Chinese New Year 2014: 25 Inspirational Greetings, Quotes And Proverbs For Year Of The Horse

Gung hei fat choi!

That’s the greeting many will say on Jan. 31 to mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The important Chinese festival, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the start of new life and the season of ploughing and sowing. The holiday is traditionally linked to honoring the household, heavenly gods and ancestors. Today, China celebrates New Year’s Day on Jan. 1, but it marks the Chinese New Year as a time to spend with family and relax from work.

The two-week holiday is divided into two parts. The first week is designated as time to spend with family and friends. The second week involves traditions designed to bring good luck. The festivities end with a Lantern Festival.

Before the holiday begins, families tend to clean their homes, but throughout the holiday, dust brushes and brooms are hidden so “good luck cannot be swept away.” Typically, the holiday begins on New Year’s Eve, when families gather for a large traditional meal in which regional foods are served. At midnight, fireworks are set off to “frighten” evil spirits. Red is a common color for the holiday because it symbolizes fire, which wards off evil.

The holiday itself is usually spent with relatives, shopping, watching fireworks and in some cases -- a religious ceremony honoring heaven, earth and other deities. Other traditions include stuffing red envelopes with money and candy and placing them under children's pillows, to open on New Year’s Day.

Each year corresponds with one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and animals. Each sign is believed to influence the personalities of those born in those years. In 2014, it will be the Year of the Horse. Those born under this sign are believed to possess good communication skills and are cheerful and stubborn. They crave success, tradition says, and they are popular and talented.

For those who want to join in on the festivities, below are 25 inspirational sayings, greetings and proverbs to usher in the new year:

Sayings:

Happiness, Prosperity, Longevity

福禄寿 fú lù shòu

Wish you luck in the Year of the Horse

马年大吉 Mǎnián dàjí

Happy New Year

恭贺新禧 Gōnghèxīnx

May all your wishes come true

心想事成 Xīnxiǎng shì chéng

The spirit of the dragon and horse

龙马精神 Lóng mǎ jīngshén