We wish all our contacts, clients and agents a very Happy Chinese New Year 2022. This year the celebrations started on 1st February, the event is China’s equivalent of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day all wrapped up into one big festival lasting for more than two weeks.
The date changes every year as it is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, but is always somewhere in the period from 21 January to 20 February.
Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are the same thing. It is known as Lunar New Year because it begins with the rise of the second new moon, after the winter solstice. It is also called the Spring Festival and is celebrated by 2 billion people around the world.
Celebration of CNY starts with fireworks on the eve of the holiday, and the first week of festivities (from 1-7 February this year) is a national public holiday in China. The celebrations end with lanterns, the 15th day of the New Year marks the first full moon. So this day is known as the Festival of Lanterns, where all types of lanterns are displayed, released into the sky and lit throughout the streets.
Every new year introduces another animal from the Chinese zodiac and its attributes. 2022 will be the year of the tiger. Which means people born this year will share the tiger’s characteristics.
These include:
• Vigor and ambition
• Daring and courage
• Enthusiasm and generosity
• Self-confidence
• A sense of justice and a commitment to help others for the greater good
Solar Calendars
Solar calendars are in popular and legal usage across much of the world, however many people in China and South East Asia follow the more traditional lunar calendar.
Whereas solar calendars are based on the earth’s passage around the sun, lunar ones base their timings off the different phases of the moon.
It means months tend to be either 29 or 30 days in length, and years are between 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar calendar.
Most cultures around the world have used lunar calendars at some point in their history. Even our Gregorian calendar, introduced in Europe almost 450 years ago, has its origins in the lunar cycle.
The Chinese zodiac
Every new year introduces another animal from the Chinese zodiac and its attributes. The zodiac system has been going for an estimated 2,000 years and remains central to Chinese culture. Many people in China use it to determine their fortune for the year and even who they should marry.
There are 12 animals in all, and it is believed that the order of the animals comes from the story of the Great Race.
Jade Emperor, one of the most important gods in Chinese tradition, invited a series of animals to a race of which 12 species turned up – Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Hose, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
To reward their efforts for attending, years are named after them in the order in which they finished the race.
The story goes that the Rat rode on the back of the Ox as he crossed the river and shot off to the finish line to take first place.
This meant the Ox, who had been due to win the race, had to settle for second place. The next animal to cross the finish line was the tiger followed by the rabbit, dragon, horse, snake, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and finally the pig
Different personality traits are represented with each animal and the zodiac provides guidance on how people live their lives.
What do the zodiac animals mean?
Rat
People born in the year of the Rat are thought to be intelligent, crafty and optimistic. However, they may also be rude, ruthless or nervous.
They’re born in: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Ox
Ox’s positive qualities include being honest, loyal and hard-working. But they can be stubborn and judgemental.
Ox’s are born in: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Tiger
The tiger’s characteristics are courage and energy, love of a challenge or competition and they are prepared to take risks. But they can also be rebellious, short-tempered and outspoken, preferring to give orders rather than take them.
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010 were all Tiger years.
The longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch in British history Queen Elizabeth II was born in the year of the Tiger.
Rabbit
Those born in the year of the Rabbit are believed to be clever, compassionate and generous. Their negative traits include being over-cautious and vain.
You’re a Rabbit if your birth year falls on: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Dragon
The fifth place in the Great Race was the Dragon thought to be brave, charismatic and a natural leader. They can be seen as the most desirable sign. Their supposed lack of willpower, inflexibility and stubbornness can be seen as their weaknesses.
Dragon’s are born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
Snake
The Snake’s positive qualities are being wise, empathetic and intuitive. It is also associated with being jealous, vain and materialistic.
Those born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037
Horse
Qualities of the Horse include honesty, being talented and a dream-chaser. However, they can be overconfident, short-tempered and impatient at times.
They are born in: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038
Goat/Sheep
Goats or Sheep are considered to be resilient, strong and compassionate but also indecisive, anxious and disorganised.
A goat or sheep is born in 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039
Monkey
The Year of the Monkey people are believed to be charming, intelligent and confident. Their bad qualities are being impatient, arrogant and self-centred.
These are born in 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040
Rooster
Roosters are supposedly decisive, capable and honest. They can be insensitive, controlling and critical of others sometimes.
Years include 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041
Dog
Those born in the Year of the Dog are loyal, brave and responsible. The negative attributes associated with them is being too sensitive, stubborn and cynical.
Born in 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042
Pig
The pig finished in last place in the old folk’s tale but they have good qualities like being intelligent, creative and compassionate. Their weaknesses can be being insecure, gullible and emotional.
Pig’s are born in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043
Happy Chinese New Year 2022 from all of us at TPS Global Logistics.