My Chinese Decor

May be like me, most of you wondering why Chinese have their own New Year Season. Like Westearn Country they prepare a lot for the coming of New Year Holidays. Their so busy preparing festive foods and doing general cleaning in and out of their houses and offices, to ward away the bad luck of the passing year.

Though not totally influence by Chinese culture, Filipino people too sometimes believe and practice Chinese traditions and put some good luck things in their houses.

And I have some of those too that they said are lucky ornaments in the house. Some were just given to me by friends. But whether they are good luck or not I find them as beautiful displays in my house. And my belief is that my "Faith to my Creator" that brings good luck to me. And of course with self discipline and hard work.

Symbolic word to bring about good fortune in the new year,
in front door but actually don't know what's the meaning of this,
perhaps "harmony"....pls. correct me if I'm wrong.

Placing harmonious wind chimes at the entrance of a home will help to contain good fortune, while also warding away evil spirits.

The Golden Ingot - an ancient Chinese currency.
Gold ingots symbolize wealth, abundance and prosperity.

Carp fishes are strongly associated with wealth.
Symbol of endurance, perseverance and fortitude.
In Buddhism the fish symbolizes freedom from all restraints.

Dolphins - Symbolizing the wisdom, peace, harmony, responsibility, caring and love

The presence of 8 immortals (Pa Hsien) in one’s home is said to bring peace and happiness to the homeowner.

ZUANG GUOLAO ( CHANG KUO-LAO)

He is represented as an Old Man riding a donkey. As a rule with his mule and carrying drum and iron sticks.

ZHONG-LI QUAN( CHUNG-LI CHUAN )

This is the familiar Fat Man with his bare belly showing. He always carries a fan and sometimes a peach. He represents the military man and considered the Chief of the Immortals.

HAN XIANG-ZI ( HAN HSIANG-TSU )

This is the happy Immortal that is always seen playing a flute.I t is said that Han could make flowers bloom with just his will, and soothe wild animals with his music. Patron deity musicians.

HE XIAN-GU ( HO HSIEN-KU )

One of two female Immortals, He Xian-Gu carries with her a magical Lotus flower.

LAN CAI-HE ( LAN TS'AI-HO )

The second woman amongst the Immortals is always shown wearing a tattered blue gown and only one shoe. The strolling singer, with basket of flowers as her symbol, and is usually carried with her.

LI TIE-GUAI ( LI TIEH-KUAI )

He is the most recognizable of the Eight Immortals.The Iron crutch Li. He is depicted as a lame beggar carrying a double gourd and crutch.

LU DONG-BIN ( LU TUNG-PIN )

With fly-whisker, look like or dress like scholar that has a magic sword used to slay dragons and demons. The patron deity of barbers.

CAO GUO-JUI ( TS'AO KUO-CHIU )

The patron deity of actors, finest dressed of the Eight Immortals. He is always shown wearing formal court dress and carrying castinets or a jade tablet of admission to court.

The laughing Buddha embody the ideals of the good life, health, happiness, prosperity and longevity.
Laughing Buddha of Love - sitting in love and compassion
Laughing Buddha of Prosperity - holding a Ru-Yi Pot or Bowl of Plenty up to the universe for receiving abundance.
Laughing Buddha of Safe Travel - on a journey with a hemp sack full of protection.
Laughing Buddha of Happy Home - sitting on a large gold nugget representing solid foundation, with a smaller nugget in his hand to give to others.
Spiritual Journey Buddha - dressed for the journey in fine robes, with a fan for understanding and a sack to collect insights.
Laughing Buddha of Long Life - sitting with his fan hat and enjoying the good life!

The couple

Elephants are known to be very spiritual, nurturing and loving creatures, greatly affected by family ties. And signifies strength, energy and wisdom.

The Three legged frog often with a coin in the mouth,signify tremendous good fortune and prosperity in Feng Shui.

The 8 running horses
Horses symbolizes power, grace, beauty nobility, strength and freedom.
I have lot of horses figurines but they are still in my storage, so no photos yet.

The 3 House Gods: Fuk, Luk and Sau

FUK - God of prosperity and good luck, the one holding a scroll.
LUK - God of honor and abundance, holding a scepter that symbolizing power and authority.
SAU - God of health and long life, with walking stick.

Happy Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year In Chinese

The Chinese most important traditional holidays is the Lunar New year (also called spring festival). It begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as chu xi ("Year-pass Eve").

Concerning the celebration, the people will buy presents, food, clothing and lots of decoration and materials for good luck. Thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. And during the Eve of Chinese New Year, a festive supper with families. All special foods and sweet delicacies on the table. And lightning with firecrackers will end the night.

In the next early morning, children will greet the elders by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes (known as Hong Bao in Mandarin, Ang Pao in Taiwanese Hokkien and here in Philippines too and Lai See in Cantonese, and li xi in Vietnamese) .

Chinese has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors too, like Koreans (Seollal), Tibetans and Bhutanese (Losar), Mongolians (Tsagaan Sar), Vietnamese (Tet), and the Japanese before 1873 (Oshogatsu).

Seol-nal In Korea

Note: "Seol-nal" pronounced as “seol-lal”.

This holiday started today and will end the next day (3 days holiday - Feb. 13-15) but the actual "Seol-nal" is tomorrow, Feb. 14'10, same date as Valentines day.

They said that"Seol-nal" or the Lunar new year is one of the two biggest holidays in Korean and the other one is the Thanksgiving day or “Chu-seok”, that is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar (Sept. 21-23'10, 3 day holiday too). These holidays are based on the lunar calendar, the dates on the Gregorian calendar changes every year.

It is said that the wife of the first born son of the family are the ones who will prepare foods and everything for the celebration of the holidays. And as I've heard that made most Korean women hate the holiday.

On the first day , they do all the cooking and preparations for next morning’s offering for the ancestors in the eldest son's house. They had to make “tteok” or rice cakes, “mandu” or Korean dumplings, “jeon” or panfried food and “banchan” or side dishes.

On new year’s day, the adults wake up early to prepare the table for the ancestral rites called “cha-rye”. Foods to be offered are prepared and place properly and attractively on wooden containers (“je-gi”). Every food group has to be represented. There should be food taken from the land as well as the sea. Everybody wears a “hanbok” (traditional korean clothes). Only the men are allowed to do the offering for the ancestors, but the women in my family also pay respects by bowing (called “jeol”).

The men of the family offer the food to the ancestors by placing the spoons in the rice. They will also fill the wooden cups with wine (“sul”) and place them on the stand. After the offering, a white paper with the ancestors’ names written on it is burned. The descendants then bow (men first then the women) and after wards drink the wine and eat the food on the altar.

Then the juniors bow to the seniors and receive their new year’s “sebe ton” (money). And after the ceremony, it's the only time that the whole family can eat thier breafast in the table full of foods same as what they offered in the altar for their ancestors.

Then, they would have to visit the tombs of the ancestors.

The Chinese Calendar

The Year of 2010 is the Year of a Golden Tiger, which begins on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011 in the Chinese Zodiac. The Tiger is the third sign in the cycle.

Some body asked me that "Why choose animals? Why not the year of good, or gentleness or humor or something else like that?". So I post this article to give her some knowledge about Chinese astrology though I'm a Christian and not a Chinese. But we know already that most Asian people adopt this tradition and I can agree with their interpretations.


The rotating cycle of twelve animal signs was a folk method for naming the years in traditional China. The animal signs for one another in an established order, and are repeated every twelve years. The year 1998 was a Tiger year too and now it's back after 12 years (2010) .

The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart".

Your sign is determined by the year in which you were born. The zodiac of twelve animal sign represents twelve different types of personality.

The following are the Twelve Chinese Animal signs in order and their characteristics:

To know which one is yours, look up the year of your birth below and look at the qualities of that animal to see how much of it agrees with you:

RAT - the sign of charm

Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

People born in the Year of the Rat are famous for cheerfulness and kindness. They are generous with those they love. Rat people love to gossip. That can cost them many friendships if they are not careful. Rats are intelligent, charming, ambitious – and often successful in business. They are adventurous and deep thinking. They are quick to spot potential and put their creative, clever ideas into effect. At times they may appear stubborn, selfish and greedy, as they approach things wholeheartedly.
They are energetic and great organizers, so if you want something done call in a Rat. They are suited to careers in shopkeeping, sales, buying and selling, accountancy , as a writer, critic or publicist. Rats shine in managerial positions. In partnership, Rats are faithful if their partner provides the security and love they need.
Rats get along well with Dragons and Monkeys.


OX/BULL/COW - the sign of tenacity

Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

I was born under this sign, perhaps there is some truth in this.

People born under Ox year are patient, quiet yet inspire confidence in others. They are steady, honest, gentle, hard work and reliable. They are eccentric and temperamental. They speak little but when they do they are quite articulate. Mentally and physically alert, they are generally easy going but can be stubborn and they hate to fail and opposed.
Ox people are easy going and have a great deal of self-assurance that helps help them to be successful. Ox people have thoughtful responses. Ox people love deeply and share their strength with those they love. They prefer a truthful, loyal and committed partner.
They work well in careers to do with the earth, visual arts, farming, estate management, cooking, religion and medicine. They are often very skilled with their hands.
They are compatible with Snake, Rooster and Rat people.

TIGER - the sign of courage

Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Tiger people are brave, powerful, very sensitive, loyal, intelligent, competent, and stubborn. Tigers make great friends. Tiger people tend not to respect their elders and that can get them in a lot of trouble. They are sometimes indecisive and have poor judgment.
They are compatible with Horses, Dragons and Dogs.

RABBIT/HARE - the sign of prudence


Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Rabbit people are lucky, happy, independent, affectionate, bright, ambitious, and trustworthy. They are sensitive to beauty and aim for peace in life. Rabbit people have little interest in learning to appear smart. They simply like to know how things work. They have excellent taste, clever at business and often make the correct choices that make them financially lucky. The Rabbit is considered the luckiest of the Chinese Zodiac animals. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind.
You are most compatible with the Goat , the dog and the Pig. Your opposite is the Rooster.

DRAGON - the sign of good fortune

Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Dragon people are honest and sensitive, full of strength and energy, short tempered and stubborn, but loyal, . They are also brave and they inspire confidence and trusts in others, and protective. They are powerful, wealthy and wise.They are the most eccentric of any in the Eastern Zodiac. They never borrow many, they are very straight forwarded and tend to be soft hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. That is their weakness.
The Dragon was a symbol of Imperial power in ancient China; and Chinese consider it a great honor to be born in the Year of the Dragon. This belief is so strong that every time the Year of the Dragon comes around, there is a mini Baby Boom in this year.
They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys and Roosters

SNAKE/SERPENT - the sign of wisdom

Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

Snake people are wise and focused.They are emotionally and spiritually deep.They trust their own judgment. Snake people cannot help but do their best because they hate to fail at anything. Appealing calm on the surface, they are intense and passionate creatures. They are vain and inclined towards physical beauty.
Befriend the Rooster and the Ox but not the Pig.

HORSE - the sign of elegance

Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Horse people are popular, very attractive, cheerful, quick witted, wise, talented, very good with their hands and shy. For some reason, horse people have a great deal of trouble believing they are loved, when in fact, horse people are easy to like and love. They are perceptive, sometimes showy and impatient, although they sometimes talk way too much for their own good. They very independent and don't listen to others advice.
You get along with Tigers and Dogs but never with Rats.

GOAT/SHEEP/RAM - the sign of art

Ram (Black or Gray Sheep): 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Sheep people are creative, elegant, wise, gentle, and compassionate. They can be bossy, but that's because they're worried things will not get done correctly. This character trait often makes money for them. They highly accomplished in the arts. On the surface they appear better off than those born in other Zodiac sign but often are pessimistic and often puzzled about life. They very spiritual yet timid.Goats are tender and sympathetic, sometimes shy.
The Ox is trouble. Rabbits and Pigs are OK.

MONKEY - the sign of fantasy

Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Monkey people are quick, funny, nosey, clever, witty, and successful. They have wonderful memories and are well informed about everything.
They remarkably inventive, original in thinking and can solve the most difficult problem with ease. They sometimes impatient and must do things immediately and if they cannot, they become discouraged and give up easily. They tend to chatter. This does drive friends away sometimes.
Thier friends are the Dragon and the Rat but not the Tiger.

ROOSTER/COCK - the sign of candor

Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Rooster people are early risers, proud, alert, deep thinkers and good speakers. They like to stay close to home. If you can break through their natural suspicion, they make wonderful friends. They are very devoted and like to keep busy but are deeply disappointed with personal failures. They can be eccentric resulting in troubled with others. They always think they are right and usually are. Being loners, they sometimes give the onward impression of being adventurous but actually timid. They can be selfish and too outspoken, but are always interesting and can be extremely Brave.
You will be fine with Snakes, Dragons and Oxen, but Rabbits are trouble.

DOG - the sign of loyalty

Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

People born in the year of Dog possess the best traits of human nature. Dog people are great leaders, loyal and sincere friends, quick to learn, eager to please, always try to do their best and are honest . They prefer to be with people they know and like. They are very trustworthy because they can keep secrets. Dog people cannot stand injustice. They always have money but care very little for wealth. They are easy to criticize other and are noted for their sharp tongues.
Their friends are the Tiger, Rabbit and the Horse. Watch out for Dragons.

PIG/BOAR - the sign of honesty

Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

People who are born in the Year of the Pig are intelligent, sincere, brave, popular, and treat all people with great kindness. Gallant and always give their best effort.They have few friends but the relationships they do have are life long. Pig people are often late and often forgetful. They are quick tempered but yet hate to argue.
They get along with Rabbits and Goats but must avoid other Pigs.

The folk legend of how those animals got their orders:

Act I - A Demand for Respect

One day the Four Celestial Generals came to see Emperor Sakra (the King of Heavens in Buddhism, some Chinese called him Jade Emperor) and reported, "Your Majesty, there is a group of animals protesting outside the Heavenly Gate demanding respect."

"What is going on?" asked Emperor Sakra. "Bring their representatives in. I like to hear what they say."

"Yes, your Majesty" replied the Celestial Generals and soon they returned with a mouse, an ox and a monkey."

"Your Majesty." said the animal representatives. "We demand respect from human beings."

"Why?"

"Because we animals provide human beings with food, milk, clothing, transportation, work and recreation. We plow their fields, pull their carts, watch their houses, sing to them and give them companionship. Therefore, we demand recognition and respect from human beings."

"OK. Your request is granted" said the King of Heavens. "The Lord Buddha is the teacher of all sentient beings in the Universe. Now he is sick and you should all visit Him. I now give the decree that the first ten animals that go to see Him on the coming New Year Day will be named the animals of the consecutive years. Now, you go to tell everyone in the Animal Kingdom."

So off they went. The mouse would inform all the household animals, the ox, all the farm animals and the monkey, all the animals in the wild, that the Lord Buddha was sick and everyone would visit Him to pay tribute, right on midnight of the coming New Year Eve.

Act II - The Mouse Cheated the Cat

Time had come on New Year Eve. The cat came home from a big New Year Eve party and was very tired. He asked the mouse, "I am very tired. I like to sleep for a while before I go to see the Lord Buddha. Can I trust you to wake me up so that we can go together?"

"Sure" said the mouse. "Trust me. Otherwise, I would not tell you of this big occasion at all."

Then the cat went to his bed and soon was sound asleep. It was now a few moments away from midnight and the mouse thought, "If I go by myself, I will have one less competitor." So off he went without bothering waking up the cat.

Act III - At the Temple

As everybody was waiting outside the Temple, the Celestial Generals arrived to make sure everything was in order and to act as referees. They would report back to Emperor Sakra the result of this competition. Buddha's senior student Ananda was responsible for recording the winning animals. When everybody was ready, one of the Celestial Generals shouted out the order in military fashion, "ARE YOU READY? NOW!! GO!!"

Off everybody went in the race. The ox was a very strong animal because he used to plow the land for human beings, so he was leading all the way. "How can I win the race? I am no match for the ox. I have to do some trick." thought the mouse. And he jumped onto the ox and climbed all the way to the horn.

When the ox arrived, the mouse jumped down and immediately paid tribute to the Buddha. Ananda had no choice but to give the mouse a first, followed by the ox. Soon, all the other eight animals arrived in the following order: tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey and rooster. And Ananda wrote down all the ten animals in his report.

"STOP!!" shouted the Celestial Generals " We have ten animals already!"

But Ananda wrote in such a hurry and excitement that he put down DOG instead of STOP in his hand writing.

"We have enough animals! Would you stop writing PLEASE?!" shouted the Celestial Generals. But, in an excitement, Ananda put down PIG instead of PLEASE. Seeing this, the Celestial Generals rushed over to Ananda and took the report from him.

When daylight arrived, the Celestial Generals took the report and returned to the Heavenly Palace. "Oh Well" said Emperor Sakra, on reading the report. "Since there are twelve animals paying tribute to the Lord Buddha. I will decree that all of them will be named animals of each year from now onwards." And from then onward, each of the the twelve animals is designated for each year in the Buddhist calendar.

Act IV - The Mouse Deserves Punishment for his Cheating

Back home the cat asked the mouse, "When are we going to see the Lord Buddha?"

"You slept like a log." replied the mouse. "Everyone went, and I am the winner!"

On hearing this, the cat was furious. "You cheater!" He jumped upon the mouse and killed him. From then onwards, all the cats in the world will try to catch and kill the mouse whenever possible.

Thank you soooo much to the Google images that I used.