2023: The Year of The Rabbit

Written by Michelle Lai

In Chinese folklore, the rabbit represents the moon; pure and bright. Stories passed down from many generations will often say that there is a shadow resembling a rabbit when you gaze into a full moon. Some even state that the dark markings of the moon is the Moon Goddess Chang’e holding onto a rabbit. 

The rabbit is the fourth animal on the Chinese zodiac, very similar to the horoscopes we hear about in Western cultures. Just like how there are 12 astrological zodiac signs, there are 12 different animals that are represented. Each year represents one animal, and the cycle repeats every 12 years. In order, they are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This pattern is known as 生肖 (“sheng xiao”) meaning, “born resembling” when translated in English. Those who are born under the sign of the rabbit will receive good luck and prosperity this year as it is their lunar return. The last time we saw The Year of The Rabbit was in 2011!

Eating 汤圆 (“tang yuan”) is a very common and traditional way for Chinese people to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This delicious rice dessert is shaped into a ball and has a very similar texture to mochi. It is often filled with sesame, red bean, or peanut, and served alongside a hot broth to compliment the rich flavour. However, the most important tradition is handing out and receiving 红包, otherwise known as red envelopes. These red pockets are a sign of wishing one good luck, prosperity and wealth in not only Chinese, but many other East Asian cultures as well.

AE.R Skinlab is celebrating the The Year of The Rabbit with lucky red envelopes in the form of scratch and win cards. Come in for a free complementary consultation with one of our nurses and/or technicians for a chance to win one of the following -

1. $28 credit
2. $58 credit
3. $98 credit
4. Bela Lux Facial ($335 value)

• Offer is valid from January 9th - February 4th *

Tips for Chinese New Year

• Wear lots of red, pink, purple and blue this year as those are the lucky colours for rabbits. 
• Do not wash or cut your hair on the first day of Chinese New Year! Is is believed that this will “wash/cut away” all the luck that comes your way. This tradition also applies to birthdays. 
• When giving out 红包, do not include anything with the number 4 ($40, $144, $400 etc.) The number 4 sounds similar to 死 (“death”) in Chinese which can bring in bad omens. 
• Alternatively, do hand out anything with the lucky number 8 ($80, $188, $800 etc.) In Cantonese, 八 (pronounced as “ba”) sounds similar to “prosper”.