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Year of the Pig

Pig Racing in Chinatown, NYC

Oh crap! I am going to be out of town this weekend, but for those of you lucky enough to be in New York City this weekend, you must go to Chinatown this Sunday, February 25th, for the parade that celebrates the Year of the GOLDEN Pig, which according to Chinese Fotunetellers, only comes around ever 600 years! Do NOT miss this. The big events that you must attend are the PIG RACES on Hester Street between Mott and Elizabeth Streets, at 11:30 AM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Like most of you, I have have attended Pig Races before (see pictures HERE) and take it from me, it is not something to be missed. They will run their little hearts out for you. Mind you, these are specially trained piglets, and they are gonna be fast!

Comments

  1. Porkpie Hat
    February 23rd, 2007 | 2:54 pm

    I think the Golden Pig comes around every 60 (sixty) years, not 600 (six hundred).

    Powers of ten mean nothing to pigs, by the way.

  2. February 23rd, 2007 | 6:28 pm

    This IS the Year of the RED Pig, which is also nothing to shake stick at, and yes, that comes around every 60 years. However, this pig year is also believed by many to be the Year of the Golden Pig, which only comes every 600 Years. From The Korea Times:

    “But this pig year, called the year of “chonghae,” which means a red pig, returns every 60 years.

    Among other pig years circling in a lunar cyclic numeral system, the red pig year is believed to be the most auspicious pig year, according to a research of the National Folk Museum of Korea.

    The red pig year is considered a year of booming businesses and family.

    More interestingly, this year is strongly believed to be the “Year of the Golden Pig,’’ which only comes around every 600 years, according to fortunetellers, a rumor that emerged in Korea and China.”

    ***********

    Also, if you are curious about how this happens in Chinese Astrology, here is an explanation:

    “In Korea, which uses a Chinese zodiac system, pigs, or boars as they’re also known, are a beloved symbol of fertility and abundance, so the Golden Pig year is especially popular there.

    Chinese astrology, based on a lunar calendar, features 12 birth signs, each standing for a specific year and symbolized by an animal. Last year, for example, was the Year of the Dog, a sign associated with loyalty and considered a good time to get married.

    Each year is also linked with one of five elements: wood, metal, fire, earth and water. This year is a Fire Pig Year, which occurs once every 60 years. But because it’s the 10th Fire Pig Year in a 600-year cycle, that makes it golden, says Marie Diamond, a feng shui expert who writes Chinese horoscopes for AOL.”

© Year of the Pig God bless all the little piggies.