You all know I could not resist this one. Asia welcomed the
lunar Year of the Pig on February 5, 2019. Celebrations took
place throughout the region, from Beijing and Seoul to Hanoi
and Singapore.
The Pig is the
twelfth of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade
Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which
they arrived to his party. Pig was late because he overslept.
In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth. Their
chubby faces and big ears are signs of fortune as well.
The streets of
Beijing and other major Chinese cities were quiet and empty
after millions of people left to visit relatives or travel
abroad during the year’s biggest family holiday.
Families gathered at
home for multi-generational banquets. Companies, shops, and
government offices closed for official holidays that ranged
from two days in South Korea to a week in China. Vendors sold
toys branded with the British cartoon character Peppa Pig,
which is enjoying a surge of popularity for the Year of the
Pig.