Tuesday, the 17th, demonstrates how science guides the timing of traditions and beliefs.

Lunar New Year

I wrote about the Lunar New Year of 2023, the Year of the Rabbit. In that post, I mentioned the 60-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The zodiac links each of the 12 animals with the five elements. This year, the horse is associated with the element fire.

Wouldn’t you figure, the year of the fire horse is unlucky, like epically historically unlucky. Typical for ’26, right. Girls born during a fire horse year were said to bring ruin to their families and may even lead to their husband’s death, and the birth rate in Japan in 1966, the last fire horse year, declined 25%.

We here at DLP are dog people, meaning born in a dog year. Most New Year horoscopes advise us to lie low and not make waves. We should take things easy and not burn out. This year is refreshingly different! Personal growth: shifting priorities: we may find ourselves challenged and inspired.

Shrove Tuesday

The lunar new year begins a 16-day celebration. Shrove Tuesday, better known as Mardi Gras, is the beginning of a 40-day Lenten observance. This is the day I am most familiar with from my German Lutheran Pennsylvania Dutch upbringing. I wrote about it in a Travels with Tiny Buddha post.

I grew up calling Shrove Tuesday Fastnacht Day. My ancestors probably made fried dough balls by hand. My Grandma Rudy would just give me $20 and tell me to go to Dunkin’ for a 45-count box of Munchkins, which is what I will do this year, and offer up the first Munchkin to the memory of my grandma.

What does “Shrove” mean, actually? Surprising that I hadn’t asked myself that question before. The dictionary definition of shrove is “the past tense of shrive”. Super helpful.

Shrive means to confess. I guess this was the day good Catholics went to confession before Ash Wednesday Mass, the last day before Lent when they gave up meat and other goodies.

Ramadan

Growing up, Lent was the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter. During that time, I was encouraged to give up something that I enjoyed, usually candy, and not eat meat on Fridays.

I worked with a Muslim kid who explained to me that Ramadan was similar, except they didn’t eat anything during the day and only ate something small after dark. In high school, that was all I understood of the tradition; now I know there is so much more to the observance.

The timing of Ramadan is fascinating. I can’t figure out when it is. It is the ninth month of the calendar, and it begins with the sight of the crescent moon (makes sense). Some sources give Feb. 17, but some sources say Feb. 19. I read a comment on Reddit that claims there is a group that specifically looks for the appearance of the moon. They are official date setters, but the date moves 10 days every year. I think that’s neat; the holiday can fall during any season throughout a person’s lifetime.

Solar Eclipse

While I think the idea of eating an eggroll and a handful of donut holes is fun, the niftiest thing to happen on February 17 is something most of the world won’t see. The Ring of Fire solar eclipse occurs on the 17th, mostly over Antarctica, so unless you are a penguin or somebody studying a penguin, you probably won’t see the eclipse.

Parts of Southern Africa and Southern South America may view a partial eclipse, but the weather is looking doubtful.

the take home

It’s remarkable that these traditions coincide today, reminding us to value our shared similarities during times of division. I’ve found a great resource for teaching kids about all three traditions. From ancient times to today, the phases of the moon guide the timing of our lives.

Coming up…when life happens too fast to process, we have to prioritize the best we can