I’ve just been reminded that the 29th of January is Chinese New Year. This post is a little pre-emptive, but given that China is a good few hours ahead of us it is New Year there already! :) I believe the correct words at this time are Kung Hei Fat Choi!
For those that don’t know how Chinese New Year is named:
January 29, 2006 is the first day of the Chinese new year.
There are three ways to name a Chinese year:
1. By an animal (like a mscot).
This year is known as the Year of the Dog.
There are 12 animal names; so by this system, year names are re-cycled every 12 years.
2. By its Formal Name (Stem-Branch).
The new year is the year of bingxu.
In the ‘Stem-Branch’ system, the years are named in 60-year cycles, and the Name of the Year is repeated every 60 years.
2006 is the 7th year in the current 60-year cycle.
3. It is Year 4703 by the Chinese calendar.[A few Chinese astrological/zodiac websites believe this year should be considered as Year 4704 for zodiac calculations.] (chinapage.com)
