Happy Chinese New Year of the OX 2021
Tonight in Chinese communities around the world, families will begin the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. New Year, or the "Spring Festival," as it is known in China, is celebrated for 15 days - making it the longest and most important Chinese Holiday. The Lunar New Year of the Metal OX starts on Friday, February 12, 2021 and ends on January 31, 2022.
It is believed that the Chinese 2020 Year of The Rat celebration, was a super spreader event for the Covid 19 virus in China as 100’s of millions traveled in crowded transportation to visit and celebrate with their families all over China. This year, the Chinese government will limit the celebrations to avoid another resurgence of the virus. Still, the holiday likely will be too important not to observe in some way….given it is more important than ever to ensure good health, prosperity, and good luck!
Review and quick primer of Chinese New Year’s mythology and traditions
(regular readers can skip this section)
The Chinese zodiac is made up of 12 different signs (all animals). In addition to the 12 signs, the calendar also includes 5 elements (earth, metal, water, wood, and fire) which have a strengthening or moderating influence upon the signs. Hence, in total, the Chinese calendar goes in a 60 year cycle (12 signs multiplied by the 5 elements). This is the Metal OX year.
There is an interesting legend about the origin of Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his palace guards. He preferred the Ox to be the first for its honesty and diligence, but out of everyone’s expectation, the smart Rat covertly hid on the Ox back and occupied the first place at the essential moment. So the Ox is the second animal in the Chinese Zodiac.
If you have read my past year Musings, you know an important part of welcoming the New Year is to prepare for good luck and ward off bad luck. Today is the eve of the Chinese New Year....still an opportunity to make your luck!
- Celebrate with RED...wear red clothing, write poems on red paper and give children money in red envelopes. Why red? In China, red symbolizes fire which, according to legend, drives away bad luck. (The Starner Group's conference room is a lovely red with red candies for all who visit).
- Clean your house and yourself today. Do all sweeping/dusting or hair washing before New Year's Day as there is fear of sweeping or washing away your good luck for the New Year.
- Pay off your debts before the New Year!
- Do not lend or cry on the New Year...as it is thought that anyone who lends or cries on the New Year will be lending or crying all year round. (this is how you keep complainers and children quiet)
- Do not cut on New Year Day as you might cut away your good fortune.
- Welcome the DRAGON - the loud cymbals and drumming that comes along with the dragons are thought to chase away evil spirits as well.
- Use fireworks galore - In the old days, bamboo was set on fire, the crackling flames are meant to frighten the evil spirits. Modern day fireworks have taken the place of bamboo but are still thought to do the same thing.
Review Ox Years in the last 60 year cycle:
Metal Ox: February 15, 1961 -February 4, 1962
Inflation Rate USA:1.0%
Federal Funds Rate: 2.15%
DOW 12/31/1961 at 731 - Increased 18.7% for the year
- UN General Assembly condemns apartheid in South Africa
- Berlin Wall is built, dividing East and West Germany
- American-backed Cuban exiles fail in an attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs
- Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo is assassinated
- Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completes the first orbit of Earth by a human
- Commander Alan Shephard Jr. becomes first American in space in a suborbital flight aboard Mercury 3; Virgil Grissom follows in similar fashion two months later.
- President Kennedy established the Peace Corp
- Vietnam war officially begins Dec 11
- First lasers developed
- First electric toothbrush introduced
- Barack Obama and George Clooney born
- Margaret and Roger got engaged!
- Some Costs:
- First-class stamp: $0.04
- Gallon of regular gas: $0.31
- Dozen eggs: $0.57
- Gallon of milk: $0.49
Water Ox: February 3, 1973 - January 22, 1974
Inflation Rate USA: 6.2%
Federal Funds Rate: 9.65%
DOW 12/31/1973 at 850.87 - Decreased (16.88%) for the year
- January 20: Richard Nixon, the President of the United States, begins his second term.
- Henry Kissenger and Mao Zedong meet
- May 3: Sears Tower in Chicago is completed as the world’s tallest building.
- May 14: Skylab is launched.
- First mobile phone call made from the streets of Manhattan
- A patent for ATM is granted to 3 Americans
- October 10: Spiro Agnew resigns as Vice President of the U.S.
- December 6: Gerald Ford becomes the 40th U.S. Vice President
- Vietnam - Paris Peace Accords ends Vietnam War
- Yom Kippur war between Israel and Arab countries begin
- Roe V Wade Supreme Court makes abortion a constitutional right
- Battle of sexes tennis match – Billy Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs
- Some Costs:
- First-class stamp: $0.08
- Gallon of regular gas: $0.39
- Dozen eggs: $0.78
- Gallon of milk: $1.31
Wood Ox: February 20, 1985 - February 8, 1986
Inflation Rate USA: 3.6%
Federal Funds Rate: 8.14%
DOW 12/31/1985 at 1546.67 - Increased 27.66% for the year
- Gorbachev becomes the leader of USSR
- Space shuttle Atlantis makes it maiden flight
- Nintendo game console released in USA
- Microsoft releases first version of Windows
- First summit between Gorbachev and Reagan
- USS Challenger explodes soon after tax off
- The first U.S. federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
- Some costs:
- First-class stamp: $0.22
- Gallon of regular gas: $1.09
- Dozen eggs: $1.00
- Gallon of milk: $2.20
Fire Ox: February 7, 1997 - January 27, 1998
Inflation Rate USA: 2.3%
Federal Funds Rate: 5.56%
DOW 12/31/1997 at 7908.25 - Increased 22.64% for the year
- Dolly the sheep, first cloned mammal announced in Scotland
- Pokémon debts on Japanese television
- The IBM machine, Deep Blue, defeats Gary Kasparov in chess match
- “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” published
- Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule
- Princess Diana fatally injured in car accident in Paris
- Steve Jobs returns to work at Apple
- 19 European nations forbid human cloning
- Some Costs:
- First-class stamp: $0.32
- Gallon of regular gas: $1.22
- Dozen eggs: $1.06
- Gallon of milk: $2.60
Earth Ox: January 26, 2009 - February 13, 2010
Inflation Rate USA: -(0.4%)
Federal Funds Rate: 0.11%
DOW 12/31/2009 at 10,428 - Increased 18.82% for the year
- First case of H1N1 in the US and later declared a global pandemic
- Video game Minecraft released to the public
- China, Brazil, Russia and India have their first formal meeting as BRICs
- Microsoft Windows 7 goes on sale
- Barack Obama accepts the Nobel Peace prize
- Earthquake devastates Haiti, destroying the capital.
- Some costs:
- First-class stamp: $0.44
- Gallon of regular gas: $2.35
- Dozen eggs: $1.52
- Gallon of milk: $3.03
Now for 2021 Metal Ox Year
The Ox energy of 2021 energy is almost the polar opposite of the 2020 Rat energy.
- In 2020, the Rat spent most of the year hiding safely in a little hole in the wall, darting out occasionally to sneak some food.
- Conversely, the mighty Ox is a mature animal with daily responsibilities on the farm!
- The Ox is nearly always working, with just occasional pauses to rest. The Ox does not hide or procrastinate; he has a job to do and he does it steadfastly. The Ox knows that true prosperity comes from patience and hard work.
- Change is difficult during a Metal Ox year and things don’t happen quickly.
- While the focus for 2021 is on rebuilding, the process is painstakingly slow. Steps cannot be skipped, and steps can’t be rushed.
- In Ox years, fortunately, we enjoy problem-solving. You can do more than you think possible.
Your Prognostications for 2021 Metal OX Year
Each person’s zodiac animal is determined by the year in which you are born. Every year the Chinese are eager to learn the prognostications for the year and for their zodiac sign, in order to do everything possible to enhance their good fortunes and block their bad luck.
🐭
Rat - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 6 Overall Luck: ★★★☆☆
- Career★★★☆☆ Golden chances, possible promotion
- Wealth★★★☆☆ Growing fortune, nice investment opportunities, important to save money for unexpected needs
- Love & Relationships ★★★☆☆ Sweet love relationship, harmonious & relaxed marriage life
- Health★★☆☆☆Pay attention to health and keeping a healthy lifestyle. Weak digestive system
🐮
Ox - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 9 Overall Luck: ★★★☆☆
- Career★★★☆☆ Few development opportunities, work hard
- Wealth★★★☆☆ Unstable income, large expenditure
- Love & Relationships★★★☆☆ Less romantic encounter, normal marriage life
- Health★★☆☆☆ Unexpected injury, high blood pressure
🐯
Tiger - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 1 Overall Luck: ★★★★★
- Career★★★★☆ More promotion chances, keep vigilant
- Wealth★★★★★ Considerable income, rational consumption
- Love & Relationships★★★☆☆ Easy to have a relationship, happy family life
- Health★★★☆☆ Be positive, have a healthy lifestyle
🐰
Rabbit - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 8 Overall Luck: ★★★☆☆
- Career★★★☆☆ Less promotion; steady worker, have limited abilities and courage
- Wealth★★★☆☆ Steady income, less return from sideline business
- Love & Relationships★★★☆☆ Enhance temperament and appearance, make more surprises
- Health★★★☆☆ May feel stressed and have moods of pessimism; Less alcohol, keep warm
🐲
Dragon - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 2 Overall Luck: ★★★★☆
- Career★★★★☆Holding their own ideas about business, being confident
- Wealth★★★★☆ Could buy more stocks, Great achievements in sales
- Love & Relationships★★★☆☆ Continue to improve themselves, keeping happy family life by changing unstable emotion
- Health★★★☆☆ Should put health at the top of the list. Healthy diet, don't over diet; healthy sleep habits
🐍
Snake - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 5 Overall Luck: ★★★★☆
- Career★★★☆☆ Easy to get a promotion, obtain rapid development of company
- Wealth★★★☆☆ Increase in salary, no large expenses
- Love & Relationships★★★☆☆Potential love relationship
- Health★★★☆☆ Good health condition, keep healthy lifestyle
🐴
Horse - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 11 Overall Luck: ★★☆☆☆
- Career★★☆☆☆ Frequent change of work, tense interpersonal relationships
- Wealth★★☆☆☆Large amount of expenses, be careful of network fraud
- Love & Relationships★☆☆☆☆Haunted by unreliable suitors,, not good year for engagement or a wedding
- Health★☆☆☆☆☆ Regular physical examinations, be careful and get enough rest
🐑
Sheep/Goat - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 3 Overall Luck: ★★★★☆
- Career★★★★☆ Be positive, improve efficiency during work time
- Wealth★★★☆☆ Think twice before consumption, don't take risk
- Love & Relationships★★★★☆ Nurture mutual understanding, stable love life
- Health★★☆☆☆ Possible small diseases, keep healthy diet and daily exercise
🐒
Monkey - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 7 Overall Luck: ★★★☆☆
- Career★★☆☆☆ Learn from others, be open to external help
- Wealth★★☆☆☆ Avoid risky investments, live a simple life
- Love & Relationships★★★★☆Say goodbye to bachelor life, get married
- Health★★☆☆☆ Balanced diet, regular exercise
🐔
Rooster - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 10 Overall Luck: ★★☆☆☆
- Career★★☆☆☆ Resolve conflicts at work, pursue further study
- Wealth★★☆☆☆ Focus on stable income sources, guard against financial fraud
- Love & Relationships★★★★☆Fall in love with ideal mates, feel thankful to partners' devotion
- Health★★★☆☆ Good health conditions, relieve mental tension
🐶
Dog - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 4 Overall Luck: ★★★★☆
- Career★★★★☆ Efficient communication, professional self improvement
- Wealth★★★★☆ Certain profit, stable income. Wealth fortune is pretty good in 2021.
- Love & Relationships★★★☆☆ Cautiously choose the ideal match, solve conflicts actively
- Health★★★☆☆ Get enough rest, take precautions against recurrent diseases
🐷
Pig - Fortune in 2021
Rank in 12 Zodiacs: No. 12 Overall Luck: ★★☆☆☆
- Career★★☆☆☆ Tired of status quo, meet lucky stars
- Wealth★★☆☆☆ Think twice before lending money; benefits from robust stock market
- Love & Relationships★★☆☆☆ Abandon unrealistic standards, prepare for wedding
- Health★☆☆☆☆ Avoid high fat diet - stick to a well-balanced diet and get your health physical exam annually
Wishing you good health (Gong Hay) and Prosperity (fat choy) in the Year of the Ox!!!
Sincerely,
Margaret C. Starner
Senior VP - Financial Planning
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 500
Coral Gables, FL 33134
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