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I have a feeling, at least among Americans, I might not be the only one who first discovered my zodiac sign in a Chinese Restaurant. Remember those paper placemats? I can’t remember how old I was when I found out I was born in the Year of the Snake but I can say for sure that it was before I could even speak a word of Chinese (words learned from a fortune cookie don’t count). I do remember sitting in a Chinese restaurant when I was 13 or 14 and seeing that 2013, which seemed an eternity away, would be the next Year of the Snake.

Yet, here we are in 2013. Chinese New Year has come and gone. It’s my year – the Year of the Snake and I’m in China!

I figured something wonderfully auspicious must be in store for me this year, so leading up to this Chinese New Year, I started asking Chinese friends, colleagues, and taxi drivers: What happens on my year?

Their answers surprised me.

Here’s what I learned: “My year” or ben ming nian (本命年) marks the beginning of another 12-year life cycle. This transition means I am more vulnerable to bad luck because according to traditional Chinese folklore, I will encounter and may well displease the fierce and powerful deity, Tai Sui (太岁). Thus to ward off bad luck, I must wear red every day, usually in the form of a ribbon, bracelet, waistband, socks, or underwear.

I’ve been thinking about why this surprised me so much. I think from my western perspective, I just assumed one’s zodiac year could only bring good fortune. Though there’s no good comparison in western culture, I started thinking about other western superstitions that happen infrequently – watching a shooting star, spotting a rainbow, or finding a four-leaf clover – and how they all are omens of good fortune in western culture. Maybe this had something to do with my thinking?

What does this say about Chinese culture? I don’t feel like I have the qualification to answer definitively. But it does have me thinking about the Chinese culture of generally being more cautious and concerned about stability and harmony. It makes sense then that a superstitious event like your zodiac year forces you to be more careful and do what it takes to ward off bad luck.

I would be curious to hear what Chinese readers might have to say?

我觉得我应该不是唯一一个在中餐馆得知自己生肖的美国人。记得那些纸质的桌垫吗?虽然我已经不记得第一次知道自己属蛇时是多大,但我很确定那时我绝对还不会说一个中国字(幸运饼里的字不算)。我也记得自己当时大概只有十三四岁,看到2013年会是下一个蛇年时还觉得好遥远。

但时光如梭,转眼已经是2013。中国年不断更替,终于来到了属于我的蛇年,而且我还在中国!
我心想着这一年一定会有很多好事等着我,所以年前就开始到处问我的那些中国朋友,同事还有出租司机们:"本命年都会发生什么?"
他们的回答让我大吃一惊。
以下是我听到的:我的"生肖年"或"本命年"标志着下一个12年生命周期的开始。这个过渡阶段意味着我很容易遭到厄运。根据中国传统民间传说,我会在这一年"犯太岁"。所以为了辟邪,我必须每天穿戴红色元素在身上:可以是丝带,红绳,腕带,袜子或是内衣。
我一直在想这为什么会让我这么惊奇。我觉得可能是因为作为西方人,我尚未开蒙的东方思维让我认为本命年会给自己带来好运,觉得那些不常发生的好事都会来— 看到流星,彩虹,找到四叶草— 这些都是西方文化里好运的象征。
这揭示了怎样的中国文化内涵呢?虽然我觉得自己还没有资格给出确定的答案,但它确实使我想到了中国文化普遍重视审慎,稳定与和谐的概念。这也就解释了为什么在本命年这样一个重要的年头人们都会谨慎行事,小心辟邪的传统。
我很想知道中国的读者们对此有什么看法?