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Today’s Doodle
celebrates the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar—officially
starting the Year of the Ox! Lunar New Year, also referred to as Chinese New
Year or the Spring Festival, is a time to honor ancestors and look forward to
prosperity in the year ahead.
This Lunar New Year marks the official transition out of the Year of the
Rat–believed to be one of constant change–and into the Year of the Ox, which is
traditionally associated with things moving at a more slow and steady pace. The
ox is the second animal of the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes hard work,
positivity, and fertile harvest.
Throughout most of Asia and around the world, the lunar new year is warmly
welcomed with traditional foods such as yú (fish), nian gao (new year cake), and
tang yuan (sweet rice ball). Also, as depicted in today’s Doodle artwork, Lunar
New Year is often celebrated with lively lion dances. The lion symbolizes power
and wisdom, and the spirited dance is performed during numerous Chinese and
other Asian cultural and religious festivals to bring good luck and fortune.
So take this year by the horns—here’s to this next lunar cycle being as strong
as an ox! |
