The Chinese New Years (二)

12 Animal Zodiacs

Traditionally in China, every lunar year have one presiding animal as the year animal zodiac and 12 years is one cycle. They are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar)

Rat (Born: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008): Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, cruel, dictatorial, rigid, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.

OX (Born: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997): Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.

Tiger (Born: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish.

Rabbit (Born: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999): Gracious, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, lazy.

Dragon (Born: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000): Magnanimous, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, direct, eager, zealous, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, ambitious, generous, loyal. Can be arrogant, tyrannical, demanding, eccentric, dogmatic, over-bearing, impetuous, brash.

Snake (Born: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious.

Horse (Born: 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn, lack stability, perseverance.

Sheep (Born: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer.

Monkey (Born: 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, cunning, jealous, suspicious.

Rooster (Born: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated.

Dog (Born: 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amiable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, dogged. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.

Pig (Born: 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007): Honest, simple, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naive, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

So, find out what is your animal zodiac and see if the characteristics are right :)

The Chinese New Year (part 1)

The Chese New Year（一）

The chinese new year of 2009 is at the 26 of Jan 2009 according to the lunar calendar, it is the year of OX. My last time celebrate the new year with my family in China is nearly 6 years ago, I miss it so much.

Even because of the education systems changed in C.I.T that we might have about month holiday in Jan, but for some reason that I still can not go to China for holiday in next Jan. I decided to write interesting thing about the Chinese year, for my homesickness and also for the people who are interested in the Chinese culture.

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (pronounced “Chūn Jié” in Mandarin) or the Lunar New Year, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays as well the important holiday in East Asia. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th, this day is called the Lantern festival.

Chinese New Year's Eve (pronounced as “Chú Xī”). “Chu” literally means change and “Xi” means Eve.

Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had a strong influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly the Janpanese before 1873. In Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries with significant Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by overseas Chinese, but it is not part of the traditional culture of these countries. In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates.

Mythologies

According to legend, in ancient China , the “Nián” was a man-eating beast from the mountains which came out every 12 months somewhere close to winter to prey on humans. The people later believed that the “Nian” was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. “Guò nián”, which means to celebrate the New Year, literally means the passover of the “Nian”.

Key Words in Spring Festival

Red Packets

Traditionally, Red envelopes or red packets are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is common for adults to give red packets to children. Red envelopes always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. The amount of money in the red packets should be of even numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. Since the number 4 is considered bad luck, because the word for four is a homophone for death, money in the red envelopes never adds up to ￥4. However, the number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"), and ￥8 is commonly found in the red envelopes. Sometimes chocolate coins are found in the red packets. A married person would not turn down such request for red packet as it would mean that he or she would be "out of luck" in the new year.

Fireworks

Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. In modern times, this method has eventually evolved into the use of firecrachers during the festive season. Firecrackers are usually strung on a long fused string so it can be hung down. Each firecracker is rolled up in red papers, as red is auspicious, with gunpowder in its core. Once ignited, the firecracker lets out a loud popping noise and as they are usually strung together by the hundreds, the firecrackers are known for its deafening explosions that it is thought to scare away evil spirits. The lighting of firecrackers also signifies a joyous occasion and has become an integral aspect of Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Chinese New Year (part 2)

E X A M S

I got my exam timetables this afternoon, its horrible.

the exams starts 15th next month, and only 3 weeks left. this is my first year in cit, and the college modules changed this year, i used to talk to some of my friends who are in higher level than me, from what they told me, i still think the previous college system is better than the "modules" now. the college starts mid of Sep and ends the beginning of Dec. in about 50-60 days time do 6 subjects. in my opinion, the time is far not enough. don't think about the average of 10 days for a subject, there were some class canceled for some reason, the absence of class because the sickness, the co-operation of other classmate for the group works and the quality of the lecturing etc. all these negative factors are slowing down our studies or became barrier to the studies.

hopefully in the next three weeks time, i could put 100% of my effort to the study and get a good result.

My x-mas thought

maybe last Thursday or Friday, when i had talk with my friends, i realized that the christmas is coming, well there still over a month time to it i really can't wait for it.

In China, chrismas is still not a public holiday, until recent years, the school and college student may get half day off on chrismas day. even though, except the half day off, i didn't feel its a holiday, there's no chrismas gift, no chrismas dinner and no such nice dressing in the house or the beautiful lights on the street. the chrismas in 2003 was my first chrismas in cork, i was really impressed.

The Chinese new year usually falls in between the middle of Jan and the end of Feb according to the lunar calender. I think for the reason of Chinese people is small population in Ireland, so there is no big public celebration and even no off day for the new year. its pitty, so by the time i stay here longer, i still look forward the Chinese new year but not as much as in China. So, the chrismas became more and more popular to me personally, visiting friends, have nice party, nice dinner and all other celebrations.

By the way, one thing i hated is that the exams are around the chrismas time, i don't mind its before or after chrismas, if i have enough time to study for the exam, i will be ok.

How i get on in C.I.T. so far.

All the first assignments for all modules are finished.
So far i guess i did not to bad.
For Algorithmic Problem Solving i got 42%.
For Programming fundamentals i got 100%.
For Statistical Calculations i got 75%.
Hope i can keep going.

Halloween!!

Worst halloween ever. We have every things ready for the weekend, but who knows my girl gets sick on thursday. She was vomiting few times on thursday morning, so we bring her to the hospital by the afternoon. Because she was not drinking and she has height temperture, the doctor wants to keep her in the hospital just in case.
So all that weekend i was stay at the hospital to look after her, until tuesday morning we went to home.

Cultures!!

I am from ShangHai, but ShangHai people don't usually cook dumpling themselves, instead we buy the frozen dumpling from the market which it is made already and we just need to steam or boil it.
This doesn't mean we don't like dumpling but compare with the people from north China, they make and cook dumpling very often, not necessary on some particular festival such as New Year Eve, New Years, National Day, The Middle Autumn Festival etc.

Chris is from north China, he likes dumpling very much. The far distance of our two cities may lead to two different cultures in two cities, for example language and food(or the taste of food).