Lunar New Year 2024 – The Year of the Dragon
What’s better than a New Year’s celebration? Why, that would be not one, but two New Year’s celebrations!
The good people of planet Earth celebrate the Gregorian calendar’s New Year’s Eve on December 31 and New Year’s Day on January 1. This is traditionally a time when we reflect on the year that has just come to an end and look ahead (hopefully with anticipation!) to the next year. Some people make New Year’s resolutions. A lot of people don’t. Or they pretend they don’t, but secretly they do. But most of us start the year off with at least a wee bit of renewed enthusiasm and hope.
Lunar New Year is on a different date each year in January or February because it’s determined by the lunar calendar. It starts on the second new moon (when the moon cannot be seen) after December 21st, the winter solstice. In 2023, Lunar New Year started on January 22. In 2024, it will start on February 10.
Lunar New Year is also called Spring Festival (or Chinese New Year by many here in the States, but not in other countries that have huge Lunar New Year celebrations) and lasts for two weeks. It’s celebrated by billions of people around the world, including my family. We do not want to let the chance for another round of reflection and optimism and hope for the future pass us by. That, and…we eat deliciously well as we attempt to incorporate all of the symbolic foods that are supposed to bring us good health, wealth and happiness. (Who doesn’t want all of that?!?)
This year’s zodiac sign in the cycle of 12 animals is the dragon. People born in the Year of the Dragon are supposed to “possess natural courage, tenacity and intelligence.” Those sound like excellent characteristics to have – as well as impactful people to be around.
The Year of the Dragon “symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck and success.”
I’m hoping that the entire year of 2024 will mesh with this same description!
If you’d like to learn a little more about Lunar New Year, here are three websites to check out:
Are you thinking, “What the heck does Lunar New Year have to do with time management and productivity?”
The underlying principle that I preach is, “Time management is all about mind management.” When our brains are in a positive space, we make better decisions about how we use our time. So, lighten your mental load by taking this second opportunity in 2024 to reflect, rejuvenate and take at least one positive step forward on your path to an outstanding year!
Happy Lunar New Year!
For a step-by-step checklist for a half-day staycation or weekend vacation to extend your Lunar New Year celebration, take a look at The Great Escape: A Vacation Planner for Busy People Who Want to Take a Real Break from Work & Life.
Quotes in text above are taken from this website.