- February 12, 2021
If there’s something especially cool about the world and the constant exchange of cultures and experiences, it’s the globalization of holidays from all corners of the globe. For example, February 12th, 2021 marks the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year which for people from different parts of East Asia including those with roots in China, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, is the biggest holiday of the year, marked by 15 days of celebrations.
This date also marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox, which happens once every twelve years in accordance with the Chinese zodiac calendar.
People who are born in the year of the Ox are considered to be reliable, strong, hard-working individuals who thrive in inspiring confidence in their peers. They are also said to be calm, patient, and trustworthy. They usually exhibit leadership qualities with their determination and goal-seeking making them tireless workers. So what will the Year of the Ox bring to the world? And how can we all benefit from it? Let’s take a look.
Understanding The Traditions And Celebrations
While western traditions involving the bringing in of a new year are known worldwide and enjoyed by billions of people around the globe, the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival could easily be considered a world of its own. With the ushering in of the Year of the Ox, even in a year where the coronavirus pandemic is still having its way around with how we go about our lives, that doesn’t mean that the traditions that come with the celebration have been put to rest. Quite the contrary, while restrictions and health and safety practices are put into full practice the welcoming of a new year still has many celebratory practices that will still take place.
Traditions like having a generous feast consisting of various traditional dishes such as pork belly for good luck, dumplings for wealth, noodles for longevity, prawns for happiness, and rice cakes for a raise in salaries and career opportunities are not to be missed. Also, the making of traditional Lunar Year candy boxes which are the perfect excuse for kids to indulge in eating various sweets in order for good fortune and wealth to come their way in the new year is also a non-negotiable practice.
Just as important are the superstitions of not washing or cutting your hair on the first day of the new year since the Chinese character for hair is the first character in the word for prosper. Meaning if you wash or cut your hair you are washing your fortune away. Also, you should avoid getting new shoes or sneakers for the entire month as the Chinese term for shoes is a lot like the term for losing and sighing in Cantonese. However, do wear red, as red is the color of luck and prosperity.
How to Run a Business in The Chinese New Year’s?
As the Chinese New Year’s celebration is one that attracts massive amounts of followers and believers, sometimes businesses can be affected by the effects of the holidays. For most foreign business entrepreneurs one of the keys to managing a successful venture with an oriental counterpart is to have a top of the line translation service to get the most from their business strategies, being for sales purposes or commercial advertisement.
With New Year’s celebrations bringing businesses along with China and other countries where the holiday is celebrated it is advised for business impresarios to create contingency plans to prepare for a period of anywhere from 15 days to one month where celebrations will command first attention. Stocking up on inventory as well as having a sound quality management plan put into place and of course start planning early for when the holidays come around are some of the best advice techniques that can be put into place to ensure success.
Is The Year of the Ox One for Successful Business Ventures?
People who are ruled by the period of the Ox are known to be honest, earnest, and hard-working individuals. While they are people who are not known for showing off their talents in grand ways they get their much-deserved recognition from their hard work and patience, making them logical thinkers and great leaders. When translated into a business perspective doing business in the year of the Ox is seen with good eyes and with promising results ahead.
As oxen people are known to be people who are moved by hard work and compromise you can expect long-lasting and prosperous results from ventures, but taking into account the importance of compromise and hard work because results will come, but not right away.
To all oxen who are about to enter their year, we bid you a very happy New Year full of prosperity, happiness, health, and success. May this year be one of positivity and light for everyone.