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The views expressed herein are the personal views of each individual author or commenter and are not intended to reflect the views of The Ojai Post or its Authors, Tribal Core or Tyler Suchman as managing editor.

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Gung Hay Fat Choy

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Kung Hei Fat Choi, Gong Xi Fa Cai, "Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year," this Year 2009 of the Industrious American Ox.

Today's New Moon of the Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is a time for vast family reunions, for honoring ancestors and for thanking all the hosts of heaven for their blessings.

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Families make great preparations for this special celebration. Before the new year, families settle debts and buy new clothes. The house is cleaned and food is prepared. Homes are filled with flowers and fruit. Oranges, tangerines, and pomelos are picked and displayed . The colors symbolize good luck and joy.

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Blossoms symbolize longevity and courage. If flowers blossom on New Year's Day good fortune will be ours for the next year. Candy trays of candied melon, coconut, lotus seed and watermelon seed are offered. They signify growth, good health, abundance and togetherness.

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Scrolls or couplets are hung on walls or doorways to carry messages of good health, luck, long life, prosperity, and happiness. A popular one reads "May everything be according to your wishes." "Taking flight" in Taoist China was to become an immortal, with a lifespan of 600 years, as distinguished from those committed to the earthly realm of karma, with a life cycle of 80 years.

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My current favorite Chinese video series is "My Bratty Princess" which can be viewed at video4asian dot com. It is a morality story in the old Chinese vein of the venue of the Imperial Court, which attempts to depict/separate the two worlds of virtue and vice, of alignment with Gong compare ensnarement in Chi.

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On this day, "Children of the Moon-Calendar" behave impeccably because they are warned that what happens the first day of the year may decide events for the coming year. Everyone takes care to say and do the right things and think good thoughts. The word for virtue in Chinese is 'De'.

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On the seventh day of the New Year everyone adds a year to their age.

Posted by Millennium Twain on January 26, 2009 09:40 AM | | | Gung Hay Fat Choy

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