Better late than never -- Sunday, February 18, 2007 was Lunar New Year (as known to many as Chinese New Year), the Year of the Pig. In my article about Tet, a Celebration of Rebirth, I describe how Lunar New Year is celebrated among the Vietnamese. But for a more detailed description of how the Year of the Pig is likely to play out on an international scale, the Associated Press/Salon.com reports that unfortunately, it’s not likely to be a banner year for most people:

Sunday marks the start of the Chinese New Year and it’s a lucky one for those starting out in life. But the rest of us are in for a rough ride. Expect epidemics, disasters and violence in much of the world. “The Year of the Pig will not be very peaceful,” said Hong Kong feng shui master Raymond Lo. . . . Pig years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water, conflicting elements that tend to cause havoc, Lo said.

“Fire sitting on water is a symbol of conflict and skirmish,” he said. “We’ll also see more fire disasters and bombings.” . . . It’s an occasion to have family feasts, buy new clothes and exchange red envelopes stuffed with gift money. Not everything about the future looks bleak. Most soothsayers said the world economy will continue to boom, though they advise people to be cautious about their investments. . . . Ronald Reagan was a pig. So are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Woody Allen and Elton John. Not to mention Hillary Rodham Clinton.

So it appears that on a worldwide scale, while financial matters seem relatively secure, people may need to be especially diligent in preparing for health epidemics, natural disasters, and violence. While that may or may not be true, I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous new Lunar Year!