Text & Photos: Francisco Collazo
December 31 is not the end of the year for many countries. For example, for the Yoruba of Nigeria, the end of the year falls on June 2; for Ethiopians, it’s August 28 (during a leap year) or August 29 (during a regular year). Similarly, some other countries structure their years differently; some have 366 days or more, creating differences between countries and calendars around the world.
For the Chinese, the new year this year began on January 26, 2009. In New York, Chinese New Year was celebrated on January 31 on Main Street in Flushing, Queens, and on February 1 around Canal and Mott Streets in Manhattan, the city’s two epicenters of Chinese life in New York City.
Every year of the Chinese calendar is assigned a unique symbol, a different animal that dominates the predictions for that year. This year, 2009, is the year of the ox. The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals in all: the rat, the tiger, the dragon, the horse, the monkey, the dog, the ox, the rabbit, the snake, the sheep, the cock, and the pig. Everyone born under these signs share special characteristics unique to that symbol.
The ox, the symbol for this year (4706 or 4707, depending upon the calculations being used in the Chinese calendar; or 2009 according to the Gregorian calendar), possesses the following characteristics:
Personality: Yin Element: Water
Dependable, Calm, Methodical, Patient, Hard-working, Ambitious, Conventional, Safety-Seeking, Modest, Logical, Resolved, Tenacious. Can also be capricious, close-minded, materialistic, rigid, and overly demanding.
Some people who were born under the Ox sign include: Bach, Barack Obama, Bill Cosby, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Van Gogh, Margaret Thatcher, Will Smith, and Pablo Picasso.
This only represents how other people perceive you; your attitudes and characteristics may be dominated by other symbols and traits based on hours or days; these are referred to as internal characteristics, and may allow you to experiment with other signs of the zodiac.
Sounds complicated, right? Well, whether you’re an ox, a cock, or a snake, I wish you Gung Hay Fat Choy!, or Happy New Year!
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Diciembre 31 no es el fin de ano para muchos otros paises. Por ejemplo, para los Yorubas en Nigeria el fin de ano es el 2 de Junio; para los Etiopes, es el Agosto 28 (en los anos bisiestos) y Agosto 29 para el ano regular. De la misma manera, en otros paises los anos tienen 366 dias o mas, creando asi una diferencia en anos entre unos y otros en sus calendarios.
Para los Chinos, el ano nuevo este ano comienza el 26 de Enero del 2009. En Nueva York estas celebraciones se celebraron con alegria el 31 de Enero en el condado de Queens, alrededor de la Calle Main, en Flushing, y el 1 de Febrero, en el condado de Manhattan, alrededor de la Calle Canal y Mott: los dos epicentros de los barrios Chinos de Nueva York.
Cada ano en el calendario Chino tiene un simbolo diferente. Un animal diferente domina las predicciones por ese ano. Este ano, 2009, es el ano del toro. De acuerdo a su zodiaco, este contiene 12 animales: rata, tigre, dragon, caballo, mono, perro, toro, conejo, serpiente, oveja, gallo, y cerdo. Todos personas nacidas bajo estos signos comparten caracteristicas especiales y distintas de acuerdo a su simbolo.
El toro, simbolo dominante de este ano, 4706 o 4707 (en algunas otras calculaciones para el calendario Chino) o 2009 (en el calendario Gregoriano), tiene las siguientes caracteristicas:
Yin como personalidad. Agua como Elemento:
Dependiente, Calmado, Metodico, Paciente, Laborioso, Ambicioso, Convencional, Seguro, Modesto, Logico, Resuelto, Tenacio. Puede ser caprichoso, mente cerrada, materialista, rigido y demandante.
Algunas personas nacidas bajo el simbolo son: Bach, Barack Obama, Bill Cosby, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Van Gogh, Margaret Thatcher, Will Smith, y Pablo Picasso.
Sin embargo, esto solo representa como otros te perciben pero, tus atitudes y caracteres pueden ser dominados por otros simbolos por horas o dias, a estos se les llaman caracteres internos, permitiendote asi experimentar los diferentes caracteres de los diferentes animales en su zodiaco.
Complicado verdad?
Bueno, ya seas un toro, gallo o serpiente sobre todas las cosas te deseo un Feliz Ano Nuevo!
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Great pics. Love the photo of the little girl best. Wish I had the opportunity to shoot in NYC!
Nice photos! No Chinatowns here in Bolivia, unfortunately, though the chifas (Peruvian Chinese restaurants) have spilled over the border a little bit. I should really go try one in the spirit of the season!
Gorgeous, gorgeous shots!!
It was very festive here in Taipei. Lots and lots of fireworks…and beer….i did wish i saw more dragons down the street though….