10 February 2024

YEAR OF THE DRAGON (In the Chinese calendar it's 4722) A magnificent comeback after the recuperative year of the Rabbit. We will throw caution to the four winds and roll up our sleeves for all sorts of grandiose, exhilarating, colossal, over- ambitious and daring projects. The indomitable spirit of the Dragon will inflate everything to larger than life size. Somehow we will find ourselves bubbling with excess energy. It will be wise not to overestimate ourselves or our potentials in this combustible year. Things appear better than they actually are. On the brighter side, business will be good and money can be generated or obtained easily. It is the time to ask your bank for a loan. Big spending and lavish plans are the rule of the day. The mighty Dragon sneers at the prudent and penny-pinching. He gambles for all or nothing. He will stimulate us to think and act big, even overstepping the bounds of caution. Orientals consider this to be an auspicious year to get married, have children or start a new business, as the benevolent Dragon brings good fortune and happiness. However, this is also a time to temper our enthusiasm and look twice before taking a plunge. For although the lucky Dragon showers his blessings indiscriminately on all, he disappears when the time comes for making retributions for our errors. Successes as well as failures will thus be magnified. The Fire Dragon is especially feared, as he wreaks more havoc than the Dragons of the other elements. In the Dragon's year, fortunes as well as disaster will come in massive waves. This is a year marked by a lot of surprises and violent acts of nature. Tempers will flare the world over and everyone will be staging some real or imaginary revolt against constrictions. The electric atmosphere created by the mighty Dragon will affect us, one and all. Theodora Lau The Story of the 12 animals The Chinese Zodiac

Popular Chinese New Year Greetings

1. New Year goodness! 新年好 / 新年好 ( Xīn nián hao ) In Mandarin: sshin-nyen haow In Cantonese: sen-nin haow 2. Happy New Year! 新年快乐 ( Xīn nián kuài lè ) In Mandarin: sshin-nyen kwai le In Cantonese: sen-nin fai lok 3. Happiness and prosperity! 恭喜发财 / 恭喜發財 ( Gōngxi fācái ) In Mandarin: gong-sshee faa-tseye In Cantonese: Kunghei fatchoy gong-hey faa-chwhy 4. A steady rise to high places! — "on the up and up" 步步高升 / 步步高陞 ( Bùbù gāoshēng ) In Mandarin: boo-boo gaoww-shnng In Cantonese: b oh-boh goh-sshin