New Year of Dragon

When new life begins you have no time to dwell on old grudges, stirring the cup and inflicting suffering on someone else. When a new chapter is here you couldn’t care less about what others think it should be like or it should develop into, the world is YOUR oyster, don’t let other people decide what it’s going to be/look like. You only have one life to live, so do it well and stop trying to indulge every creature under the sun. It’s not happening… unless you are chocolate, even then… even then someone might object.

The new year of Dragon is coming to bring peace, prosperity, success… I want you to make it happen today as if there is no tomorrow. Your future is in your hands. Good fortune to you and yours in 2024! Live long and prosper every day in every way.

Chinese New Year – Year of the DRAGON, Due February 15, 2024. 24th Annual Chinese New Year Swap.

The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar. The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Each year the New Year in China falls on a different date than on the Gregorian calendar. Dates range between January 21 and February 20. The Chinese New Year 2024, Year of the DRAGON begins on February 10, 2024 – the second New Moon after the Solstice.

The “Spring Festival”, beginning on the new moon, is the start of Chinese New Year, and is China’s longest and most important traditional festival. It is celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar, which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February. The Chinese New Year’s festivities end two weeks later on the 15th day of the first month (Full moon) and is celebrated with what is known as the Lantern Festival. The Chinese horoscope predicts that the Year of the Dragon in 2024 will bring luck, wealth, and power.

There are many traditions/beliefs associated with the New Year: The Chinese believe that as they enter a new year, they should start a new beginning. They pay off all of their debts, purchase new clothes, paint their doors, and even get new haircuts in order to have a fresh start. The night before the New Year begins, it is important to completely clean the house and sweep it. If you sweep or clean on Chinese New Year Day, it is bad luck, because you are sweeping out your good luck from the New Year. The same goes for bathing/showering. Instead of washing the morning of Chinese New Year, you are supposed to bathe the night before, then wait until the day after to shower again. Otherwise, all your (New Year) good luck gets washed away. New Year day is spent with family and friends, and usually there is a big family dinner. Flowers on the table each flower has meaning, fruit in bowls, and each traditional dish made, symbolizes something.

For this swap, your cards can be depictions of this year, 2024, which is the Year of the Dragon. But you may also depict any Chinese New Year Animal, and there are 12 Chinese New Year animals to pick from. Usually the U.S. post office (as well as the Canadian Post Office) releases a stamp to celebrate Chinese New Year. This year the post office is offering a blue rat. This stamp calls to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon dance often performed in Lunar New Year parades. This three-dimensional mask depicting a rat is a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this time of year. It is not available yet, but I will post a link when it is.

You can have the the Spring Festival, or the Lantern Festival, or red envelopes, or peonies, pineapples, mandarins, kumquats, or koi. You can create cards about New Year beliefs/celebrations/traditions regards things to do, and other items which are BAD LUCK to do.

You can have celebrations such as Lion Dancing, Dragon Dancing, Dragon Boat Races, parades and/or fireworks. The dragon is a very popular symbol for the Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of strength and good luck. A Chinese New Year celebration would not be complete without a giant dragon parading down the street. The dragon costume is always very colorful and can be up to 100 feet long. People inside the costume make the dragon move up and down as it zigzags past the spectators.

You can have Chinese New Year traditions, like the gifting of money in red envelopes/red pockets. On Chinese New Year, it is good to be a single person because all the married people give unmarried people red pockets with lucky money inside. Others say red envelopes are only for children.

Fish, which are synonymous with Chinese New Year, Koi in particular. Koi are very positive symbols and the different colors all have their different meanings! So when you fill you Koi pond, make sure you get the right color mix! All very feng shui!

You can depict flowers. Flowers are great alone, and can also make excellent backgrounds. The Peony is known as “flower of riches and honor” or “king of the flowers”, and is used symbolically in Chinese art. It is a flower much favored for Chinese New Year. The Narcissus is a symbol of the beginning of a new year. It is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity in Asia. Cherry Blossoms symbolize spring, the new year, and new beginnings. Daffodils are for luck. Peach Blossoms feature in the Lunar New Year celebrations.

You can depict fruit such as mandarins or kumquats, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. In Lam Tsen there is a Wishing Tree where people throw Wishes tied to Mandarins into the Wishing Tree. Pineapple is considered a auspicious fruit for festive season. There are always pineapple tarts in every home during the Chinese New Year. Red Lotus seeds mean fertility. And pistachio nuts are lucky.

You can add Lucky Coins. Tie the coins together by red or gold string/ribbon to activate them. Group them in 3s, 6s or 9s. They obviously attract wealth! Odd numbers are better than even numbers. You can have fireworks or firecrackers. There are many beliefs about why fireworks are used. One belief is that the noise of the fireworks is supposed to scare away all evil spirits, allowing the new year to begin without misfortunes. ( Taken from https://atcsforall.com/ )

Pink Moon in April

Are you ready to howl on April 26?

April’s full Moon rises for all the sweethearts and wannabe lovers to help them find satisfaction and abundance. In this period of time starting late April all the feelings bloom and come to fruition by May 26, the following full moon. If you want to find inspiration and fulfillment, if you are looking to love and be loved be sure to follow all the rituals and traditions to attract good luck. Buy some pink phlox, put on pink lipstick and do what your heart desires. May the Force be with you!

When to See the Full Moon in April 2021

Venture outside on the night of Monday, April 26, to catch a glimpse of April’s full Pink Moon. This full Moon—which is the first of two super moons this year—will be visible after sunset and reach peak illumination at 11:33 P.M. EDT.

For the best view of this lovely spring Moon, find an open area and watch as the Moon rises just above the horizon, at which point it will appear its biggest and take on a golden hue!

Pink Moon, First Super moon of the Year

If you are a super woman and know your super power, be sure to practice it in the time between late April to late May in 2021, this period is especially successful for those looking to start a new adventure, solve an old problem or finally make a change so much needed. Consider the birthstones and other lucky charms to make you feel stronger during this time. If you don’t know your crystals, try to find out beforehand. You can go and talk to the healer or just read up on the Internet. This is what I came across recently https://www.almanac.com/content/birthstones-and-their-meanings

This year, we’ll be treated to two super moons, with the first occurring on April 26 and the second on May 26. Super moons are said to be bigger and brighter than your average full Moon.

Just how big and how bright, exactly? On average, super moons are about 7% bigger and about 15% brighter than a typical full Moon. However, unless you were to see a regular full Moon and a super moon side by side in the sky, the difference is very, very difficult to notice!

Why Is It Called the Pink Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not only to the full Moon.

The Pink Moon

Although we wish this name had to do with the color of the Moon, the reality is not quite as mystical or awe-inspiring. In truth, April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.” 

My grandma’s favorite flower

Thanks to this seasonal association, this full Moon came to be called the “Pink” Moon! I wish you all happy pink moon, make your dreams come true and remember that nothing is impossible.

Adopted from: https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-april