Dear LPG,

Here is something I have learned about the significance of today for the Chinese.  Tomorrow will be the official beginning of the Chinese year of the tiger, and it will now have been a year since I sent LPG a little information that I found about the year of the ox, which started last year and that will end today. 

For me it is still January 2020, but I thought I would write about this new piece of information I have learnt while it is a part of my focus. 

I hope that I am writing with my tongue in my cheek but, according to what I have found out, the Oxen among us can now breathe out after today and for the next eleven years, because your Chinese year of significance is supposed to have been truly a trying year. This is all to do with the fact that during your zodiac year of significance, Tai Sue, the Chinese god of fortune focusses on you, and what is on offer is often not the best luck available. The internet tells me that during the year that reflects your particular Chinese animal, you are likely to suffer some adverse effects of Ben Ming Nian. 

In order to minimise the effects, the internet suggests waring something red although you need to have had it bought for you, and not making any life changing decisions is recommended.  So I hope not too many Oxen moved house or got married during the last year. I have also read that making a blood donation is a good thing and avoiding any activity that might heighten the risk of an accident is advised too. 

I have to say that I am not superstitious really, but I have always been fascinated by Chinese tradition. 

The internet explains that your animal year is one to spend being aware of a certain amount of bad luck that might follow you around.  I am so sorry that I have unearthed this evidence too late for the Oxen, but Tigers be warned, your year of challenge starts here… 

While I am writing, we are all still suffering from a certain amount of global bad luck which can be translated with just one word, Coronavirus.  But, if LPG post this message on the day I ask, I hope and pray that we have well and truly come out of the other side of that ordeal. 

My last thought is that if any part of Chinese folk law is to be believed, Tai Sui, owes us all a bit of good luck this year; after all, the whole Covid-19 episode began in his neck of the woods.

OC, Merton.

OC offers us some internet advice about how to keep the effects of Ben Ming Nian at bay…

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