Everything you need to know about the Year Of The Ox
As we get ready to ring in the Chinese New Year on Friday, we’ve got the lowdown on what you need to know about the Year Of The Ox.
The Year Of The Rat is officially over and this Friday (12 February 2021), we get ready to ring in the Year Of The Ox as the Chinese New Year celebrations officially kick-off.
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The New Year is the biggest event in the Chinese calendar. The event signals the beginning of spring and the start of a new year. Each new year is signified by a one of 12 animals which rotate. These include a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
The ox is the second animal in the rotation. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The ox was about to be the first to arrive, but the rat tricked the ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived, the rat jumped down and landed ahead of the ox. Therefore, the ox found itself as the second animal on the emperor’s list.
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The ox is one of the most respected animals in Chinese culture so, naturally, the Year Of The Ox is a year many look forward to. The ox is a strong animal and plays an important role in agriculture. Therefore, positive characteristics, such as being hardworking and honest, are attributed to it.
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The Chinese New Year is celebrated by exchanging gifts with those closest to you. Chinese tradition sees the exchange of red New Year envelopes filled with lucky money. Those celebrating also traditionally eat dumplings during the celebration because they are shaped like old silver and gold ingots (an ancient form of currency or coins). Many believe that eating dumplings during the New Year celebrations will bring one prosperity throughout the year.
As we get ready to welcome in the new year, East Coast Radio wishes all our listeners celebrating a year full of happiness, health, and prosperity.
Main image courtesy of iStock