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Show The Park Record D Section B For the week of February B1 Thursday, February 10, 1994 elcomming , In the AMBER McKEE Record staff writer Three hundred sixty-five and a quarter days comprise an earth year. Time and the keeping of it has long been an enigma a fabrication of the human experience. With our linear comprehension of the passage of time came a need for the keeping track of the time which had passed and would pass. And naturally that linear path of time contains two end points, a start and a finish by which the system renews itself, like the serpent eating its tail, continually spiraling through space. It is believed that the creators of Newgrange, a more than 5,000 year old tomb in Ireland, were among the earliest humans to mark time using the sun. The tomb was constructed so that light would enter it only on the winter SQlstice and the few days oefore and after. Stonehenge, the great pyramids, . temples in South America all may have been constructed in order to keep track of the passage of time. Traditional western calendars start on Jan. 1 and end on Dec. 31, with each year adding to the history of time. Ancients may have told time by using the summer and winter solstices (which fall on approximately June 22 and Dec. 22 each year) as well as the spring and fall equinoxes (which occur around March 21 and Sept. 23). : The Chinese New Year festivities Video Review: QUICK! It's Valentine's Day and you haven't figured out what to do with your Loved One yet! Never fear. Reporter Dave Macfarlane gives you the down and dirty on all those lovo Valentines B4 pickS traditionally begin on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which falls on Feb. 10 this year, and continue until the full moon (Feb. 26).And like the western New Year, it is widely celebrated as a beginning. On New Year's Eve in China stores are locked up and people gather at home with their families, behind doors sealed with strips of red paper for good luck and to keep out evil spirits. Children pay their respects to their elders and in return receive coins in red envelopes, a sharing of wealth and offering of propitious greetings. According to The Mystical Year, by TimeLife books, the first day of the new year is devoted to ancestor worship, and people are on their best behavior, bad luck will follow any shouting, lying or cursing. Succeeding days are increasingly festive. Friends visit, bearing gifts; children sing for sweet rice cakes, and roaming musicians and actors perform the Dragon Play. Other traditions include cleaning the house before New Year's Eve, clearing up old debts and sending the Kitchen God on leave. According to tradition, it was believed "that the Kitchen God would report to the Supreme Being in heaven the goings-on of a home when he took an annual leave the last week of the old year." This was accomplished by Park City who ya cramma cs video - 814 1 Vp burning the old image or effigy to send him away. When a new image was brought into the home, "something sweet would be rubbed in his mouth, presumably to make certain he would say only sweet and nice things about the family." Additionally, many offerings are made during this time ranging from giving thanks for the old year, to praying for a good new year, a bountiful harvest, a successful business or a harmonious family. Deities worshiped include the Kitchen God as well as the Door Gods, Earth guardians and even the Purple Lady Spirit, goddess of the toilet. (How worshiping the Purple Lady Spirit is accomplished is unclear: however, some patrons of Main Street night clubs reportedly worship her frequently.) The New Year also prompts the revolution to the next animal on the Chinese zodiac, which cycles completely every 12 years (unlike western astrology which makes a complete cycle every year.) Legend has it that when Buddha called all the animals of the universe to come pay homage to him, telling them that as a gift for their faithfulness, he would name a year after them. Of all the animals in the world, only 12 came. The first to come was the rat, then the ox, then the tiger, the hare, the dragon, the serpent, the horse, the ram, the monkey, the cock, the dog, and finally the boar. Because the rat was first to Profile: When C O M P U T E R GREMLINS appear Reporter Nan Chalat-Noaker interviews City Hall's computer ghost-buster Erin Furman. Chinese 15ew appear, it was given first place on the iy zocuacwneei. Individuals born in a certain year are said to have the personality, as well as the physical and mental attributes of the particular animal indicated. Feb. 10, 1994 marks the beginning of the Year of the Dog, which indicates a renewed interest in justice and freedom, as well as honesty, loyalty and duty. Summit County Friends of the Animals' member Shelly Weiss noted that she was amped that it is the Year of ithe Dog, because hopefully she can get more homeless dogs adopted into good families. Chinese Astrological fortune, b? & Bare (1955) If the year of your birth isn't shown, simply add or subtract 12 to find your year mi (136, 445, 460, 72) People born in the year of the rat are blessed with great personal charm. They are elegant by nature and can strive for the better things in life. Rat people are hard working, thrifty and can save a great deal of money. They love to spend time at a bargain basement and cannot resist special coupon offers. 'They also have a tendency to hoard unnecessary provisions. 'They deny themselves nothing and buy the best of SUE Movie Review: Tired of Sundance? Ready for something new, funny, light, brainless even? Well, don't worry. IOllyWTOOd comes t hrough again with Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. According to r eviewer Rick Brough it is at least as much fun as a lobotomy. B6 everything. The ideal marriage partner for the rat year people are dragon, ox, and monkey, with the boar and the dog next. The worst partners are horse people. Rat people make good business people, storekeepers, bankers, accountants, writers and even pawnbrokers. ex liM, '49, '61, 73) Ox people are hard working and down to earth. They are quiet and patient, yet anger easily and display it openly. They are exceptionally clever and creative with their hands. Madame Ox makes a perfect housewife and wonderful hostess, although she often wears the pants in the household. Mr. Ox can be very tender ; and dear. He is known for his romanticism. The best mates for people born in the ox year would be the rat, rooster, or serpent. Tiger and ram coupled with ox may present some trying problems. Ox people should seek their fortunes as a surgeon, dentist, mechanic, architect, tailor, technician or hairdresser. (1935, '50, '62, 7) According to popular belief from ancient China, the tiger represents a good sign. A tiger in the house prevents the three great risks of thieves, fire and evil spirits. Tigers Street Beat: love Hear often get into difficult and hazardous situations because they live dangerously. Narrow-mindedness Narrow-mindedness and suspiciousness are their greatest faults. Their careers exemplify them as deep thinkers and careful planners. Tigers display overwhelming generosity and are never selfish or stingy. The ideal companions for the tiger are die horse, dragon or dog. A good friend would be rat or boar, with serpents and monkeys as their enemies. Tiger year people are best suited to be army chiefs, foremen, supervisors, teachers, politicians, fire fighters, police officers or even chief cooks. RR (1939, '51, '63, 75) Hare or rabbit people are happy, gifted, refined, trastwoithyjeserved and arnKfiousI They also tend to be melancholic and weep at the slightest provocation., Rabbits love company and are great mixers in any social gathering. They are faithful, but for some unknown reason they are not really suited for family life. They are rather reserved and indifferent as parents. The perfect match for the rabbit is the ram. The honest dog and the scrupulous boar make good partners too. Rabbits should avoid roosters or rats. Rabbit people make wonderful receptionists, interior decorators, publicists, stockbrokers, beauticians and pharmacists. Continue on 3 y Roses are red V' violets are neat 09 is the topic of this week's STREET rn BEAT. |