horse's fine reflexes and good sense.
Persons born in the year of the Rat, Sheep, Rooster or another Tiger will have no difficulty getting on with the Tiger. The one thing the Tiger should never do is to challenge the authority of one born in the year of the Ox. This is one serious and uncompromising fellow who will take no nonsense from the Tiger. In a confrontation, the Ox could gore the Tiger to death.
Likewise, the union between a Snake and Tiger is ill-advised. The only thing these two have in common will be their suspicious nature. But the Snake is quiet, cool and deadly with his misgivings, while the Tiger is loud and accusing. They will not find harmony.
Last, but not least, the Monkey will be the most elusive foe of the Tiger. This quick-witted imp never tires of teasing the Tiger, who ends up losing his infamous temper and making a fool of himself. The matchless guile of the Monkey will prove too much for the Tiger and in his dealings with the Monkey, the Tiger could suffer.
