Goodbye Tiger, Hello Rabbit

While most folks in the USA have probably already forgotten their New Year's resolutions, those in Asia are just getting ready for their most important New Year celebration - the Lunar New Year, that is.

The Lunar New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. This year, the New Year is on February 3 and celebrations will continue through February 18. This means that many businesses will close for duration of the holiday, people who live far from their families will travel home, and many, many celebrations and ceremonies are about to take place. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2011 will usher in the Year of the Rabbit, ending 2010s Year of the Tiger.

Regardless of the zodiac sign, of the traditional way to prepare for the Lunar New Year is to thoroughly clean the house, literally sweeping away any bad luck from the old year and making room for the good luck that is about to come. A fresh coat of paint on a house door, buying a new outfit and shoes, and getting a hair cut are also ways of getting ready. On New Year's Eve, a traditional meal is served, consists of dumplings (representing wealth) and noodles (representing longevity).

On the first day of the New Year, abstaining from meat is supposed to help ensure longevity. Some believe that using knives and lighting fires on the first day is bad luck, so all meals should be prepared in advance. The first day is also the day when families visit the most senior members of their families (e.g. grandparents, great-grandparents).

On the second day, people pray to their ancestors and gods. It's also a day when married daughters are to visit their parents. Interestingly, people are supposed to be especially nice to dogs on this day, as it's considered the birthday of all dogs.

Also, no cleaning is allowed on the first and second days - otherwise, the new good luck might accidentally get washed away!

The third day, known as "chi gou" or "the god of blazing wrath", is not considered a good day for socializing!

On the fourth day, people begin to resume a bit of their normal lives and by the 8th day most people are back to work. Several other smaller traditions take place between the 8th and the final day. The exchange of red envelopes (small red envelopes containing small amounts of money to show thanks and respect) continues throughout. The 15th day culminates in a latern festival and marks the end of the New Year festivities.

While the Lunar New Year and our traditional New Year are different in many ways, one thing is the same: the new year is about making a fresh start. So, for those of us who celebrate both holidays, we get a second chance! :)

We won't be following all of these traditions...our preparation includes getting packed for a trip, then heading to Thailand on Sunday. I'd say that's a good start to a New Year!