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Health & Fitness

Chinese New Year 2014

Chinese New Year takes place on 31 January, 2014 - next year is the Year of the Horse (MA in Chinese) - good luck for people born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, and 2012. 

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 horse years are cheerful, skillful with money, perceptive, witty, talented and good with their hands. RembrandtHarrison FordAretha FranklinChopinSandra Day O'Connor, and President Theodore Roosevelt were born in the year of the horse.

At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

"Gung Hsi Fa Tsai" (Happy New Year)

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"Hong Bao Na Lai" (Now give me the Red Envelope) said by Children to adults and between friends jokingly

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