Chinese New Year January 25, 2020

The Lord and I heard the Chinese say the other day when they had their New Year parade that it’s the year of the rat. The Lord immediately told me He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, and said, “It’s the year of the LORD (forever)”, and to tell people that. For Jesus as Lord said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel (Truth) to the poor, and He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted and to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind and to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

 

Pitt News said, “Unlike the Gregorian calendar, with which most Americans are most familiar, the lunar calendar tracks time based on the cycles of the moon rather than the movement of the earth around the sun.” “Decor for the event was primarily red, the traditional color of the New Year. Chen said families decorate their homes in red because of an ancient Chinese myth, similar to the story of the zodiac. According to the story, a monster named Nian emerged only during the new year to terrorize humans until an old man sent by the gods revealed that Nian was afraid of the color red. Nian only comes out once a year, which is the time of the Chinese New Year,” Chen said. “[People] put red things outside their house and write some blessings [on signs] on New Year’s Eve to scare Nian away.” Each year in the Chinese lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 animals, the first of which is the rat. According to Chen, a popular Chinese legend says that the gods held a race to determine which animals would represent which years. The rat knew he couldn’t beat the cat, so he decided not to tell the cat about the race in order to win for himself. Chen said this legend explains both why the rat is the first animal in the Chinese zodiac and why cats appear to hate rats. Still, the rat is associated with more than just deceit. According to Chen, the rat is known for his speed and cunning, and the Year of the Rat brings careful planning and increased wealth.” “Even though in this story, the rat is not a good symbol because he cheated his friends, the rat is fast and agile, and in the Year of the Rat, you will have a very meticulous year,” she said. “And rats also bring fortune and money.” https://pittnews.com/article/154416/arts-and-entertainment/lunar-new-year-2020-ringing-in-the-year-of-the-rat/

 

(Photo taken by the San Francisco Examiner by Mary Jane Johnson 2/8/20)

https://www.sfexaminer.com/photo-galleries/chinese-new-year-parade-2020-celebrates-the-year-of-the-rat/