The year of the water dragon is here to bring prosperity and good fortune for China and the Chinese people in 2012. This year the Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) falls on January 23rd marking the beginning of 15 days of celebration. Also called the “Spring Festival” the Chinese celebrate it as the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Apart from China the Chinese New Year is also being celebrated in countries where significant Chinese people live, such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and in Chinatowns across the world. What else the Chinese New Year is being celebrated with great zest even in Mumbai.

Mumbai retailers and shops elsewhere with Chinese population have been selling stuff like paper lanterns, particularly the ones with dragon painted on a red background like hot cakes. Chinese money plants and bamboo shoots, considered auspicious are also in great demand.

2012 according to the Chinese calendar is the 4709th Chinese year. The Chinese believe that the first king of China, the Yellow King, became king in 2697 B.C.

Chinese tradition dedicates each year to either of the 12 animals: Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram. The year 2012 has gone to Dragon. 2011 was the year of the Rabbit. The Rabbit is symbolic of calm and tranquillity. The Year of the Dragon is about energy, vitality and unbridled enthusiasm. People born under the Dragon are believed to be passionate, brave and self-assured. They are smart, enterprising and have a wicked sense of humour apart from having a natural flair for fashion. However, Dragons in general are blessed with good fortune.

Chinese also tip the new year with either of the five Chinese elements which are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 2012 is tipped to be big on water which would mean riches and abundance. But it could also spell disaster, say many Chinese astrologers. If you are an investor, they bet you to ride the dragon and invest in 2012 in Russia and China.

However, Hong Kong feng shui master Anthony Cheng said to a newspaper that the second half of 2012 would see a scandalous corruption case being exposed in China in which a number of high-ranking officials will be forced to step down.

 

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