|
Committee on Multicultural Initiatives and
Diversity - COMID The
mission of the Committee on Multicultural Initiatives and
Diversity (COMID) is to foster our community and
environment where the richness of our diversity is
recognized, respected and embraced. Our view on diversity
includes, but is not limited to, ethnic, racial and
linguistic heritage; religious traditions; gender; sexual
orientation; age; and socioeconomic status.
Back to
Multicultural Home
Chinese New Year
The
Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day
of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later.
The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and
solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In
order to ‘catch up’ with the solar calendar, the Chinese
insert an extra month once every few years. This is the same
as adding as extra day on leap year. This is why, according
to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a
different date each year.
Legend has it that in
ancient times,
Buddha asked all
the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came,
and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that
the people born in each animal's year would have some of
that animal's personality. Those born in dog years tend to
be loyal, kind, and generous. They will work to right
wrongs and are able to keep secrets.
Bill
Clinton,
Shirley MacLain,
Benjamin Franklin,
and
Jane
Goodall were all
born in the year of the dog.
This year, Chinese New
Year is February 18th,
and February 17th
is New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are
celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and
thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted
with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and
Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
The coming year is the
Year of the Dog; if you are 60, 48, 36, 24, 12 years old,
you ‘might’ be born in the Year of Dog.
|
