The Chinese calendar, considered by many to be the most important festival of any given year, represents each year by one of 12 zodiac animals included in the cycle of twelve stations or “signs” along the apparent path of the sun through the sky. The 12 zodiac animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
2022 is slated to be the year of the water tiger; the celebrations will start on February 1 and run through February 15 this particular year. During this time, Chinese business life often comes almost to a stop…..home and family become the principal focus.
The tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and the zodiac is associated with strength, exorcising evils and bravery.
Many people thoroughly clean their houses to prepare for this time to eliminate “huiqi,” or inauspicious breaths, which may have accumulated during the old year. This cleaning is also meant to “appease the gods who would be coming down from heaven to make inspections”.
In any case, this is a chance to bring in the new and get rid of the old….let’s make the next year far better than the last!
