Chinese New Year
2008 Year of the
Earth Rat
February 7, 2008 - January 25, 2009
Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year!).

The Chinese calendar is based on solar and lunar
cycles and thus the new year falls on a different day
of the Western solar calendar each year.

Year Ahead:
The beginning of a new cycle. The Year of the Rat is
fast-paced and a time of new opportunities and fresh
starts.

Characteristics:
People Born in the Year of the Rat are charasmatic,
intelligent, quick-witted and are very social and
popular.

Compatible business partners
People born in the years of the dragon, rabbit,
monkey, oxen and pig.

Good Careers for Rats:
writers, broadcasters, actors, advisors, counsellors,
lawyers, politicians, designers, engineers, managers,
directors, adminitrators, entrepreneurs, musicians,
stand-up comedians, researchers, historians, race car
drivers

Compatible Friends:
dragons, monkeys

Love Partners:
Best with: dragons, monkeys
Strong sexual attraction to,: other rats, oxen,
snakes, and pigs
Conflict with: Roosters, Sheep, Horses, Rabbits

Click Here to find out what Animal sign you were born
under.

2008 Horoscopes for Year of the Rat.
If you were born in the year of the Rat:
This year will be a busy time for rat people and one
where they will have great success. A great time for
both financial gain and in widening social networks.

If you were born in the year of the OX:
OX people can expect to do very well in their careers
and business prospect in the Year of the Rat. However,
when it come to love relationships it could be tricky.

If you were born in the year of the Tiger:
Tigers need to watch their finances this year as the
inclination will be to take undue risks, guard against
this and control your spending. Your social life will
do well and you will do well emotionally.

If you were born in the year of the Rabbit:
The rabbit personality needs calm and so the rat year
can be difficult for them. It may be a bit of a
struggle, however, good progress can be made
financially. Do go ahead with new projects.

If you were born in the year of the Dragon:
Because the Year of the Rat is lively and exciting,
the Dragon will do very well this year. This is a time
to be bold gutsy - you will corner the market. Your
love life will run smoothly this year.

If you were born in the year of the Snake:
This is a busy year and a time to seize the
opportunities coming your way. You will find the year
invigorating and will motivate your creativity.

If you were born in the year of the Horse:
This is a year for Horses to keep a low profile as it
can be a difficult year. Next year will be a much
better year.

If you were born in the year of the Sheep:
This year will bring a steady progression to the lives
of the Sheep. You can make good head-way in your
business and career, as well as personally. The trends
are in your favor.

If you were born in the year of the Monkey:
Go for it this year, Monkey. A great year to promote
ambitions and projects. A lucky year for the Monkey to
succeed in all areas.

If you were born in the year of the Rooster:
A year to keep a low profile. Progress will be slow in
careers and relationships can be difficult. Next year
will be a much better year.

If you were born in the year of the Dog:
Advancement is the word of the year for the dog
person. This is a time for new things and any new
projects and schemes will bring success. This is a
prosperous year for you.

If you were born in the year of the Pig:
Think positive this year, the year of the rat can be
destabilizing for Pigs. Although pigs do not like the
fast-pace of the rat and find this year's pace a
little disturbing, they will win through in the end.

Celebrating Chinese New Years.

The days before Chinese New Year’s are spent
thoroughly cleaning and decorating the home (often
with red banners, as red is considered especially
auspicious), preparing special foods, getting a
haircut and mending old clothes. Everything is meant
to look fresh and new to set the tone of the coming
year.

Red is said to be the luckiest color and most
celebrants decorate their homes with red banners and
dress in red for the celebrations.

Ideas for celebrating:
Host a Chinese potluck and invite your friends and
family over to celebrate the Chinese New Year with
you. Be sure to decorate your home with red!

If there is a large Chinese community in your town or
city, check to see what will be going on. Often dragon
dances, parades and other festivities are scheduled
and open to the public. Check your local listings or
contact the local Chinese cultural centre or cultural
association. The bright and open celebrations are not
to be missed!

Red paper scrolls: Chun lian are special Chinese
couplets, often written on red paper, which are hung
outside the front door of houses and businesses. The
sayings are meant to bring luck and fortune to the
dwelling for the coming year. Check out the following
pages to learn more about chun lian and how to write a
common Chinese verses in the beautiful Chinese
calligraphy.
http://www.chinapage.com/duilian/chunlian0.html
http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/learn/class_newyear.html
http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/new_year_g.html

Red Packets - Hongbao, or red packets filled with
money, are given to children on Chinese New Year’s by
parents, grandparents, friends and other relatives to
symbolize luck and wealth. Making red packets is a
fun family activity that is easy enough for even young
kids and a couple of dollars put into each makes them
a well-received gift. Check out the following page
for directions on how to make them:
http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/class_packet.html

Paper Lanterns The Spring Festival (Chinese New
Year’s) lasts for 15 days and is marked at the end of
it by the lantern festival (Yunxiao). Celebrating the
first full moon of the year, paper lanterns were
traditionally carried into the streets for a community
parade and were often accompanied by fabulous folk
dances, including the dragon dance. Try making paper
lanterns to hang around your home as part of your
Chinese New Year’s celebrations. Directions can be
found at:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lantern/






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