I think it's wonderful to be in a country with a large ethnic Chinese population and that therefore celebrates two New Years, one Gregorian or Western, followed around a month later by the Lunar or Eastern. One is given a second chance to implement resolutions, to begin again, to reinvent oneself.
The difference I see between the two stems from the image and symbolism of one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and its cyclical quality: while personal circumstances dictate that one's fortunes- in love, health, or finances- may fall in one year, it is nature's law that they will rise again, and vice-versa. The poet Kipling expressed it best when he said that part of maturity is to "meet with Triumph and Disaster/ And treat those two imposters just the same." Or as Vicky liked to advise, This too shall pass.
Moreover, in the Lunar New Year, one can pro-actively shape one's fate: certain acts, food, or lucky charms are traditionally believed to enhance good luck or guard against misfortune. As a Christian, I can't- and don't- believe that rituals or objects themselves possess magical or divine powers- nonetheless, they can be powerful symbols for hidden aspirations or psychological needs that produce real effects in the world.
In the Lunar calendar, yesterday marked the beginning of the Year of the Ox, though in my personal zodiac it's really the year of the carabao. I remember now my ancestors, especially my paternal grandfather Tatang, a strong farmer who lived close to the earth and plowed rice fields with the help of this resilient and gentle creature. As a child, I didn't like the farm or carabaos very much- I thought they represented underdevelopment or a lack of progress. As a college activist, I romanticized rural life and brought friends to Bukid (The Farm), sometimes dreaming of wading through mud to plant rice with the farmers. Now, with a more grounded vision, I see how my grandparents simply used the knowledge, skills, and resources available to them to create opportunities for themselves and their descendants to lead more comfortable lives.
Of course, some financial authors believe that developing sensitivity to the earth is the next big wave in business, with many companies standing to reap billions after the current crisis for going green. The oxen constellation is coming full circle: first hovering over farms, then towns and cities, and back again to nature.
What Are You Doing New Years Eve - JED MADELA
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