The Year of the Chinese Fire Pig 2007

The Chinese New Year begins on February 18, 2007. This will celebrate the 4705 lunar years in the Chinese calendar. This year celebrates the Year of the Pig. There are twelve animal signs for the Chinese calendar and the pig or boar represents the last sign of the lunar calendar. The New Year's festival lasts 15 days.

One of the largest festival parades in the United States is sponsored by Southwest Airlines in downtown San Francisco on March 3, 2007 starting at 5:30 P.M. This celebration was inaugurated in the 1860s to celebrate the Chinese tradition and to provide an entertaining means of educating the public about Chinese immigrants and their history.

The parade extends all over the downtown and has more than 100 displays of paper arts. The 201-foot golden dragon is physically supported by 100 men and women, including the members of the White Crane Martial Arts Club.

The Year of the Pig Meaning:

As with other years the Year of the Pig has special significance for those born during its lunar cycle. This year beginning on February 18, anyone born on or after this date is said to born in the year of the Fire Pig.

People born in 1947 and 2007 are Fire Pigs. Other attributes of the pig include, metal, water, wood, and earth. These are the five elements of existence according to the Chinese. The Fire Pig is vivacious, bold and relentless in achieving a goal they set for themselves. While some may call the Pig lazy, more accurately the pig is simply biding its time for the opportunity. Once in motion the Pig is unstoppable.

The Chinese tradition begins on the first day by abstaining from meat as a means to ensure a long and happy life. The second day is devoted to dogs who are given special care because this is the birthday of the dog. The third and fourth day are devoted to the in-laws of the family. The son-in-law and parents-in-law exchange gifts of respect and mutual admiration. Po Woo is the fifth day where everyone stays home to welcome the God of wealth and prosperity for the New Year.

On day six of the Chinese festival all pay visits to temples and holy places to pray for their families. It is all right to visit with friends and neighbors during this day and is appropriate up to the tenth day of the festival.

On the seventh day noodles and raw fish is served in all household to celebrate the birth of mankind. This is also a day where farmers display their bounty of the previous year's harvest. To
celebrate this great day a vegetable beverage is served containing seven vegetable ingredients.

On the eighth day certain households hold midnight prayers for the God of the Heavens, Tian Gong. This is a day of thanks and remembrance.

On the ninth day certain offerings are made to the Jade Emperor. From the tenth day to the fourteenth day dinners are held in which foods like rice, congee and mustard greens are served. These food items purify the human system for all of the havoc caused by the previous days of party food.

The fifteenth day is known as the Lantern Festival which takes place always at night. This year's Lantern Festival is March 3 and as mentioned above is celebrated by a spectacular parade and food fares.

The celebration in Beijing on February 18 is a visual wonder when the boys and girls parade through the streets with a mile long stick and perform acrobatic tricks and mime for their elders. This day bids farewell to the previous Year of the Dog and welcomes the Year of the Pig.