Chinese New Year starts on 22 January and it’s the Year of the Rabbit – the water rabbit to be exact. What do you know about the Year of the Rabbit?
Also called the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is the most important traditional festival celebrated by Asian cultures. It’s when families and friends get together to feast, burn incense to honour ancestors and older generations and gift money to the young.
Years of the Rabbit include: 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915 and so on. The Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture and 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
‘Rabbits’ are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded and ingenious. Famous Rabbits’ include Jet Li, Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, Whitney Houston, Elle Macpherson and Queen Victoria.
Australia Post is on board with the Lunar New Year, releasing stamps designed by Chrissy Lau.
She said she was inspired by cartoon characters popular in Asian cultures, adding: “The three lucky rabbits are inspired by the three Chinese gods, Shuxing, Luxing and Fuxing, that are displayed throughout Asia, and which are considered to have the three attributes for a good life – longevity, prosperity and happiness.”
Are you a Rabbit? Will you do anything special for the Lunar New Year?
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