Asia Celebrates ‘Year of the Fire Horse’ by Honoring Ancestors and Focusing on the Potential for Tough Times Ahead

Communist China and its closest neighbors are racing into the “Year of the Fire Horse” blazing with intensity, as astrologers warn that the special year is expected to bring the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.Images of horses, strong and graceful — flaming orange and red — are appearing on streets, in print and on websites, reminding celebrants that this is no ordinary year on the Asian zodiac calendar.This year, what normally would have been the Year of the Horse is being branded “the Year of the Fire Horse” because it coincides for the first time in 60 years with fire, one of five elements in the zodiac calendar: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. In Vietnam, the Communist government decreed a week-long holiday to celebrate “Binh Ngo Tet” — “Fire Horse Lunar New Year.”For hundreds of millions, the holiday means a respite of at least three or four days from work and study. The lunar new year begins formally on Tuesday in an atmosphere of tension and worry for the future of a turbulent region.“Everything will be intense, particularly the economy,” warns a South Korean professor, who focuses his teachings on feng shui, the pursuit of balance and well-being. “Some people will be very rich, some will lose a lot of money,“ said Professor Lee Jung-min on his “right way” program on YouTube. “Relationships will be very intense. You must be very careful when dealing with people. Emotionally you can get quick tempered, very unstable.”Bearing such advice in mind, revelers packed planes, trains, buses and cars for visits honoring their ancestors at family homes, churches, temples and graves, or on vacations at home and abroad that might extend as long as 10 days, including the weekends before and after the holiday.In China, the ancient spirit and meaning of the horse supersedes Communist ideology, at least for a few days.“The horse, a popular symbol in Chinese culture, represents not just swiftness but also perseverance and the indomitable will to overcome,” said the state news agency, Xinhua. “As the country with 1.4 billion people celebrates the traditional Spring Festival, the Year of the Horse puts this iconic symbol in the global spotlight.”Other yearly symbols include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.Xinhua linked the ancient holiday to the country’s rise as a great power: “Today, this ethos is palpable across the nation. It is seen when engineers improve high-speed rail technology to connect remote regions, when rural entrepreneurs leverage e-commerce to revitalize their hometowns, and when young scientists work tirelessly in labs to achieve technological breakthroughs.”The Year of the Fire Horse, though, carries dangers. A Korean shaman, or spiritualist adviser, warned on YouTube of “suffering.” This year “there will be a big fire and many will die,” she said. “Politically it will be very unstable. It will be very hard for everyone. People are enraged.”Mr. Lee offered personal advice rooted in ancient traditions. “Never ever speak ill of ancestors or parents,” he cautioned. “During the day, just talk about good things. Do not have an argument or fight with anyone.”

Asia Celebrates ‘Year of the Fire Horse’ by Honoring Ancestors and Focusing on the Potential for Tough Times Ahead

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