Chinese New Year (a day late)

Yesterday was Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday in the Chinese calendar.

I found this on the internet and thought how great it would be for Rike at Rike's Art theme who is this month's host at Art Journal Journey with the color yellow.

Of course, I had to make my own tribute to this holiday, which I learned nearly 20% of the planet celebrates.

Starting with a bit of the Chinese Zodiac,

I give you the Year of the Pig.  Actually, it is the year of the Earth Pig.

"You will overcome difficulties" is a Chinese fortune from a fortune cookie I colored red.

This new year is 4717,

which began on February 5, 2019.

The celebration lasts for 15 days and culminates with the Lantern Festival, which is February 19 this year.  I always use these Chinese Lanterns each Chinese New Year that my dear friend Cindy sent me years ago.  I hoard them and only use them for this special event. 

The Chinese zodiac has 60 symbols.  The first ring represents the 12 animals of the zodiac.  The animals repeat after every 12th year.   As I noted earlier, this is the year of the Earth Pig.  This corresponds to the ring that includes the specific elements.  For example, you may have been born in the Year of the Pig, but your sign depends on other things like the elements water, wood, fire, earth, or metal.  Here is the breakdown:

1923, 1983 (Water Pig)
1935, 1995 (Wood Pig)
1947, 2007 (Fire Pig)
1959, 2019 (Earth Pig)
1971, 2031 (Metal Pig)

There are also times of the day represented in the 24 hour clock that must be considered.  You also must consider the Yin and Yang.  For example, there is Yin wood and and Yang wood, and for the pig there is Yin earth and Yang earth.  This is the year of the Yin Earth Pig.  Although quite complicated, this seems to work well for Chinese who wish to find their true mate.

For this page, I began by printing the pig and coloring it with yellow ink.  I then glued it to a sheet of 110 lb cardstock.  Next, I added bits of the Chinese zodiac, which is actually joss paper.  Next, I colored computer/printer paper red, then added the words using a gold metallic gel pen.  Finally, I added the fortune I thought sounded appropriate.  Unfortunately, the reds I chose were pink reds, not orange reds like the zodiac calendar.

Thank you so much for spending time with me today.  I know I don't say it often enough, but I am so grateful for your visits.  I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey with your yellow inspired art, too.