Happy New Year China!

Chinese people around the world began their 15 day long lunar-calendar celebration this weekend, ushering the start of the "Year of the Ox."

Citizens go shopping in Fuzhou, capital of south China's Fujian Province, Jan. 25, 2009.
Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional Chinese
festival of family reunion. It falls on Jan. 26 this year.(Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chinese folk lore describes the Ox as a sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Appropriate considering the current financial crisis don't you think?

Just in case you where wondering... If you happen to be born in the Year of the Ox (1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009), you are believed to have a natural tendency to exhibit patience, speak little and inspire confidence in others. Not a bad set of characteristics huh?

Anyway... Happy New Year to the billion + Chinese around the world and all others celebrating this joyous holiday!

Migrant workers, who could not return home for the Spring Festival,
gather together to have new year's dinner in Guilin, a city of south China's
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Chen Ruihua)