Red, which symbolizes fire, is believed to drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are believed to frighten evil spirits and insure a prosperous new year.

People born under the sign of the Ox are unique and highly gifted. They are extremely intelligent, bright and peace loving people and everybody loves to be around them. They have extremely fierce natures and are very competitive. President Barack Obama (b. Aug 4, 1961) was born under the sign of the Ox.

ORIGIN OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Lunar calendar is based on astronomical observations. The months are based on the moon and begin on the darkest day.

Due the changeable nature of moon cycles, the first day of the new year may fall anywhere between the end of January and the middle of February, yet calculating the date of the Chinese New Year is easy, since Lunar New Year always begins on the second New Moon after the winter solstice, New Year 2009 begins Monday, January 26th on the western calendar. It is the Chinese Lunar year 4707.

ORIGIN OF THE ANIMAL CORRESPONDENCES Legend has it that in ancient times, the Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. 2009 is the Year of the Ox and people born under this sign are thought to have many Ox qualities.

OX PEOPLE Those born in ox years tend to be painters, engineers, and architects. They are stable, fearless, obstinate, hard-working and friendly. They are extremely brave and come out as winners from every situation. Oxen are warm people and make very good friends. They love to socialize and throw parties. When it comes to their career they are hard working, determined and dedicated. The Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

For the ox in 2009, any recent setbacks or obstacles can be overcome, so look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally.

President Barack Obama, Jack Nicholson, Jane Fonda, Walt Disney, and Anthony Hopkins were all born in the year of the ox. If you were born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985 or 1997, you too, were born under the sign of the ox.

A NEW OPPORTUNITY And for those of us who failed to keep the New Year resolutions we made on December 31st, the Chinese New Year offers a second chance to begin anew. Gong Hay Fat Choy, Happy New Year, Wishing you a great Year of the Ox,

If you would like to read more about Chinese New Year you may visit Chinese New Year UK http://www.chinese.new-year.co.uk/calendar.html, China Page http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html and Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox_(zodiac).