Monday Musings ~ “Gong Hei Fat Choy”

~ Tails Around the Ranch

[Editor’s note: Sorry for our absence for most of last week. The laptop required a regular tune-up and spent the time comfortably resting at the computer repair store until late Friday (my guy is a good tech and therefore often up to his eyeballs in alligators and malware-we had neither but it took a number of days to get through the queue). We sure missed you guys (I’m not adept at reading posts on a cell phone and had to wait to begin catching up on your posts and response to all the good Gotcha Day wishes for Norman until the laptop was returned. I’ve been working through the backlog as quickly as possible processing over 150 emails over the weekend but am still working through the remaining ones and hope to be finished later today.]

Welcome to the last day of January as well as the last day of the Year of the Ox on the Chinese lunar calendar. Beginning tomorrow, we will enter the Year of the Tiger and not just any tiger…the Water Tiger, which arrives every 60 years. The Water Tiger is action-oriented, representing strength by clearing away evil and a show of bravery.

Chinese New Year

We can all probably agreed that the Year of the Ox was a ‘tad’ stubborn and obstinate so we’re looking forward to a year that clears away the evil that seemed so prevalent for much of last year.

Did you know that Chinese New Year has been around since the 14th century? Based on the Lunar calendar, it is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals-the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Along with those animals, five elements of earth, water, fire, wood and metal are also associated with each year.

The Year of the Tiger occurs in the following years: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 with individuals born in those years often possessing qualities of the animal itself, and are frequently courageous, assertive and natural leaders. Tiger sign individuals may be “hungry for thrill or crave attention, may be short tempered but capable of generosity.” Those born this year are said to have great interpersonal relationships, and are very family oriented. The last year of the Water Tiger was 1962.

Celebrations during the New Year include family banquets, parades which include outdoor spectacles featuring firecrackers/fireworks and dancing dragons. The Ranch Hands are definitely not keen on the whole notion of fireworks-instead we’ll stick with eating ourselves stupid and hoping for a few red envelopes with money (another tradition during Chinese New Year. In other words, no boomers for this ‘Boomer’ or her pups.

Chinese New Year

For a gander at various sites about the Chinese New Year, check out this link: https://g.co/kgs/14Lif7. I especially enjoyed the animation added by those clever Google geeks.

The Cantonese New Year greeting is “Gong Hei Fat Choy” (恭喜發財), which means “wishing you prosperity.” Around the Ranch we’ll just say “Happy New Year.” Anyway you say it, we hope the Year of the Tiger brings you prosperity and good luck.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

65 thoughts on “Monday Musings ~ “Gong Hei Fat Choy””

  3. Charlee: “Any year that’s the year of a cat can’t be a bad one!”
    Chaplin: “We’re not so keen on the ‘water’ part though. Maybe it can be the year of the Canned Food Tiger or something like that?”

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      1. Argh…that unicorn was a typo. I need to wear my glasses when I’m on the cell phone. Sorry about that. Should have been 🎊

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  9. Glad you have your computer back! We are lost without them…………..Happy Chinese New Year too – I’m afraid we celebrated a bit early at our favorite Chinese restaurant but maybe we should go AGAIN just to make sure we start the year out properly (with full tummies). Let’s just hope it’s a better year for everyone – THAT would make us happy.

    Hugs, Pam

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    1. It’s so true, we are so dependant on computers. I couldn’t pay the water bill and had to try and figure out how to do that over a LAN line. Can you say nightmare keying in lengthy account number, addresses, etc. #shudder! Here’s to an excellent Year of the Tiger 🐅

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  10. Here’s hoping for a positive year ahead for all and may the tiger have a go at those who exploit us for their own gain.
    I’m glad you translated those characters…when a student a friend keen on knitting made herself a jumper incorporating Chinese characters she hasd seen on a resturant frontage in Chinatown, thinking them attractive. The jumper was assigned to the back of the cuboard when a fellow student – Chinese – translated the signs for her…Cheap and Delicious.

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    1. Oh dear, how embarrassing! You’re so right, a well translated phrase can well be worth its weight in gold at times.

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      1. When asked what sign she is, the Alpha Japanese Female always replies Year of the Cat. Surprising how many people believe there actually is a Year of the Cat. As you are an OX and the cycle is 12 years we can deduce that you were obviously born in 1973!

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  16. Whew wee wundered where you all were! Glad Pee C iss fixed an reddy to go!
    An wee like THE idea of a Water Tygurr yeer…. RRRRAWWWRRR!!!
    **nose bopss to THE Ranch Handss an {{huggiess}} Miss Monika from mee BellaDharma an BellaSita Mum

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    1. Thanks, BellaDharma and BellaSita Mum. We hope the year of the tiger brings prosperity and good health to you. <3

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    1. We hope you have a year full of all good things associated with being a tiger! 🐅 🎊 🎏 🏮

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    1. We’re hoping everyone has a good tiger this year. It would be very nice for a change after the past couple of years. Hugs from me and bum wiggles from Norman.

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  20. Reminds me of an episode of ER where Chinese parents wanted their child born in the year of the x instead of the year of the y – so they were trying to manipulate when the Mom went into labor (she took traditional herbs to either induce or delay labor, I can’t remember which way it was). I think I’d prefer my baby be born in the year of the water tiger vs. the year of the ox!

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    1. I hear that as I’m an ox myself. It’s true those of us born under the sign of the ox are loyal, reliable and fair but more than a few in my family have called me stubborn and opinionated. 😲

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  24. We at the Golden K welcome the water tiger and wish everyone peace and prosperity throughout the year. And of course here at the GK the daily underlying context is that every year is also the year of the Goldens. 😎

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    1. I like that…Year of the Goldens and returning the wish of peace and prosperity to you all.

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