Chinese New Year is almost upon us: February 14, 2010 will see the arrival of the Year of the Tiger.

I have been listening to the warm-up fireworks for weeks. Businesses are closing, kids are out of school, and supermarkets are full of expensive wine, spirits, and other holiday related goodies.

For people from the west: Think of every holiday in the year, smush them all together into a few days of hard-core celebrations, and you have Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival as it is called here.

The Year of the Tiger

Based on the Chinese Zodiac my child will be a Tiger Year baby. The gem stone of Tigers is the diamond (ouch for me). Red and green are the colors associated with Tigers. Of course, Tigers don’t get along with Pigs (me) or Sheep (Mrs. Stevo).

The relationships between Chinese Zodiac animals is not something I really understand. I do know that being a Pig gives me a great excuse for not cleaning the kitchen. This excuse holds little water with Mrs. Stevo.

What of the character attributes of people born in the Year of the Tiger?

Tiger people are sensitive, given to deep thinking, capable of great sympathy. They can be extremely short-tempered, however. Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes tiger people come into conflict with older people or those in authority. sometimes Tiger people cannot make up their minds, which can result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound decision arrived at too late. They are suspicious of others, but they are courageous and powerful. Tigers are most compatible with Horses, Dragons, and Dogs

From: Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

How will we celebrate? Traditionally, you go back to your home-town or village for Chinese Lunar New Year. Because Mrs. Stevo looks like she is carrying a watermelon in her tummy, there will be no train trip and village visit for us. Instead, we will spend Spring Festival Eve at a friend’s home engaged in two traditional activities: Dumpling-making and drinking baijiu (a strong spirit made from rice).

To all I say:  Xin Nian Kuai Le! Gong Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year.