(CNN) --
Dust off your pink tiger-print jacket: It's time to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
We say goodbye to the year of the Ox and enter the year of the Tiger, on February 1, 2022.
Although the pandemic continues to overshadow the occasion, with public holidays reduced or canceled again in many cities, millions of families around the world will continue to celebrate at home.
This is a quick guide to the most common Lunar New Year traditions and superstitions, as well as insights from some of Hong Kong's most established geomancers on what the Year of the Tiger may hold.
What is the Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year festivities usually last up to 15 days, with different tasks and activities during that period.
Although the spread of the omicron variant of the new coronavirus has affected the way people celebrate this year, don't lose hope and remember the number one unofficial tip from the Lunar New Year rulebook: focus on the positive and use only favorable language.
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How is the Lunar New Year traditionally celebrated?
It all starts a week before the New Year.
On the 26th day of the last lunar month, on January 28 this year, festive cakes and desserts are prepared.
The word for cakes and desserts is "gao" in Mandarin or "go" in Cantonese, which sounds the same as the word "high," meaning that eating them is believed to lead to improvements and growth in the year to come .
(If you haven't made your own "go" yet, here's an easy recipe for turnip cake, a much-loved Lunar New Year dish.)
Then, on the 28th, which this year was January 30, a great cleaning is done in the homes.
The goal is to get rid of the bad luck accumulated during the previous year.
Red is the de facto color of the Lunar New Year.
It is associated with luck and prosperity.
Credit: Chen Chuhong/China News Service/Getty Images
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, which falls on January 31 this year, a large family reunion dinner is usually held.
The menu is carefully chosen to include dishes associated with luck, such as fish (the Chinese word sounds like the word "surplus"), desserts (symbolizing progress), and foods that look like gold bars (such as
dumplings
).
Although many Western countries refer to the Lunar New Year/Spring Festival holiday as Chinese New Year, keep in mind that it is not only celebrated in Chinese communities, but also in other Asian countries, such as Vietnam and South Korea. South.
Countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year typically offer three to seven days of festivities, but the celebrations don't end until the 15th day of the first lunar month, also known as the Lantern Festival.
People are expected to visit their relatives and friends in the first days of the new year, except the third day of the month.
The third day of the Lunar New Year (which falls on February 3 this year) is called "chi kou," or red mouth.
It is believed that arguments are more likely to occur on this day, so people will visit temples and avoid social interactions.
Cities around the world welcome the Lunar New Year with lantern shows and fireworks.
Credit: VCG/Getty Images
There are many other rules and superstitions related to the Lunar New Year.
For example, do not wash or cut your hair on the first day of the new year.
Why?
The Chinese character for hair is the first of the word prosperity.
Therefore, washing or cutting it is seen as a washing of fortune.
One should also avoid shoe shopping during the entire lunar month, as the term for shoes (haai) sounds like losing and sighing in Cantonese.
However, you do have to wear red.
It is associated with luck and prosperity.
(Learn more about Lunar New Year do's and don'ts here.)
What is Chinese New Year?
The 6 things you should know about the popular celebration
Throughout the 15 days of the festival, the hosts often prepare boxes of sweets and snacks for their guests.
Married couples should hand out red packets full of money to children and single adults to wish them luck.
The seventh day (February 7) is said to be the day the Chinese mother goddess Nuwa created mankind and is therefore called
renri
(people's birthday).
Different communities in Asia serve different birthday foods on that day.
For example, Malaysians enjoy "yeesang," or a "prosperity mix" of raw fish and grated vegetables, while Cantonese eat sweet rice balls.
The climax comes on the last day (February 15).
In ancient Chinese society, it was the only day when young girls could go out to admire lanterns and meet boys.
For this reason, it has also been called the Chinese Valentine's Day.
Today, cities around the world continue to host huge lantern displays and fairs on the last day of celebration.
Heavenly Trunks and Earthly Branches
The 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac calendar is represented by 12 different animals, the Chinese zodiac signs, but that's just the beginning.
Followers believe that for each of the Chinese zodiac signs, luck will largely depend on the positions of the Tai Sui - the stars directly opposite Jupiter.
If your zodiac sign clashes with the Tai Sui, also known as the Grand Duke of Jupiter, in a given year, experts say you could experience difficulties.
(Find your sign here.)
A year is not only classified by its zodiacal animal.
There is also a complex sexagenary cycle made up of 10 celestial trunks and 12 terrestrial branches.
Each year, a celestial branch (one of the five elements, which fall into the yin or yang category) is paired with a terrestrial branch (one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac).
Thus, February 1 marks the beginning of the "Ren Yin" year, the 39th element of the Chinese sexagenary cycle.
The Tiger, "Yin", is paired with the celestial trunk "Ren": water.
That is why it is known as the Year of the Water Tiger.
Are you confused already?
We asked some of Hong Kong's most established geomancy consultants to explain what it all means.
The world will welcome the Year of the Tiger on February 1, 2022.
Credit: VCG/Getty Images
"Water tiger is the name of the year, but make no mistake: the elements of wood and fire are much more prominent than water this year," Hong Kong geomancy consultant So Man-fung Peter tells CNN Travel.
"How the year affects you depends on what elements you need and fear, based on your birth chart."
A 60-year calendar is often used to calculate how each person's birth sign will be affected in a given year.
In Chinese geomancy, a person's natal chart is made up of a wide range of elements that interact with the celestial stems and terrestrial branches of the year.
This is why, for many, the calendar plays an important role in making big life decisions for the coming year, such as whether to get married or start a business.
Since each person's birth chart is made up of a wide range of elements, such as the day and time of their birth, they may interact with the year somewhat differently.
But "there are some general guidelines that we could follow," says So.
"Most people born in autumn and winter (August 8 to March 6) tend to need more wood and fire; they will see their fortunes improve from 2022. (These dates apply to those in the southern hemisphere as well, although the seasons are different).
"Fire also means crashes, like traffic accidents. So if you crash into Tai Sui this year, you should be very careful when driving," says So.
Thierry Chow, another well-known Hong Kong geomancy consultant, agrees that traffic accidents are a concern given the prevailing elements this year.
But he thinks water will still play a crucial role in 2022.
"So we can expect big moves for anything water-related, which could unfortunately mean more water-related disasters, or big ocean moves," he tells CNN.
"On a more positive note, the year of the Water Tiger also represents strength in the arts, technology and design sector, meaning these areas will be prosperous."
Which animals will have a good year?
Different teachers of geomancy can interpret the data differently, but there is a general consensus on what the year means for each zodiac animal based on the positions of the stars, especially Tai Sui.
As noted above, if your zodiac sign coincides with Tai Sui in a given year, you may be in for a break.
Were you born in the year of the Tiger?
It's your "Ben Ming Nian".
Credit: Xu Hongxing/VCG/Getty Images
People born in the Year of the Tiger will face their "Ben Ming Nian", their own zodiac year, in 2022. Followers believe that this means that there will be more disturbances and instabilities in the coming year.
"Financial luck won't be too bad this year, but it can be overshadowed by negative emotions. So you'd better focus on your work and boost your wealth this year. If you're a winter baby, you might try getting ahead at work So says of what lies ahead for the world's tigers.
"Be very careful when driving, especially in the first lunar month."
Other signs of the zodiac will also collide with the Tai Sui in various ways, including the Monkeys.
Like tigers, they can face relationship challenges and unexpected changes.
"If you were born in spring or summer, you may want to reconsider making bold career moves this year," says So. "But if you're single, the shock may bring you some luck in love."
People born in the year of the Snake will also come into conflict with Tai Sui this year, which can lead to increased gossip and annoyance.
"Among all the signs, I think that the Snake should be more careful this year. 'Ying Tai Sui' usually translates into complicated problems related to legal documents, problems that may not go away easily. If you have to sign any documents this year, you should be immensely careful," says So.
Meanwhile, the pigs find themselves in a slightly conflicting position with Tai Sui.
They might find themselves arguing with his friends, but So thinks a lucky star will bring the pigs some helpful benefactors.
"This year there is a lucky star that shines on the pigs. We call it 'luk hap' (the unity of the six directions: everything aligns with the universe harmoniously), so it's a pretty good year for them" .
Colliding with the Tai Sui is not as scary as it seems.
Followers believe that there are ways to improve their luck.
"Traditionally people always think that change or instability is bad, but in reality it can be a good thing and an opportunity to grow a lot. It's not about fighting against change, but about welcoming it with open arms," says Chow.
"I encourage people to attend happy events. There's a saying... if you have one happy event, it will counteract and balance the negative energy of three events."
Chow says getting married, going to parties, or anything that can bring joy will lessen the blow.
On the other hand, people born in the year of the Horse will coincide with the Tai Sui, "meaning that they will enjoy great relationships despite facing some gossip. They may enjoy an enhancement in power, status, and wealth," says So.
As for the rest of the animals, So says that goats and oxen will enjoy much better luck in romance and work this year compared to 2021.
People born in the year of the Rabbit could see how romantic relationships come and go with ease.
If you were born in the year of the Dog, it could be a positive year for two types of people: those with foreign-related jobs and those who are artists, says So.
Lastly, Roosters could meet people to help them in 2022, while Rats and Dragons do not have any lucky or unlucky stars shining on them and they will have a relatively quiet year.
As we say in Hong Kong,
sun nien fai lok!
lunar new year