Autumnal Equinox 2023: Mabon, Higan, East Asian Moon Festival, and Chuseok

For 2023, the Autumnal Equinox falls on Friday, September 22 (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). 

The Autumnal Equinox is a holiday in several traditions. In Wicca, neo-Druidic and neo-Pagan traditions, it is celebrated as Mabon, Alban Elfed or Mea'n Fo'mhair. 

In several East Asian Buddhist traditions, the Autumnal equinox is celebrated as the Moon Festival. In Japanese Buddhist tradition, it is celebrated as Shūbun no hi 秋分の日,one of two Higan (お彼岸), the other being at the Spring Equinox. In Japan it is an official state holiday, but in keeping with the separation of state and religion in Japan, the official name is called Shūbun no hi (お彼岸) or Autumnaal Equinox Day. In Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist tradition, it is celebrated as the Moon Festival Zōngqiū Jié in Chinese and Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese. In Korea, the holiday lasts three days and is known as Chuseok (한가위) or "the eve of Autumn." In the East Asian traditions, the holiday may be celebrated at dates varying from the actual equinox and may run for several days. In 2023, for instance both Zōngqiū Jié and Tết Trung Thu falls on September 29. In Korea, Chuseok in 2023 runs from September 29 through September 30. 

While this is a significant holiday for all of  these faiths, it is not a day that would normally require the absence from class or work of faculty, staff or students. That said, those asking for accommodation should be allowed.

WICCAN, NEO-DRUIDIC AND NEO-PAGAN TRADITIONS

In neo-Druidic, neo-Pagan and Wiccan traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is viewed as a Major Sabbath. In all of these traditions, the holiday is celebrated as a harvest festival and as a time to recognize the balance in all things.  

A Wiccan Mabon altar

In all of these traditions, Autumn Equinox altars are set up that represent the balance of light and dark as well as the thankfulness for the harvest. Symbols of the balance of light and dark are placed on the altar (black and white objects of equal size and hanging balances). Symbols of the season on the altar typically reflect the fall colors (oranges, yellows and browns), the end of the harvest (sheaves of wheat, corn husks) and the bounty of the autumn harvest (squash, pumpkin, fall fruits). In some traditions (notably in Wicca), tools of the harvest (scythes and sickles) are also placed on the altar.  

MEA'N FO'MHAIR

Green Man of the Forest

For neo-Druids and some pagans, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as Mea'n Fo'mhair. In this tradition, neo-Druids gather in wooded areas and give offerings of the fall harvest (not only of berries but also of pine cones, acorns, apples and cider) to honor the Green Man of the Forest.   Such woodland harvest offerings are still practiced by neo-Druids and modern pagan (largely in England, Scotland and Ireland but with increasing practice in the US, Canada and New Zealand). 

ALBAN ELFED

In other neo-Pagan traditions (and notably in the Welsh tradition), the holiday has been known for centuries as Alban Elfed or the “Light of the Sun.” In this tradition, the same sort of offerings are proferred but to “The Lady” who is also called the “Spirit of the Land.”

MABON

In Wicca and neo-Pagan traditions the Autumnal Equinox is known as Mabon. This is one of the four Major Sabbats in the eight points of the Wheel of the Year. Mabon marks the time at which day and night are in total balance, and is accompanied by personal efforts of members of these faith to find a similar balance in their lives. 

Mabon is primarily a Wiccan name for the Autumnal Equinox. Other names used by Wiccans and others include the Harvest Moon  or the Harvest Home.  

Unlike the ancient names of Mea'n Fo'mhair and Alban Elfed, the Wiccan version of the holiday has been called Mabon only since the latter half of the 20th Century. Unlike many other Wiccan holidays, no corresponding name exists in ancient pagan traditions. Instead, the name was coined by the US Wiccan leader Aidan Kelley soon after the formation in 1967 of the NROOGD (New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn), one of the most important popularizers of the Wiccan faith.Kelley’s adoption of the name Mabon was to honor the early Welsh pagan divine son deity Mabon fab Mellt.

 CELEBRATION PRACTICES  

Both in ancient Druidic tradition and in modern neo-Druidic, pagan and Wiccan practice, offerings are often proffered in a horn of plenty called a cornucopia. As a result, Cornucopia is another name some practitioners use for the holiday. 

In Wicca, the holiday recognizes balance in all things. Mabon altars are set with symbols of balance as well the autumn harvest.

It should be noted that while the name Mabon has been growing in popularity in the UK and Ireland, many neo-Druids strongly oppose the term as a neologism. As a result, while it would be appropriate to wish a Wiccan a “Happy Mabon,” this may not be as appreciated for some neo-Druids and modern pagans.

RELATIONSHIP TO CHRISTIANITY'S MICHAELMAS



Archangel Michael trampling Satan by Guido Reni (1636)

When Christianity first spread in the Celtic regions, the Roman Catholic Church attempted to syncretize existing pagan practices by co-opting the celebration of the Autumnal Equinox with a Christian overlay. 

To this end, the Church placed great emphasis on Michaelmas which, falling on September 29, came near the same time.  In this co-opting Catholic tradition, the Archangel Michael came to represent the power of light over darkness, an important attribute as the length of daylight began to shorten. 

Today, religious services honoring the Archangel Michael are still practiced in some Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran congregations, especially in the United Kingdom. A folk custom still in evidence in the parts of the British Isles warns that it is unlucky to harvest blackberries after Michaelmas, as they have been cursed at that time by Lucifer.This custom that it is unlucky to harvest in the woods most likely has its origin in the woodland offerings of the autumnal harvest in pre-Christian Britain described above.

EAST ASIAN BUDDHIST TRADITIONS 

In Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as a significant festival, centered on the moon. It is sometimes called the Moon Festival as a result.

HIGAN

Higan is the Japanese celebration of the equinoxes. Higan is celebrated at both the Autumnal Equinox and the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. On both days, the holiday is an official public holiday in Japan. Buddhists of all major sects in Japan observe Higan. 

Emperor Shomu

The holiday has its origins with the institution of worship on that day by the 8th Century Japanese Emperor Shomu. The first official records of its celebration date to the year 806 CE when the government of Japan required all priests in Kokubun-ji temples to recite the Diamond Sutra at the Autumnal Equinox. Higan is also traditionally one of the days for the beginning of pilgrimages among the country's temples by the devout. 

Higan in Japanese literally means "the Other Shore." The term can refer to crossing to the other shore from the material world (i.e., to Enlightenment). The term can also refer to the transitory nature of the the material world (as all things are impermanent and must die, thus crossing to the other shore).

In Japan, Higan is traditionally a day for honoring the graves of the dead. The Guide to Japanese Buddhism of the Japanese Buddhist Federation explains:

During this period, it is customary for Buddhists throughout the country to visit temples and graves. They bring flowers, incense, water or their favorite food to be offered to the deceased and greet them with refreshed minds to report on their well-being.

Traditionally, Japanese Buddhists decorate the graves with the red spider lilies (lycoris radiata) whose Japanese name higanbana literally means "Higanflower."

​

Japanese higanbana

CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE MOON FESTIVAL

The Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as the Moon Festival or Moon-Cake Festival in Chinese and Vietnamese traditons. In both countries, the holiday is an official day off. Also in both countries, the holiday dates back thousands of years.

Vietnamese Moon Festival Lion Dancers

In Vietnam, the holiday is called Tết Trung Thu. The holiday focuses in large part on children, and has its origins in giving parents the opportunity to be with their children after long periods out of their company during the traditional harvest time. Because of this, the holiday is often called the "Children's Holiday."

Tết Trung Thu is the second most important in the year after Tet. In China, the holiday is also given considerable importance. The holiday is particularly marked by the traditional Lion Dance with lion dancers going door to door asking to dance. These are often performed by children, although professional lion dancers are a part of main events.

Chang-E's flight to the moon

In China, the holiday is known as Zōngqiū Jié. In Chinese tradition, the holiday has its origins in the tale of the mythical Chang-E who ate her husband's dangerous elixir to save him, and flew to the moon as a consequence where she became the moon goddess. As with Vietnamese traditions, the Moon Festival is tied to the Fall Harvest.

While the origins of the Chinese Moon Festival predates historical records, the first known observances go back to at least the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE).

In many Han Chinese traditions, sacrifices are made to the moon. In many Chinese ethnic minorities, unique customs are practiced. For example, among the Dong people, there is a custom of "stealing" harvested vegetables and fruit (this is, however, only symbolically stolen as these are set out for the purpose). The Bouyei people worship the Moon Grandmother, and bring rice cakes to her shrine. The Maonan people put incense in a hanging grapefruit, to represent the moon. Finally, in some Mongolian traditions, there are practices centered on chasing the moon. 

In all traditions, the festival celebrates the autumnal harvest. As the name Moon-Cake Festival suggests, it is customary to eat Moon Cakes at this time.



Vietnamese Banh trung thu

In Vietnam, Moon Cakes are called banh trung thu and are made up of ground beans, lotus and egg yolks. These are sold at street corners throughout Vietnam and made at home as well. A recipe for banh trung thu  can be found on the Viet World Kitchen site at:

http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html

CHUSEOK

For Koreans, Chuseok is a major holiday. The holiday is celebrated much like the US Thanksgiving, with family gatherings and large meals. The holiday, however, has a more Confucianist aspect as well centered on three traditions: Charye (차레),  Beolcho (벌초), and Seongmyo (성묘).

Charye involves eating special foods that are set on one table for one's dead ancestors (called a Charyesang) and on another table for the living descendants who have gathered for the festival.

Charyesang

Traditionally, Koreans bow twice toward the table of the dead and once toward the elders among the living. This is no ordinary bow, though, but rather one in which those bowing kneel and then place their foreheads on the ground.  Generally during Charye, people choose a specific deceased ancestor to whom to pay particular respect. People write the name of the ancestor on a piece of special paper and burn it. After this, the window is opened for the spirits of the ancestors to join them.

The other two traditions take place at the graves of one's ancestors. Beolcho comes the day before Charye, and involves grass trimming, grave cleaning and clearing away of leaves or dirt. The day after Charye is when Seongmyo takes place. This involves bowing to the cleaned grave sites and honoring one's ancestors. 

CONCLUSION

As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This in no way endorses one practice or another. It is merely meant to be informational.

Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). 

May you have a balance in your life on this Autumnal Equinox and a happy Moon Festival!

WANT TO READ MORE?

On Wiccan, neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic traditions:

Celtic Druid School, "Autumn Equinox": 
http://www.druidschool.com/site/1030100/page/874527

Crystal Links, "Autumn Equinox -- Mabon": http://www.crystalinks.com/autumn.html

Mabon 2023: A Witch's Guide to Embracing and Celebrating the Harvest," Moonfall Metaphysics, https://www.moonfallmetaphysical.com/s/stories/mabon-2023

Mystic Familiar, "Alban Elfed -- Autumn Equinox": http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/witchcraft/alban_lfed.html

Sagento A, Spell Research, "A Mabon Outline": http://spellresearch.com/spellbook/1993/10/12/a-mabon-outline.html

Wicca Chat, "Mabon": http://www.wicca-chat.com/witch_sabats/mabon.htm

Wiggington, Patti, About.com -- Paganism/Wicca, "All About Mabon, the Autumn Equinox": http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm

On Higan

Japanese Buddhist Federation, Guide to Japanese Buddhism, "Major Japanese Buddhist Festivals":http://www.buddhanet.net/nippon/nippon_partII.html 

Zenku Smyers, Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago,  "The Other Shore": http://www.zbtc.org/downloads/zenku-othershore.html

Time and Date, "September Equinox Customs": http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox-customs.html

On the Moon Festival

China Culture, About.com, "The Moon Festival": http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa093097.htm

Michael Tartaski, Holidaysia, "Tet Trung Thu 2013 – Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival": http://www.holidaysia.com/events/tet-trung-thu/

Passion Vietnam, "Full Moon (Mid-Autumn) Festival": http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html

Travel China Guide, "Mid-Autumn Festivals": http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn.htm

Fang Yang, Xinhua News Agency, "The Mid-Autumn Festival and Its Traditions": http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-09/12/c_131134150.htm

On Chuseok

Chuseok.org, "Chuseok 2020", https://www.chuseok.info/customs/

Imagine Your Korea, "Traditional Korean Holiday of Bountiful Harvest, Chuseok," https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

CLIP ART SOURCES

Autumn equinox opening clip art: http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID22753/images/AutumnEquinox.jpg

A Wiccan Mabon altar: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/MabonAltarDecs.htm

Green Man of the Forest: http://salemsmoon.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/greenman1_thumb.jpg?w=198&h=205

Mabon blessings: http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Mabon_Blessings_by_FullMoonArtists.jpg

Guido Reni's Archangel Michael Trampling Satan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guido_Reni_031.jpg

Emperor Shomu: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Emperor_Shomu.jpg/220px-Emperor_Shomu.jpg

Japanese Higanbana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata

Vietnamese Moon Festival Lion Dancers: http://www.passionvietnamtravel.com/en/nord-du-viet-nam/full-moon-mid-autumn-festival.html

Chang-E's Flight to the Moon: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/The_Moon_Goddess_of_Chang%27e_%28Shi_Yu%29.jpg

Vietnamese banh trung thu :http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-make-moon-cakes-banh-trung-thu.html

Charyesang: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

Year of the Dog: Business Impact

Friday, February 16, 2018 began the Year of the Dog. This  post is one of a series of three posts discussing the Asian Lunar New Year in general and two discussing the Year of the Dog in particular. In this post, though, we cover the business effects from travel (this is the world's busiest travel period) to special editions of gifts, coins, and stamps for the Year of the Dog.

Please look at this year's other two posts as well:
 

1.   One Year, Many Traditions: Lunar New Year Customs Around the World at  http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html

2.    Year of the Earth Dog: Some Background on the specifics of fortune and beliefs about this year's animal sign at   http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2018/02/year-of-fire-dog-some-background.html

You may also be interested to compare this year's overview of the business impact to that of previous years for last year's Year of Rooster, 2016's Year of the Monkey, 2015's Year of the Sheep, 2014's Year of the Horse, 2013's Year of the Snake or 2012's Year of the Dragon. Those posts are at

Rooster:  http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2017/01/year-of-rooster-2017-business-impact.html

Monkey: http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-business-impact.html

Sheep: http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-of-sheep-business-impact.html

Horse: http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-of-horse-business-impact.html

Snake: http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake-business-impact_22.html

Dragon: http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/year-of-dragon-business-impact.html

Business Impact

World's Busiest Travel Day -- The Asian New Year

The Asian New Year is arguably the most widely celebrated holidays on the planet, whatever the year. Because the celebration generally means that families gather together, the holiday is annually the single busiest travel day. The great movement of people is known in Chinese as Chunyun or the "Spring Movement." Chunyun runs for 40 days, beginning this year on February 1 and ending on March 12. The heaviest travel is that leading up to and during Golden Week, this year from February 15-21. The Chinese government estimates a total of 2.98 billion trips during this period. This is roughly the same as 2017, which is newsworthy as this is the first year in decades in which the number has not grown.

3.62 billion trips are expected for
the 2017 Chunyun in the PRC alone

An estimated 385 million Chinese are expected to travel on Golden Week from February 15 to March 21. To put this in perspective, the entire population of the United States is only 319 million. (Source: China News The Thanksgiving travel rush -- the largest in the United States -- is tiny by comparison with 51 million travelers (itself breaking a record) in November 2017.

Wuhan train station during 
Chunyun travel rush

In the PRC alone (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), the Chinese Ministry of Transport estimates that there will be 2.98 billion trips during the 2018 Chinese New Year season. Of these, 2.48 billion (a decline of 1.6% from last year) will be by road by car, motorcycle or bus, 390 million (an 8.8% increase) by train, and 65 million (a 10% increase) by plane. (Source: Beijing Review) While the estimates for boat travel were not released, in 2017 that figure was 41.7 million or about 1.4% of all travel. (Source: South China Morning Post). 

The increase in high speed travel. The largest increase came with air travel, reaching a 10% increase over 2017. To achieve this, China added 30,000 new flights for the period, averaging 14,500 flights per day. To put this in perspective, the 65 million who will be flying during the Chunyun is equivalent to the entire population of France or more than the entire Pacific Coast of the United States (California, Oregon and Washington combined come to 52 million people). 

The 8.8% increase in train tickets sold was influenced by the growth of bullet train travel for 2018, with China adding 177 new high-speed train services for the Chunyun period, with a daily capacity of 100,000. It is with the statistics begin to get truly amazing. As indicated above, more than 390 million people are expected to travel by train during the Chunyun for 2018. If this number were a national population, just the people on the train would rank as the world's third most populous nation (well ahead of the current #3 United States' 319 million). Looking just at the figures for 2017 which are known (that is, not estimates), in just train travel alone, the China Railway Corporation recorded a daily average of 8.93 million people per day for the 2017 Chunyun period. To put this in perspective, this daily figure just of train travel is larger than the entire population of Austria (8.7 million) or the US state of Virginia (8.3 million). The highest single-day for train travel was broken in 2017, when 10.96 million people took to the train on February 2, 2017. Again to put this in perspective, the US state of Ohio (the country's 8th largest) has only 10.0 million people, and Greece (the EU's 10th most populous member) has a population of 10.8 million. Source: State Council of the PRC.

Ticket turnstiles in Shanghai, 2017 Chunyun

Additionally, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce estimates that 6.5 million Chinese will travel abroad outside of China for the Chinese New Year. To put this in perspective, 6.5 million people is equivalent to the entire US state of Indiana or (in European terms) larger than the entire population of Denmark. 

Note that these figures are for the mainland PRC alone. The Lunar New Year represents the biggest travel period in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as well as for South Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia and Singapore. It is also a major travel time for Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Mongolian communities in such countries as Malaysia, Canada, Australia and the United States. 

Year of the Dog Special Issue Products

Because the Lunar New Year is a time of gift-giving, many companies have introduced Year of the Dog items for that purpose. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce estimates that for 2018 in China alone sales will come to $143 billion (900 billion yuan). 

Panerai Luminor Sealand
Year of the Dog watch

The Italian watchmaker Panerai Luminor Sealand has released a Year of the Dog watch that features a flip-cover lid with an elaborate gold-inlay rooster decoration. 

The Swiss luxury watchmaker Jacquet-Droz released its hand-crafted Year of the Dog watch with four watches. The first is a a choice of two miniature hand-painted designs. Both feature Pekinese dogs. One -- its "feminine" version shows the little dog amidst a bed of auspicious peonies -- 'the queen of flowers" -- chasing butterflies. The other shows a Pekinese standing guard in a landscape of rocks and green plants, "ensuring that this timepiece can grace a female or male wrist with equal sophistication." http://www.jaquet-droz.com/en/news/the-petite-heure-minute-celebrates-chinese-new-year The second set of watches show reliefs of a dog in a Chinese temp[le scene with a choice of yellow gold on a copper background with an onyx face or white gold on a copper background with a mother-of-pearl face.

Jacquet-Droz hand-painted Year of the Dog watches

Another Swiss luxury watchmaker Vacheron Constantin released a Year of the Dog watch in its Métiers d’Art Collection. The watches come in pink gold.Other luxury watchmakers with Year of the Dog designs include Blancpain, Chopard, Breguet, Graham, Ulysse Nardin, and Piaget. 


Swatch's Woof Watch

Another watchmaker with a Year of the Dog offering (though one of a somewhat less expensive price) is Swatch. The Swiss company has a special issue Lunar New Year Watch they call "The Woof Watch." The face depicts a playful puppy in lucky red with a heart on its collar.

A similarly more-wallet-friendly watch for the Year of the 

G-SHOCK's 
Year of the Dog watch

Dog was issued by Japan's G-SHOCK (a division of Casio). The watch features a golden outline of a dog that draws on both Japanese and Chinese folk art for its design. 

Swarovski's crystal puppy 
for the Year of the Dog

Not all the Year of the Dog items offered, of course, are watches. The Austrian crystal-maker Swarovski is offering a decorative blue crystal puppy this year. The piece is designed by Japanese artist Hiroshi Yoshii.



Victorinox's Year of the Dog
Swiss Army Knife

Tiffany Year of the Dog charm

Switzerland's Victorinox has put out a special Swiss Army Knife Huntsman edition for the Year of the Dog. The 16-utensil knife has a golden shepherd dog under a golden moon with the character for dog in its orb.

US jeweler Tiffany and Co. has offered up both a 18-karat gold dog with diamond eyes charm by Paloma Picasso. The Danish jewelry maker Pandora likewise issued a silver charm for the Chinese New Year, 

Harrod's Year of the Dog
cosmetic case

The UK high-end store Harrod's has a signature collection of Year of the Dog items, including a cosmetic case, red pencil, and notebook. All feature red dogs on white backgrounds.

Italy's Dolce & Gabbana introduced two entire lines of dog-themed items for the Year of the Dog, one for women and one for men. This is a larger affair than in their preceding Lunar Year offerings.

Dolce & Gabbana offered two entire Year of the Dog lines

Kate Spade
Year of the Dog purse

US-based Kate Spade's Year of the Dog offering features a Chow Chow purse and other dog-themed accessories. 

Longchamps Year of the Dog bag

Learning a lesson from last year's fiasco, French designer Longchamps provided a subtler design for its Year of the Dog bag than in previous Chinese New Year offerings. This year's soft lamb leather bags feature two stylish dog-paw prints, a hint of the dog rather than the garish barnyard bird in featured last year. Longchamps was criticized for misreading the sophistication level of the average Lunar New Year luxury goods buyer. 

By contrast, French designer Christian Dior had its biggest Lunar New Year disaster yet. Ben Kwok's article title in the Asia Times sums up the situation perfectly: "Dior's 'Year of the Dog' PR stunt comes back to bite it." Trying to be subtle in its design to avoid criticism it faced in other years, Dior decorated its offerings with just the golden character 狗 (gŏu in Mandarin or gau in Cantonese). This is the character for "dog" and its use was subtly employed, true, but this was nonetheless cross-culturally problematic (especially in southern China). This is because even though the word does mean "dog" in Chinese, it carries (when left without reference) to many negative meanings as well. As Kwok explains: 

“Guo pi” refers to some who talks bullshit, while other phrases include “guo niang yang” (“son of a bitch”), “gou nan nu” (used derogatorily about illicit lovers), and “guo guan” (a corrupt official). “Hanging a sheep’s head while selling dog meat” essentially means dishonest advertising. The most hated journalists are the paparazzi – or “gou zai dui.”
In Cantonese, the word “gau” for dog is even more of a curse word. Depending on the tone used, it can mean someone who cheats or be a synonym for the male genitalia. Kwok, Asia Times.

This would be equivalent to an Asian designer offering a fashion item with the word "bitch" printed on it, even if subtly done. For a bit of background, Dior had faced severe criticism in 2016's Year of the Monkey for treating Lunar New Year buyers as unsophisticated. Dior responded with a subtler Year of the Rooster bracelet in 2017. It seems that Dior learned its lesson only temporarily. 

Dior's cross-cultural Year of the Dog blunder

The Italian designer Gucci offered a whole line of items featuring two Boston Terriers. The two dogs are actually based on Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele's own two 

Gucci's Year of the Dog line

Boston Terriers, Bosco and Orso. The little dogs adorn a total of 63 different items including jean skirts, jean jackets, women's cardigans, men's bomber jackets, t-shirts, running shoes, purses, wallets, coin purses and keychains. The fashion items are appealing and, at least in that regard, were a success. The problem comes in the accompanying "animoji" that Gucci. 

Unlike Michele's actual dogs (which do feature in some of the ads) or his dogs' counterparts on Gucci's Lunar New Year offerings, the animated animal emoji is frightening. As Dami Lee writes in The Verge are "horrifying":

To be clear, I’m calling the Animoji “horrifying”, not the Boston terriers — I’m sure they’re lovely dogs. For one, these Animoji can’t even smile, or look anything other than intimidating and annoyed! Lee, The Verge

Gucci's "horrifying" Year of the Dog animoji

France's Louis Vuitton, by contrast, pulled off a coup. The fashion house's focus was arguably safer, choosing a Japanese dog motif (safer, because the Japanese has no negative dog expressions). In any case, Louis Vuitton didn't use the character (Chinese or Japanese). Their bag features a cartoon Japanese Shiba Inu and is simply cute, strongly appealing to the Japanese penchant for kawaii (a mix of adorable and lovable cuteness, famously known even in the West by the Hello Kitty craze, but much more widespread in Japanese fashion and culture at large than simply the Sanrio cat). At least in my mind, nothing else offered this year was as kawaii than Louis Vuitton's cartoon dog. The company additionally placed the precious pup across all its digital sources, including a set of   downloaded emoji for WeChat and a video entitled New Year New Tricks (see it here) featuring the dog played at its online store as well as WeChat and Weibo. 

Louis Vuitton's Year of the Dog toy dog and clutch purse

Smaller items that are regularly given as gifts are also themed with Year of the Dog motifs. Along this line, the US pen maker Cross has issued a highly detailed Year of the Dog black lacquer pen inlaid with a dog motif engraved in 23 karat gold pen topped with a red Swarovski crystal. The pens begin at US $348.

Cross Year of the Dog pen

For a much more expensive alternative, Japanese luxury pen maker Namiki likewise offers a Year of the Dog pen. The pens are crafted using the Japanese traditional maki-e lacquerwork with layered brushwork of gold and silver dust. Maki-e handcrafted objects have been associated with the nobility and military leaders in Japan since the Heian Period (794-1185). Accordingly, the pens runs around $7500. You can see the pen here. 

On the most expensive end, S. T. Dupont, the French luxury gadget maker, has also offered a Year of the Dog pen and well as a dog-themed lighter. The pens range in price from $7000  to $19,500 and, for the lighter, $19,996. Its more affordable The pens feature dogs on a red lacquer body with yellow gold, can 18-karat nib and gold pen stand. The lighter is a double flamed box on a stand with a dog guarding a Ruyi Buddhist ceremonial door made of gold. 

S.T. Dupont's Year of the Dog pens and lighter

The US cigarmaker Davidoff has introduced a Year of the Dog cigar limited production cigar line. These are high-end, hand-crafted cigars. This marks the fourth year that the company has done so. The cigars come in a collector's box. 

   

Davidoff Year of the Dog cigar line

Johnnie Walker
Year of the Dog offering

In alcoholic drinks, Scotland's Johnnie Walker has introduced a special Blue Label Year of the Dog limited edition. As the company's webpage describes it, "This unique and intricate design tells the story of Johnnie Walker and his clever canine companion journeying around the world, bringing good fortune to all as they rejoice in the arrival of the new year."

Patrón Tequila 
Year of the Dog Special Issue 

Mexico's Patrón has similarly introduced a Year of the Dog special edition of its tequila. The tin in which the bottle 
comes was designed by Chinese artist Yao Xiao and features a stylized Chinese guard dog in bright red surroundings beneath a sky of fireworks. 

Tito's Vodka -- "the vodka for dog lovers"--
offers a Year of the Dog vodka bag

Perhaps the most important alcoholic offering for the Year of the Dog is Tito's Vodka. The company calls itself "Vodka for Dog People," and quite independent of this year's lunar calendar animal. calendar animal, Tito's has run a charity that has been helping find homes for stray dogs since 1997. Therefore, it is only fitting that for the Year of the Dog, the Vodka for Dog People has offered a Year of the Dog bottle bag. As Nickolaus Hines writes in Supercall (the spirits and cocktail guide publication): "If there's a better way to carry around your vodka, it hasn't been invented yet."

In another area, the US-based Estee Lauder has released a Year of the Case cosmetics case. France's Yves Saint-Laurent has offered a new "Chinese New Year Palette" in a gold and red case (though with no sign of a zodiac animal).

These represent just some of the Year of the Dog products that have come out in honor of the Lunar New Year. If you have others, please do add them in the comments to this blog.

Precious Metal Coins 
for the Year of the Dog

Also affected by the Year of the Dog is the demand for precious metals. Since the Lunar New Year is a time of gift-giving, many governments issue precious metal collectors' coins.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore, for instance, annually issues a series of Lunar New Year coins. This year begins their second coin of their fourth lunar year animal cycle, having completed three other 12-year cycles in 2016. For 2018, Singapore has released 10 versions. The coins available for the Year of the Dog range from a SIN $2.00 nickel-plated zinc coin to a SIN $200 5 troy ounce, 999.9 fine gold coin.  All 10 versions bear the same image of a curious dog with a background depicting the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the background. The obverse will have the customary Singapore Coat of arms.

Monetary Authority of Singapore
Year of the Dog Boxed Set

The Royal Australian Mint has issued six coins. Five of these are round, silver coins and show a dog with its design by Stevan Stojanovic and Vladimir Gottwald. The circular coins range from 25 mm at 9 gram to 99.95 mm at 1 kilogram. The sixth coin is a 14-sided, copper-nickel AU 50 cent coin featuring a separate design (also by Stojanovic) of a rooster standing beside a bamboo grove. All of the coins feature Queen Elizabeth on their fronts.

Royal Australia Mint Year of the Dog coins

Not to be confused with the Royal Australian Mint, the Perth Mint of Australia for the Year of the Dog has issued a series of 99.9% pure gold coins, and a 99.9% pure silver coins. There are seven silver coins ranging from an AUD 50-cent  ½ ounce 110 kilo silver coin going for AUD $300.00. The silver coins Queen Elizabeth on one side and a looking over its shoulder on the other side. There are eight gold coins ranging from an AUD $5.00 1/20 ounce coin to a 1 kilo gold coin costing UUD $3000.00 (roughly US $3838). The gold coins feature a Labrador Retriever beside a stylized pine tree. The silver coin depicts a reclining German shepherd mother with its puppy alongside blooming peonies. A colored version of the silver coin is offered with a blue sapphire for the dog's eye.  

Perth Mint of Australia Year of the Dog coins

Last year was the first-ever Lunar New Year coin for three newcomers: Macedonia, Cameroon and Rwanda. All three have continued this year with the Year of the Dog. 

Macedonia's two coin offerings are both colorized 28.28 gram silver pieces. One depicts a giant black-and-tan dog guarding a home and the other shows a black-and-tan puppy pulling an two-wheeled wagon full of gold coins. 

Macedonia's Year of the Dog coins

Rwanda's second time offering Lunar New Year coins comes as a stylized mosaic-like running dog in both a 31.1 gram silver coin and a 31.1 gram gold coin.

Rwanda Year of the Dog coin

Cameroon's second-ever the Lunar New Year coin offerings is one of the most unique. The highly-detailed coin shows almost every hair and is done in deep relief of black on a silver base. The coin is issued by the Monedo Nueva. The image of a dog's face takes up almost the entirety of the front of the coin. The back of the coin is the seal of the nation of Cameroon.

Cameroon's Year of the Dog (with friend)

The island nation of Niue has offered a Disney-themed coin put out by the New Zealand Mint introduced its first-ever Disney-themed Lunar New Year coin. The New Zealand mint has run many other Disney-themed coins ranging from Darth Vader to Steamboat Willie, but this is a new area for them. This Year of the Dog coin features Mickey Mouse in front of a stylized dog with the Chinese character for dog on its front. The reverse shows the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with a map of Niue.

Niue's Mickey Mouse Year of the Dog coin

The government of Fiji again has issued a Year of the Dog commemorative coin enhanced by a pearl (the color of the pearl changes annually). This year's offering is a silver coin with two 24-karat gold dogs racing with their ears flapping as they chase a central rose-colored pearl.

 Fiji's Year of the Dog 2018 coin featuring a pink-colored pearl

Canada has issued eight new Year of the Dog coins in its Lunar New Year series. These include a set of five fairly affordable coins, including for only the second time coins starting at CAN $10.00. The price range from there to a CAN $2500 coin. The $10 coin shows an elaborate dog designed by Aries Cheung on a round coin with two different variations of the same dog. 

Additionally, Canada has once again its unique scalloped-shaped coins. This time featuring a sharpei by artist Simon Ng.  Canada has also released a CAN $250 silver and a CAN $2500 gold coin for the high-end market.

 

Canada's 2018 Year of the Dog coins

The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom continued its Lunar New Year mintage with its fifth Lunar Zodiac offering (the UK began only minting such coins five years ago). As with previous years, the coins were designed by UK artist Wuon-Gean Ho. The coins come in a range of three silver and three gold weights and feature a Jack Russell-West Highland Terrier, a breed which originated in Scotland. The leaping terrier runs against a background of the biometric nose print of a greyhound (dog's have nose prints as distinctive finger prints of a human). 

The UK's Jack Russell-West Highland  Terrier
Year of the Dog coin

 Belarus
Year of the Dog coin

Belarus issued a Lunar Zodiac coin again this year (its fourth since beginning with 2015's Year of the Horse)  The Year of the Dog coin comes in one denomination only: 92.5% pure silver. The coin features a whimsical lunar dog in a space suit surrounded by rocket ships, stars and moons with the Belarussian words for Year of the Dog in Cyrillic script. On the obverse side as in years past, the coin depicts the working of a clock, enhanced with cubic zirconium stone with Cyrllic and Chinese writing.



One of the more unique coins issued is from the Laos Mint. The 99.99% silver coin has a Burmese jade ring at its center inside of which is a golden shepherd dog. Along the outside of the jade, eight dogs striking various poses. 

 Laos Year of the Dog with Burmese jade and silver coin

The People's Republic of China has 17 Year of the Dog coins in various denominations and shapes. They come in 10 round coins as well as fan-shaped, rectangular and plum blossom shapes in various weights of gold and silver. The images all have the Chinese national emblem on one side and either a colorized red folk-design dog with auspicious lotuses or an uncolored realistic short-haired Chow Chow standing in front of a background of the heavenly dog.

China's 2018 Year of the Dog coins

In addition to those mentioned above, special Year of the Rooster silver and/or gold coins have been issued (as in years past) by Bhutan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Solomon Islands, the French Monnaie de Paris, the National Bank of Ukraine, the Macau Mint, and the Mints of the Pacific nations of Palau, of Tuvalu and of the Cook Islands as well as the New Zealand protectorate of Tokelau.  

Year of the Dog Postage Stamps

Issuing Lunar New Year commemorative postage stamps has become an annual tradition in many countries, and an entire philatelic tradition of collecting these special issues has a wide following both in and outside of Asia.

Arguably the most important stamp issued for the Year of the Dog this year is The People's Republic of China's issue. China's stamp was issued by Zhou Lingzhao. The 99-year-old Zhou is the artist who painted the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong that hangs in Tiananmen Square. Zhou was also the artist who designed China's national emblem as well as the country's Medal of Liberation. He is also the chief designer of China's currency. 

Unveiling of the Year of the Dog stamps
designed by arguably China's greatest living artist
Zhao Lingzhao

The Zhao Lingzhao-designed stamps were unveiled in a major ceremony at the Nanjing Museum on January 5, 2018. 

The United States is a relative newcomer to the Lunar New Year stamps, with the Year of the Dog stamp for 2018 the eleventh it has issued. This year the US Postal Service has issued a subtle Year of the Dog stamp whose primary image is not the dog but a lucky bamboo plant. There is a dog but this is to the sides. To the left of the bamboo plant is a paper-cut dog by Chinese American folk artist Clarence Lee and to the right is the character for rooster done in grass-style by calligrapher Lau Bun.  Both Lee and Bun's works have decorated all seven of the 10 previous Lunar New Year USPS stamps).

USPS 2018 Year of the Dog stamp

Canada Post traditionally issues a pair of stamps for each lunar new year, one for domestic and one for international use. Both stamps this year depict Chinese lanterns with dogs on them Both have the word "Dog" written in French, English and Chinese. The Chinese character calligraphy in the lower left corner of each stamp is done by Order of Ontario recipient Albert Ng. The lantern with their dogs on both stamps were designed by Canadian artist Meimei Mao.

Canada Post Year of the Dog 2018 stamps

All three Singapore's 2018 Year of the Dog stamps are (once again) designed by Singaporean artist Leo Teck Chong. Each features playful dogs. On the local stamp, the dog appears to be circling the character for dog, on the 70 cent stamp the dog is turning around and chasing the character -- and on the $1.30 there are do dogs in play.

Singapore's 2018 Year of the Dog stamps

Vietnam's Tet stamp for the Year of the Dog feature simple, Vietnamese folk art designs. The designs emphasize the simple design and echo a traditional Vietnamese paper art.

Vietnam's 2018 Tet Year of the Dog folk art design stamps

Liechtenstein
Year of the Dog stamp

As is annually the case, among the most elaborate stamp issues for the Lunar New Year comes from Liechtenstein. The 2018 Year of the Dog offering features a red dog design with  created from an intricate silhouette cut using a laser. Additionally, the stamp comes on a sheet of four in which the sheet itself is shaped liked a dog.

Among other special issue postage stamps are those from Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Christmas Island, Croatia, France, Guernsey Islands, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Jersey Islands, Montserrat, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan,Thailand and the United Kingdom.

 Conclusion

As with all of my posts on this blog, this is meant only to give the view of one person (me). There are far more expert writers than myself... this is just a taste. 

Gung Hay Fat Choy! (May prosperity be with you!)

Further Reading

Bloomberg News, "China Readies for World's Biggest Human Migration: Quick Take Q & A," January 23, 2017: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-23/china-readies-for-world-s-biggest-human-migration-quicktake-q-a

Channel News Asia, "SingPost issues new stamp to usher in Year of the Dog," January 24, 2018: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singpost-issues-new-stamp-set-to-usher-in-year-of-the-dog-9831404

Ben Kwok, Asia Times, "Dior's 'Year of the Dog' PR stunt comes back to bite it,"  February 6, 2018: http://www.atimes.com/article/diors-year-dog-pr-stunt-comes-back-bite/

Dami Lee, "Gucci made its own horrifying custom ‘Year of the Dog’ Animoji," The Verge, January 31, 2018: https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2018/1/31/16957446/gucci-app-year-of-the-dog-animoji

https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2018/1/31/16957446/gucci-app-year-of-the-dog-animoji Weida Li, "365 million set to travel during Chinese Golden Week," GBTimes, February 9, 2018, https://gbtimes.com/385-million-set-to-travel-during-chinese-new-year-golden-week

Daniel Moss and Kinling Lo, "China's massive Lunar New Year Travel Rush: where are they going and how?" South China Morning Post, January 25, 2017, http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2065264/chinas-massive-lunar-new-year-travel-rush-where-are-they-going  

Kerry Rodgers,  "Year of the Dog coins for loyal collectors," Numismatic News, January 30, 2018: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors  

Gordon Watts, "A tale of Chinese spending power in the Year of the Dog," Asia Times, February 10, 2018: http://www.atimes.com/article/tale-chinese-spending-power-year-dog/
Xinhua, "Some 2.98 billion trips expected to be made during Spring Festival travel rush," February 2, 2018, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201802/02/WS5a73d3ada3106e7dcc13a617.html

Yang Yi, "Chinese design legend creates stamps for Year of the Dog," Xinhua, January 5, 2018: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/05/c_136875069.htm

Clip Art

Opening clip art: https://www.123rf.com/photo_76843154_stock-vector-2018-happy-new-year-greeting-card-celebration-background-with-dog-2018-chinese-new-year-of-the-dog-v.html

.62 billion trips are expected for  the 2017 Chunyun in the PRC alone: https://thenanfang.com/plan-early-you-can-soon-buy-train-tickets-in-china-60-days-ahead/

Wuhan train station during Chunun travel rush: Christian Science Monitor, January 30, 2013: http://www.csmonitor.com/Photo-Galleries/In-Pictures/China-s-chun-yun-peak-travel-season#250370

Ticket turnstiles in Shanghai, 2017 Chunyun: http://www.thatsmags.com/image/view/201701/chinese-new-year-travel-rush-8.jpg?w=704&h=460&c=1

Panerai Laminar Sealand Year of the Dog watch: https://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/10/28/panerai-year-of-the-dog-luminor-sealand/

Jacquet-Droz hand-painted Year of the Dog watches: http://www.jaquet-droz.com/en/news/the-petite-heure-minute-celebrates-chinese-new-year

Swatch's Woof Watch: https://www.2luxury2.com/year-of-the-dog-watches-reliable-time-companions-wherever-one-may-be-just-like-the-dog/

G-SHOCK's Year of the Dog watch: https://www.2luxury2.com/year-of-the-dog-watches-reliable-time-companions-wherever-one-may-be-just-like-the-dog/

Swarovski's crystal puppy for the Year of the Dog: https://www.2luxury2.com/year-of-the-dog-watches-reliable-time-companions-wherever-one-may-be-just-like-the-dog/

Victorinox's Year of the Dog Swiss Army Knife: https://www.2luxury2.com/year-of-the-dog-watches-reliable-time-companions-wherever-one-may-be-just-like-the-dog/

Tiffany Year of the Dog charm: http://international.tiffany.com/jewelry/items/palomas-chinese-zodiac-dog-charm-25934474?omcid=SMPF2&utm_campaign=Social_Media_Shared_Link&utm_medium=social_media&utm_source=Pinterest_Share&utm_content=&utm_term=

Harrod's Year of the Dog cosmetic case: https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/harrods/chinese-year-of-the-dog-cosmetic-case-2018-p000000000005763261

Dolce & Gabbana offered two entire Year of the Dog lines: http://www.dolcegabbana.com/?_ga=2.88702427.1119092523.1518791804-1653552494.1518791804

Kate Spade Year of the Dog purse: https://www.katespade.com/products/year-of-the-dog-chow-chow-small-lottie/098687153195.html?utm_source=googlepla&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=098687153195&gclid=CKn4rcvZqtkCFZaQxQIdxDUOYA&gclsrc=ds

Longchamps Year of the Dog bag: http://www.harpersbazaar.com.sg/fashion/longchamp-mr-bags-capsule-collection-chinese-new-year/?agallery=124227&aslide=2

Dior's cross-cultural Year of the Dog blunder: http://www.atimes.com/article/diors-year-dog-pr-stunt-comes-back-bite/

Gucci's Year of the Dog line: https://www.standard.co.uk/fashion/news/gucci-dog-chinese-new-year-collection-a3747031.html

Gucci's "horrifying" Year of the Dog animoji: https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2018/1/31/16957446/gucci-app-year-of-the-dog-animoji

Louis Vuitton's Year of the Dog toy dog and clutch purse: http://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2133022/top-10-luxury-brands-heart-warming-lunar-new-year-online

Cross Year of the Dog pen: https://www.cross.com/en/products/at0045-54

S.T. Dupont's Year of the Dog pens and lighter: http://robbreport.com/gear/gadgets/s-t-dupont-year-dog-pen-lighter-collection-2778912/

Davidoff Year of the Dog cigar line: http://davidoff.com/year-of-the-dog

Johnnie Walker Year of the Dog offering: https://www.johnniewalker.com/en/our-whisky/limited-edition-whiskies/blue-label-year-of-the-dog/

Patrón Tequila Year of the Dog Special Issue: https://www.patrontequila.com/products/chinese-new-year-tin.html

Tito's Vodka -- "the vodka for dog lovers"-- offers a Year of the Dog vodka bag: https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/international/titos-prepares-for-chinese-new-year-with-df-exclusive/133969Monetary Authority of Singapore Year of the Dog boxed set:  http://www.mas.gov.sg/News-and-Publications/Media-Releases/2017/MAS-Unveils-2018-Year-of-the-Dog-Chinese-Almanac-Coins.aspx

Royal Australia Mint Year of the Dog coins: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

Perth Mint of Australia Year of the Dog coins: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

Macedonia's Year of the Dog coins:  http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

Rwanda Year of the Dog coin: https://www.jmbullion.com/2018-1-oz-proof-rwandan-silver-lunar-dog/

Cameroon's Year of the Dog (with friend): http://agaunews.com/moneda-nueva-back-in-the-lunar-market-with-a-dog/

Niue's Mickey Mouse Year of the Dog coin: http://agaunews.com/new-zealand-mint-expands-its-bullion-range-with-a-disney-themed-lunar/

Fiji's Year of the Dog 2018 coin featuring a pink-colored pearl: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

Canada's 2018 Year of the Dog coins: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

The UK's Jack Russell-West Highland  Terrier Year of the Dog coin: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

Belarus Year of the Dog coin: http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/year-dog-coins-loyal-collectors

Laos Year of the Dog with Burmese jade and silver coin:  https://thecoinshoppe.ca/product/lunar-year-of-dog-2018-2-oz-pure-silver-coin-with-jade-laos/

China's 2018 Year of the Dog coins: https://thecoinshoppe.ca/product/lunar-year-of-dog-2018-2-oz-pure-silver-coin-with-jade-laos/

Unveiling of the Year of the Dog stamps designed by arguably China's greatest living artist Zhao Lingzhao: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/05/c_136875069.htm

USPS 2018 Year of the Dog stamp: https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps-postal-history/2017/december/symbols-good-fortune-celebrate-year-of-dog-stamp.html

Canada Post Year of the Dog 2018 stamps: https://www.canadapost.ca/shop/year-of-the-dog-stamps-and-collectibles.jsf

Singapore's 2018 Year of the Dog stamps: http://philatelynews.com/chinese-new-year-2018-year-of-the-dog-stamps/

Vietnam's 2018 Tet Year of the Dog folk art design stamps: http://philatelynews.com/chinese-new-year-2018-year-of-the-dog-stamps/

Liechtenstein Year of the Dog stamp: http://philatelynews.com/chinese-new-year-2018-year-of-the-dog-stamps/