You can hear fire-crackers explode in the streets and you can see a dragon adorned in rich colorful fabrics prance along to the sounds of gongs and cymbals. The streets are lined with red and gold ornaments and the shops entice you with “lucky” foods to welcome the Chinese New Year. The air feels “busy” and the aromas change with each step as the smells mingle from one thing to everything. This is just the tradition, you think. But have you ever wondered why these traditions are practiced from generation after generation? The Chinese New Year has recently passed us, have you done all that you can to keep your fortunes looking bright and are you ready to know what this year of the ram has in store for you? Whether or not you’re ready, by the year of the ram, it’s already been predicted and it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to believe it.

Chinese New Year follows the lunar year calendar, based on the cycles of the moon. This New Year fell on February 1st and traditionally the celebration lasts for two weeks. According to Chinese myth, when Buddha was about to depart from earth he requested that all the animals bid him farewell. Of all the animals, 12 arrived as asked, thereby receiving the honor of being designated a year. By Chinese beliefs, a person born in each of the animal years will bear the personality traits of that animal.

For those born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, the ram is associated with the central direction (not north, south, east, or west) which indicates the ram’s desire for peace and lack of taking sides. The ram is also known for patience, creativity, compassion, and generosity. However, rams are easily conquered by their emotions, making them subject to high levels of pessimism. They find it difficult to work under pressure and are prone to tension. Generally, good things come naturally for rams since fortune and money are attracted to these gentle animals.

The year of the ram denotes a profitable year for all of us. Life will be more at peace and families will be kept at heart. Living at a more relaxed pace, this is the best time for reconciliation or to heal past wounds and regrets. It is a time for all of us to reflect on our lives and find tranquility within.

With the year ahead of us, we can only hope that all the ceremonies and rituals will in fact bring us a favorable year. New Year’s Eve is considered the most significant day to carry out ceremonies, which is why most cities now promote the year with the Festival of Lanterns. This festival is associated with the dragon dance, fire-crackers, food, and red gold decorations. In historical China, it was common, especially in agricultural societies, to believe that the dragon controlled water and weather. By depicting a happy dragon dance, this is a sign of good weather and therefore plentiful crops, which at the time was considered the major source of luck and prosperity. The dragon has now come to be symbolized with good luck and prosperity, as well as a noble creatures that ward off the evil spirits. The explosions of the fire-crackers also serve to dispel the evil spirits that invite hardships for the year.

“I think it’s safe to say that the first Chinese New Year celebrations came when the first immigrants came to this country,” says Bill Ong Hing, professor of law and Asian Studies at UC Davis. One of the earliest records of Chinese in America was documented in 1788, when a former lieutenant, John Meares, exchanged trade between Canton and the North American Pacific Coast. According to APA scholar Peter Kwong, 50 Chinese boarded with Meares on his way back to Nootka Sound, 200 miles northwest of Vancouver. By 1880, the Chinese population grew in San Francisco and this began the spread of Chinese culture. Although many Chinese celebrations may vary according to religion or region, the underlying essence of the traditions is one of peace and happiness for family and friends. May this year bring such joy for you and your loved ones!