Today is the last day of the year of the Tiger.
The Rabbit is soon to come.

August 17th 2007, 澳门 (Macao).

The above picture was taken almost 4 years ago, in the summer of 2007.
But that is only the corresponding date in our Christian calendar.

I am wondering: what year will the Rabbit really be? 2011??

There are three possibilities:

1) For one thing it will be called 辛卯 (Xinmao), making it the 28th year of a 60-year-cycle. This cycle keeps repeating itself no matter what happens. Dynasties come and they go, but the cycle keeps repeating itself.

2) If China was still under Imperial rule, then we would use regnal years. Accordingly, if 胡锦涛 (Hu Jintao) were the Emperor, then we would live in the 8th year of his reign. I guess it would probably be dubbed “和谐” (“harmony”). So 2011 would be the 8th year of harmony. ;)

3) If we go by a continuous calendar (believed to be dating back to the legendary 黄帝 (Yellow Emperor) and acknowledged by 孙中山 (Sun Zhongshan or Sun Yat-sen) in 1912, then 2011 will be the year 4708.

BUT I guess most people are just happy to get together and make 饺子 (dumplings) with their families and friends, not thinking too much about what this year will be called, but wishing for good luck and happiness instead.

Best wishes to them all!

Soundtrack: 庞龙 (Pang Long) – “你是我的玫瑰花” (“You Are My Rose Flower”)