February 4 – Year of the Horse

nPostednon February 4, 2014

ChinesenNew Year came early this year – on January 31!

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nAfterna weekend of celebrations here, there, and everywhere—parades,nparties, and fireworks—you might think that the holiday was over.

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nButnyou would be wrong.

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nThenChinese New Year Festival is actually a bit longer than two weeksnlong. In 2014, it ends on February 14, which is the date of thenLantern Festival. Between now and then, there are many specialndays such as God of Wealth’s birthday, common person’s birthday, andnJade Emperor’s birthday. I think the most interesting of these (whichnthis year falls on February 6) is Renri, the common person’snbirthday. According to Chinese tradition, it is supposed to be thenanniversary of the date that human beings were created. It is the daynthat everyone adds one year to his or her age!

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n(Inam so used to adding a year to my age on my personal birthday; I findnit fascinating to discover that, in some cultures, everyone “ups”ntheir age on the same day!)

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nThenspirit of the horse is energetic and capable, smart and warm-hearted.nPeople born in the year of the horse (including 2002, 1990, 1978,n1966, and 1954) are supposed to have those good qualities.

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n(SincenI was born in the Year of the Horse, all I can say to that is, “Well,nobviously!”

Of course, the reality is that Chinesenhoroscope descriptions, like other horoscope and numerologyndescriptions, are so general and often complimentary, we can easilynfind ways to apply them to ourselves and others. There isn’t, really,nmagic in numbers and dates, as you can easily see if you think aboutnthe fact that we have changed our calendars drastically since thentraditions were created!)