A new free Chinese New Year Card for you to download. This year, Chinese New Year will start on January 22, 2023, which kicks off the year of the Rabbit!
Chinese New Year, in China, is celebrated for 2 full weeks!
This year, 2023, will be the year of the Rabbit, and I thought to make a nice Chinese New Year Card to share with you all. Over the years, I have created many Asian looking designs with new year wishes in Chinese, Gang Hay Fat Choy, marked right on top.
As Chinese new year is now more adopted as a Western celebration, and as bunnies are for Easter too, I decided to feature a simpler card for you, with a gorgeous happy bunny or rabbit photo by photographer Anna Shvets.
I hope you like it.
Free Chinese New Year Card for You to Download
How to use this free printable
Simply click on the image which will bring up a larger image to print. This larger photo is 5 x 7 inches in size, to print at 225 dpi. Add any saying you wish! That should fit 2 foldable cards to one sheet of card stock.
You are free to use* this image as an eGreeting card also. Click the image to download your free New Year card and add it to your emails, or social media wishes. As the photo is by Anna Shvets, it would be nice if you’d honor the photographer with a mention.
The Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 animal signs. The Rabbit is the fourth. The rabbit symbolises symbolises 3 concepts: positivity, long life and self-protection being the first, deftness and auspiciousness the second, and third being witty and clever. The rabbit will bring a year of prosperity, hope, and calm.
What about the other signs?
The order of the Chinese signs is as follows: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. As these animals have very different characteristics, so does each year have different temperament. For example, we recently had the year of the Tiger. The tiger is the third sign. The tiger sign represents a courageously fiery fighter, who wards off the three threats of the ancient Chinese: thieves, fire and ghosts. The Tiger is said to be lucky vivid, lively and engaging. Another attribute of the Tiger is his incredible bravery, evidenced in his willingness to engage in battle or his undying courage. Maybe he’s so brave because he is so lucky. That was 2022.
Chinese New Year Traditions
As Chinese New Year begins on the second new Moon after Winter Solstice, the official start of the year of the Tiger will be very early this year as it will begin on January 22, instead of February as is more common.
Chinese new year is not one day but actually a full week. It will be celebrated vigorously for the first 2 days with all shops closed. However, some shops remain closed for the entire week. The New Year Week is a time to celebrate and be optimistic.
Chinese New Year in the orient is not unlike Christmas in the West. It’s a time of tradition & celebration. There will be get-togethers of family and friends with food feasts enjoyed by everyone in new outfits. There will be lots of gift giving. Everyone visits the local temple and there will be public performances and celebrations to go to as well. Loads and loads of new year cookies & sweets are shared. As well, Feng shui cures are bought to best manage the year ahead.
The Year of the Water Rabbit
What can we expect in the year of the rabbit ? Your individual fortune level will depend on what sign you are yourself in the Chinese Zodiac. Rabbit magic is luckiest for those born in rabbit years. Rabbit people are said to be caring, having a good eye for detail and tend to follow the rules. Rabbits are friendly creatures. So people with the rabbit as their sign tend to calm, peaceful, and make friends easily. As rabbits calculate and think things through, rabbit people tend to enjoy successful careers.
The influence of Water, Metal, Fire, Wood
Another dimension of Chinese horoscopes is the influence of the Taoist elements of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. 2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit. It is this water-element that gives the Rabbit its strong intuition and inner peace. This year, be in tune with your own intuition and emotions, as well as the needs of others.
Water’s color is black.
Plan to throw a big celebration to welcome the year of the Rabbit?
* Make sure you bring on only good luck and use this card legally for private use solely. Respect copyright, please. You may use the small image on your blog if you’re linking back to this post. Happy New Year, or Gang Hay Fat Choy!
Original post: February 2010. Data latest update: Jan 13, 2023.
