Happy New Year, Again?

I am on vacation and loving life. It is time to celebrate New Year's once again. It is Chinese New Year which is also known as Lunar New Year. It is the year of the RAT! Rats were born in these years: 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, etc. (just keep adding 12years) According to Legend it is said 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 rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking.

The 15 days celebration that brings China to a stand still began on February 1st and will end of February 15th, 2008. The working people take weeks off of work and shut down there businesses. All of the people go and visit their loved ones. They tend to flock to their grandparents homes or the family member with the biggest home. They hurry in a frenzy to the bank to trade there old money for new money to give to the children as a New Year tradition. It is practically a ghost town until the day after New Year's. New Year's is on February 7th this year according to the lunar calendar year and it is Chinese year 4706. On New Year's everyone wears red symbolizing fire which they believe drives away bad luck! My co-workers are in China and Thailand enjoying the celebrations and me I am at home relaxing and catching up on some work, something does not add up...Okay, so why am I not there??

Until Next Time...

Love God, Love Life, & Love Yourself because if you don't who will?

~N.