Chinese New Year 2023 falls on Sunday 22nd February, marking the start of the Year of the Rabbit.
The Chinese Zodiac
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese new year cycles every 12 years, so every 12 years people will encounter Ben Ming Nian. So, when people are 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96, they are experiencing their Chinese zodiac birth year (Ben Ming Nian).
You can find out what your Chinese zodiac sign is based on the year you were born.
lustration from Drama Fever
The Year of the Rabbit
People born in a year of the Rabbit are predicted to be
According to Chinese astrology, during Ben Ming Nian (this year for those whose zodiac animal is the Rabbit), people are thought to receive bad luck. This is because it is believed that they have offended Tai Sui, the God of Age, and therefore are cursed.
Getting good luck
In Chinese tradition, there are some things that people can do to fend off bad luck in a zodiac year.
One of the most common ways to bring good luck is by wearing red. Red is one of the luckiest colours in Chinese culture and represents prosperity, loyalty, success, and happiness. It is thought that red can drive away bad luck and evil spirits. However, any red you wear needs to be gifted from someone like a friend or family member, otherwise, it won’t work to bring good luck.
Related Information
Want to learn more about Chinese New Year? BBC Two have a three part docuseries called Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth.
