The Chinese zodiac is a cycle
that repeats every twelve years.
It begins with the sign of the Rat, followed by the Ox,
the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey,
the Rooster and the Dog.
The Rooster is bowing out in four days’ time and the
Dog will enter centre stage, bringing in the Year of the Dog.
Each year, the shopping malls are beautifully
decorated, in bright auspicious colours, pinks, reds and gold. There will be
thousands of flowers and red lanterns and taking the place of honour will be
the zodiac sign of the in-coming year.
2015 was the Year of the Goat and the Goat was prominently displayed.
Two years ago, to herald the advent of the Year of the
Monkey, an upmarket shopping mall had a huge monkey taking pride of place.
The following year saw the Rooster making its grand
entrance and no mall was without the Rooster placed prominently, announcing
that the in-coming year was the Rooster Year.
Red packets for ang pau (an ang pau is a gift of money placed in red envelopes displaying the current zodiac sign) featured the Rooster.
However, this year, in all the malls, despite their
lovely deco, the star was missing! No one could see man’s best friend anywhere!
One could get confused over the grand decorations. What was it all for? What’s being
celebrated?
Okay, there could be signs wishing all a Happy New
Year but what Year is it? How can one tell? There’s no indication! Such a
mystery, isn’t it? What happened to the
friendly, faithful and loving animal that will lay down its life for its
master?
Why isn’t it being honoured although this coming year
is its Year?
Having the icon of the year in place is a traditional
practice. It is part of the Chinese culture. The 12 zodiac signs representing
each year of the Lunar Cycle have been there since time immemorial and each
year the current animal presiding over the year is honoured.
This year the Dog has not been honoured and it is a
great disappointment that tradition and culture have been deliberately ignored.
Twelve years ago there was no such problem. Why now??
Fortunately, there are small businesses who still give
out red envelopes that have the Dog icon to remind the recipients that they are
receiving ang pows in this Year of the Dog.
Wishing everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai and may the Year of
the Dog bring you good cheer and abundance.
