The New Year is a joyful occasion celebrated globally, with people enjoying countdowns to midnight and engaging in various activities to celebrate the event with joy and excitement. In the Sinic world, the Chinese New Year is particularly significant and has deep cultural and traditional roots. It is a time for families to gather together, pay respect to their ancestors, and welcome the arrival of Spring.
The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle that links each year to an animal sign. The 12 animal signs are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The order of the animal signs is fixed, with the Dragon being the fifth in the cycle, hence the Year of the Dragon in 2024.
Each year also corresponds to one of the five basic elements in Chinese cosmology, namely metal, wood, water, fire or earth, creating a 60-year cycle. These five elements are the fundamental building blocks of everything around us and the 60-year cycle is a combination of the 12 animal signs and the 5 elements. The understanding and application of the five elements is an essential part of Chinese astrology, cosmology, medicine, philosophy and "feng shui" in particular.
In 2024, the combination of the animal sign (dragon) and the element (wood) designates the year as the Year of the Wood Dragon, which began on 10 February. In Chinese culture, the dragon holds a significant place as an extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolises power, nobility, honour, luck and success. Those born in this year are believed to embody qualities associated with dragons - natural leadership, charisma, intelligence and boundless enthusiasm.
In Malta, we are privileged to enjoy the scenic and tranquil beauty of the "Chinese Garden of Serenity" situated in Santa Lucija. This garden offers a peaceful space for introspection and meditation. It reflects the local environment via the inclusion of the natural elements of rocks and water, symbolising Yin and Yang - life from birth to death. Walking through the Garden of Serenity, one discovers that it consists of several smaller gardens, separated by walls, sheltered corridors and secluded rooms where visitors have the opportunity to attempt some soul-searching while roaming freely in their thoughts. It is a truly serene landscape that provides calmness and inner tranquillity.
